His research over the past 20 years has focused on understanding the role of nutrient and carbohydrate reserves in determining grapevine productivity, and then using this knowledge to develop improved vineyard management practices. More recently, he is making a major contribution to a national project on new disease resistant grapevine selections and to studies on abiotic stress on grape production.

He has well-established links with a number of institutions in Australia and overseas and gives specific lectures to the Vinifera masters students at Montpellier SubAgro University. He also presents lectures to undergraduate students at Charles Sturt University and is supervising a number of PhD and Master students.

*NSW Department of Primary Industries was formed on July 1, 2004 through an amalgamation of NSW Agriculture, NSW Fisheries, State Forests of NSW and the NSW Department of Mineral Resources.