Professor at the University of Melbourne, Andrew Fisher, was presented with the inaugural Teagasc Alum of the Year award at the Walsh Fellowships 25th anniversary seminar on Friday.

Already practising as a vet in the UK, Fisher decided to enter the world of agricultural research when the Walsh Fellowships were first made available in 1993. His research in Grange, Co Meath, was on the welfare and health of beef cattle in response to winter housing.

He now serves on the Australian government’s advisory panel on live exports.

Fisher says that one of the challenges research faces is when it is seen to be funded or co-funded by industry.

“It is really about finding out knowledge and I don’t think we should be scared of knowledge,” Fisher says. “At some point that can of worms is going to be opened up anyway and I think we are better off knowing about it, being prepared and having in place improvement strategies.”