Dr Rajendra Adhikari is a Senior Lecturer in Agribusiness, and a value chain researcher at The University of Queensland (UQ), Gatton. He has more than 25 years of experience in agribusiness value chain research, agricultural project planning, management and evaluation, agribusiness teaching and agrifood policy. Rajendra currently leads ACIAR projects in Pakistan on pulses and citrus (Kinnow), which aim to improve smallholders' welfare using the value chain approach of agrifood industry development. His research is directed towards agribusiness value chain analysis, modelling and development, co-innovation and entrepreneurship, agricultural policy/strategy and behavioural research. He has research experience from Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal and Australia. Rajendra holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Agribusiness from UQ.
Dr Thea Voogt is an Associate Professor in the School of Law and the Director of Business Law.
She specialises in income tax law, agriculture tax policy tools, the impact of climate change on the financial fortitude of farming families, corporate governance and business structures.
Thea leverages her significant business experience in senior executive roles and her background as a chartered accountant in industry projects. She holds a Doctorate in Financial Management and Master of International Commercial Law (UQ).
Thea is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an award-winning law teacher. She is the 2017 recipient of the prestigious UQ Business, Economics & Law Faculty Teaching Award. She also received the 2017 Inspired me to learn Award for Teaching Excellence in an undergraduate compulsory course, and the 2016 Award for Teaching Excellence in an undergraduate compulsory course from the UQ School of Law.
Prior to joining UQ, Thea was the CEO (Principal Officer) of the superannuation funds of the University of Johannesburg, a Professor in Accounting and managed large tenders for this institution. Over the course of her career in South Africa, she was closely involved with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants as sought-after speaker, researcher and umpire for the national qualifying exams for chartered accountants. Thea also held a Ministerial appointment to the Board of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
