It was with much sadness that Cotton Australia learned this week of the passing of Liz Alexander.

Emerald-based, Liz’s agricultural career included being our Central Highlands Regional Manager from 2001 to 2004. A tireless advocate for her growers, Liz was integral in the rollout and successful grower adoption of BMP in the Emerald and Theodore growing areas. This important time in Central Queensland marked the beginning of Liz's deep commitment and contribution to the Australian Cotton Industry.

As her career progressed, Liz served as a Director on the Cotton Australia Board from 2011 to 2013. She was pivotal in the transition of Sunwater’s Theodore Channel Distribution scheme to Theodore Water, chairing the various stages of Local Management arrangements through to the incorporation of Theodore Water in late 2016.

From 2014 to 2020, Liz was a board member of the Cotton Research Development Corporation (CRDC), guiding our industry’s research efforts. Liz was a valued Director of Plant Health Australia from 2013 to 2021, greatly contributing to the strategy behind maintaining and improving plant biosecurity. Most recently, she was a Board member of the Queensland Rural Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).

Throughout her career, Liz served agriculture through various roles where she worked tirelessly and passionately for the betterment of all aspects of regional development, agriculture, and innovation.

With the loss of Liz, the Australian cotton industry and agriculture have lost a true champion. On behalf of the entire cotton industry, Cotton Australia offers its sincere condolences to Liz’s husband Doug and her two sons, Fletcher and Brodie.