Robyn Alders

Dr Robyn Alders AO,BSc(Vet),BVSc,DipVetClinStud,PhD is the first female veterinary science graduate to be made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). Dr Alders received this honour in 2011 in recognition of her contributions to food security through improvements in poultry health in developing countries.

Early Life and Education

Robyn was born and raised on a farm in Taralga, NSW to Ron and Alice Alders. She has three older siblings; Bill, Julie and John. Educated locally at Taralga Public School, then Crookwell High School, she was the first in her family to matriculate from high school. Encouraged by Whitlam-era free tertiary education, Robyn embarked upon a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at the University of Sydney. Robyn had already developed an interest in the wider world and became an American Field Service Scholar, spending 12 months in Kansas while attending Concordia High School.

Early Research Career

Robyn took a year out of her veterinary degree to undertake her first research project investigating equine laryngeal hemiplegia, and was awarded a Bachelor of Science (Veterinary). Immediately following graduation as a veterinarian Dr Alders undertook an internship in large animal medicine receiving a Diploma of Veterinary Clinical Studies under the guidance of A/Prof David Hutchins. Dr Alders then moved to the John Curtin School of Medicine at Australian National University where she completed her PhD researching the immunology of pregnancy. During this time, Dr Alders was again fortunate to have wonderful mentors in Bede Morris and Jim Shelton.

Veterinary Career in the Developing World

Although Robyn originally planned to practice as a specialist equine veterinarian, her career focus changed over time. Dr Alders credits her time at Wesley College as an undergraduate for opening her eyes to issues of social justice and informing her thinking about how a veterinarian may best contribute to the betterment of society. It was during this time at college that Robyn first became associated with Community Aid Abroad (now Oxfam Australia). This drive to contribute, led Dr Alders to seek a position in a developing country. She was offered a position as lecturer at the newly founded School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zambia where she taught for three years. Dr Alders briefly returned to research again at the University of Queensland where she met Emeritus Professor Peter Spradbrow, with whom she was later to collaborate. She was once again drawn back to the developing world however and spent three years working as Project Officer in Southern Africa for Community Aid Abroad, spending much of her time contributing to the renewal of small-scale agricultural production at the end of the civil war in Mozambique. During her time in Southern Africa Dr Alders became aware of the importance of village chickens in the lives of people in undeveloped communities. It was apparent that viral Newcastle disease (ND) was endemic and causing significant mortality and loss of production in these small flocks. The development of a thermotolerant ND vaccine by Dr Spradbrow meant that for the first time, control of this important livestock disease was possible in the most remote and underdeveloped regions. Together with Professor Spradbrow, Dr Alders received funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to implement a program of vaccine delivery in the field in Mozambique. Similar ND vaccine programs have now been used throughout Africa and Southeast Asia. Dr Alders' main contributions to these programs has been in developing sustainable, user-pays systems delivered by local people. This has been achieved by using vaccine technology suitable for local environmental and supply chain conditions; culturally sensitive and effective education programs; and coordination with relevant international government bodies along with national stakeholders. Since 2004, Robyn has been also involved with highly pathogenic avian influenza control and preparedness in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao PDR, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. In Indonesia, she oversaw the training and communication components of the FAO HPAI Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response Program from May 2007 to September 2009.From May 2008 to June 2011, Robyn directed the International Veterinary Medicine Program at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in the USA and remains an Adjunct Associate Professor with this program. From July 2011 to May 2012, Robyn was the Team Leader of a Newcastle disease control project in Angola implemented by the KYEEMA Foundation and funded by the European Union.

Current projects

Principal Research Fellow Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney ACIAR - Strengthening food and nutrition security through family poultry and crop integration in Tanzania and Zambia (http://aciar.gov.au/aifsc/projects/strengthening-food-and-nutrition-security-through-family-poultry-and-crop-integration) Australian Department of Agriculture and DFAT - Timor Leste Village Poultry Health and Biosecurity Program Australia Africa Universities Network - Building an AAUN coalition to support improved nutrition and health of children under 5 years, pregnant and lactating mothers Kyeema Foundation - Supporting food security and capacity building in African Union member states through the sustainable control of Newcastle disease in village chickens Dr Alders is the author of numerous publications including books, journal articles and conference presentations. A list of her publications may be found at http://sydney.edu.au/vetscience/about/staff/profiles/robyn.alders.php

Awards and honours

The Kesteven Medal, awarded by the Australian Veterinary Association and the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in recognition of distinguished contributions to international veterinary science in the field of technical and scientific assistance to developing countries. May 2002; The Belle Bruce Reid Medal, awarded by the University of Melbourne to outstanding women Veterinary Scientists. November 2006; Becoming the first female Veterinary Science graduate Officer of the Order of Australia by the Governor General of Australia for distinguished service to veterinary science as a researcher and educator, to the maintenance of food security in developing countries through livestock management and disease control programs. January 2011; The University of Sydney 2011 Alumni Award for International Achievement. May 2011; and The Wesley College Foundation Medal, September 2012. Received a Crawford Fund medal for extensive work & impact in international agricultural research in Asia & Africa August 2014 </ref>

Significance of her work

Village chickens represent a low input source of nutrition and income, usually under the care of women, in underdeveloped countries. Indigenous poultry breeds are largely self-sufficient. Their natural scavenging and roosting behaviours allow them to be maintained with a low initial investment and minimal inputs for food or housing. Under conditions of good health, they reproduce rapidly providing an excellent source of high-quality nutrition through eggs and meat, or may provide income from the sale of these products. Maintenance of the health of small poultry flocks may represent the only opportunity for under-resourced women to provide adequate nutritional and financial support for their family.

Influences and Mentors

The driving philosophy throughout her career has always been to provide a "better start in life for children". Dr Alders credits the mentoring she received from many influential veterinarians throughout her career (including A/Prof David Hutchins AOM, Prof Bede Morris, Emeritus Professor Peter Spradbrow, Dr John Copland) as being critical to all of her successes in trying to fulfilling this goal. "Providing adequate nutrition to children throughout the world is a team effort."