Kristen is a passionate leader and advocate for the benefits of biotechnology that support growers in the sustainable production of cotton. As a skilled science communicator, she is actively involved in educating all levels of society about the importance of science and innovation, from hosting school students and science teachers through our laboratory to meeting with industry and growers in the field.

Kristen is well-regarded within the industry for her scientific excellence, but is also humble, easy-going, and adaptable. Her ability to ‘see beyond the science’ means she understands product development not just from a technical standpoint, but also grasps the commercial realities and social/environmental impacts. She has authored a number of publications on insect management in cotton, and regularly presents at industry conference. Kristen is as adept at cutting through with experts in the field as well as with policy influencers, decision makers, and commercial executives.

Kristen demonstrates a passion for developing younger scientists, running a gap year program where she brings new talent into the small laboratory on an annual basis. Kristen and her team engage with up to 200 students per year through science education, and she regularly presents at careers events and with universities.

Kristen is Bayer’s Australian lead for insect traits and as part of that leads a team at the Toowoomba insect resistance management laboratory. Kristen oversees a team that works closely with global colleagues in the field of biotechnology as part of Bayer Crop Science’s pre-commercialisation and research team to deliver new cotton insect-resistant traits to farmers. Kristen is responsible for running the laboratory and research team in Australia that works as part of our research & trait development team to understand resistance mechanisms in lepidopteran and sucking pests, and help select future proteins and events for development in future trait platforms. The commercial introduction of Bollgard technology has significantly reduced the amount of pesticide applications required in a season, reduces farm emissions through lower use of diesel-powered machinery, provides healthy environments for beneficial species, and increases farmers’ profitability.

This strategy is underpinned by continual and evolving research and trait development, anchored by Kristen and her team, to ensure target insect species are not developing resistance to the technology. Kristen is currently working with industry on the introduction of ThrynOn a novel new sucking pest trait that will answer growers calls for tools to support sustainable production of cotton where thrips are present to ensure strong crop growth and the ability to reduce pesticide sprays targeting thrips during crop establishment.
In addition to the commercial introduction of ThryvOn as the Project lead for Bayer on the development of the next generation of Bollgard 4 technology she continues to work hard on the science, field trial, regulatory, laboratory and registration package to support our Australian cotton industry in delivering our next generation lepidopteran pests technology to Australian growers to maintain their ability to grow sustainable cotton without a reliance on synthetic chemistries for the long term.

The work lead by Kristen and her team means that the success of growers in Australia is at the forefront of new technology introduction to keep Australian growers ahead of other markets.