Our team

The Soils team includes researchers, technicians and development staff located across eight NSW DPI locations. Our mandate is to enhance soil management practices within the NSW Agricultural sector through research and development activities. We also provide policy and planning advice to Government agencies and industry.

The Soils team do not provide individual agronomic advice or interpret soil tests. For these services please contact the relevant Local Land Services (LLS) office and/or a private advisor. To ensure the private advisor you choose can provide the most up to date information and advice they should be Fertcare accredited.

The team

Acting Director

Dr Nicole Rice 
Mobile: 0418 113 633
Email: nicole.rice@nsw.dpi.gov.au


Soils North

John Friend – Leader Soils North (Tamworth Agricultural Institute)
Mobile: 0439 779 885
Email: john.friend@dpi.nsw.gov.au


Dr Graeme Schwenke – Senior Research Scientist (Tamworth Agricultural Institute)
Mobile: 0418 636 421
Email: graeme.schwenke@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Guna Nachimuthu - Senior Research Scientist (Australian Cotton Research Institute – Narrabri)
Mobile: 0428 217 862
Email: guna.nachimuthu@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Lukas Van Zwieten – Senior Principal Research Scientist (Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute)
Phone: (02) 6626 1126
Email: lukas.van.zwieten@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Simon Clarendon – Research Officer (Tamworth Agricultural Institute)
Mobile: 0408 997 651
Email: simon.clarendon@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Stephen Kimber – Research Officer (Orange Agricultural Institute)
Mobile: 0427 593 867
Email: stephen.kimber@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Tony Vancov – Senior Research Scientist (Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute – Menangle)
Mobile: 0403 951 354
Email: tony.vancov@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Karl Andersson - Research Officer Soil Carbon (Tamworth Agricultural Institute)
Mobile: 0437 867 523
Email: karl.andersson@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Simon Eldridge – Research Officer (Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute)
Mobile: 0461 283 886
Email: simon.eldridge@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Blake Palmer – Research Officer (Australian Cotton Research Institute – Narrabri)
Mobile: 0439 456 127
Email: blake.palmer@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Kattie Weigh – Post doctoral fellow soils (Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute)
Email: kattie.weigh@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Mick Rose – Research Officer (Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute)
Mobile: 0422 522 774
Email: mick.rose@dpi.nsw.gov.au


Soils South

Justine Cox – Leader Soils South (Queanbeyan)
Mobile: 0438 770 187
Email: justine.cox@dpi.nsw.gov.au


Luke Beange – Development Officer (Dubbo)
Mobile: 0418 402 463
Email: luke.beange@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Ashlea Webster – Research Officer (Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute – Menangle)
Mobile: 02 4640 6200
Email: ashlea.webster@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Mark Whatmuff – Research Officer (Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute – Menangle)
Mobile: 0403 284 945
Email: mark.whatmuff@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Murray Hart – Research Scientist (Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute)
Mobile: 0482 654 619
Email: murray.hart@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Jason Condon – Research Officer (Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute)
Mobile: 0448 224 500
Email: jason.condon@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Dr Ehsan Tavakkoli – Senior Research Scientist (Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute)
Mobile: 0421 018 075
Email: ehsan.tavakkoli@dpi.nsw.gov.au