Tash is experienced in business strategy, commercialisation, innovation and is passionate about sustainable primary industries and new technology. She comes from a WA farming family and spent 8 years as an agricultural researcher and lecturer at the University of Western Australia, University of Glasgow, University of Southern California and University of Sydney. Tash has led AgriStart for the last 7 years, helping hundreds of startups across regional Australia. She is currently Chair of the Project Management Group for the Food Technology Facility at FIPWA. Tash has a PhD in Plant Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (1st Class Hons), and has qualifications in university teaching, research commercialisation, leadership and corporate governance (graduate of the AICD). She holds several board, advisory and volunteer roles and has been on the judging panel for the WA Innovator of the Year awards since 2015.