Primary industries leader receives gold medal at UQ ceremony

A former leader of Queensland's primary industries was honoured at one of two graduation ceremonies held at UQ Gatton today, Friday, December 10.

Former Director-General of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries Jim Miller was presented with a Gatton College Council Gold Medal at the 4pm ceremony. Mr Miller was also the guest speaker at the ceremony.

Mr Miller's achievements include leadership of research and technological developments in Queensland's dairy industry.

Warwick-born Mr Miller graduated with a Diploma in Dairy Manufactures at Queensland Agricultural College (now UQ Gatton) in 1960 a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from The University of Queensland in 1963 and completed a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration at QUT in 1978-79.

Mr Miller joined the Queensland Department of Primary Industries in 1961 as a State Scholarship holder and left 33 years later as the Department's inaugural Director-General. From 190 to 1994 he headed the State Government agency responsible for agriculture, water resource, forestry and fisheries, with responsibility for 6000 staff and an annual budget of about $540 million.

After resigning as Director General of the DPI, Mr Miller chaired the Queensland Abbatoir Corporation from 1994 to 1995 and was part-time chair of the Queensland Fisheries Management Authority from 1997 to 1999.

He has chaired the Sugar Experiment Stations Board, the Queensland Fish Board, the Review Panel for Australian Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong and the Review Panel of the CSIRO Institute of Natural Resources Climate Change Research Program.

His recent commitments include contributing to recreational fisheries policy as chair of the Queensland Fisheries Management Authority, chairing the National Greenhouse Advisory Committee and serving on the Queensland Committee of the Crawford Fund and of the Australia Prize Selection Panel.

Neisha Caddey was the valedictorian at the 2pm UQ Gatton graduation ceremony.
Ms Anika Tauchmann (right) delivered the valedictory address at the 4pm ceremony for graduands in the Faculties of Business, Economics and Law and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science.

Media: Further information, University Graduations Officer Tim Tout, telephone 3365 9194.