AGMARDT welcomes Annabel McAleer as the new Grant Funding Assessor

AGMARDT is excited to announce Annabel McAleer’s appointment to the Grant Funding Assessor role.

The Grant Funding Assessor role joins AGMARDT’s small, high-performing team to support the Trust’s impact-led grants programme, encompassing three broad areas: Innovation, Capability, and Partnerships. Annabel will be the key contact for innovation and capability grants while AGMARDT General Manager Lee-Ann Marsh will continue to focus on partnerships.

A passionate advocate for accelerating research impact, Annabel comes to us after six years working in the Directorate of the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge which closed last month.

“I’ve long admired AGMARDT’s future-focused and nimble approach to funding innovative projects, and I’m really pleased to move from one small impact-focused team into another. There are some incredible people expanding the boundaries of what’s possible for our food and fibre sector, and I’m looking forward to again being part of an organisation supporting them.”

Annabel brings experience in impact-driven funding, assessing industry-led research proposals, and strategic communication, including being part of the Rural Professionals Fund assessment team that distributed $3 million in funding to rural professional-scientist partnerships for rapidly testing innovative ideas to improve farming systems.

Her commitment to fostering impactful collaborations and accelerating positive change for food and fibre across Aotearoa is a great match for AGMARDT’s mission.

Annabel says she’s excited to sink her teeth into this new role and contribute some new ideas and initiatives to the table.

“I’m looking forward to supporting grant applicants to align their proposals with AGMARDT’s impact goals, and helping the Trustees effectively allocate funding to projects that promote innovative ideas and grow capability and collaboration.”

Annabel’s expertise in stakeholder relationships, research synthesis, knowledge translation, and communications will be a huge asset in this role.  AGMARDT General Manager Lee-Ann Marsh said she is thrilled to welcome Annabel to the team.

“Annabel brings such a wealth of experience across a range of areas that will enable us to take our impact-led granting to the next level. This role is essential in helping AGMARDT deliver on our strategy and help accelerate positive change for food and fibre in Aotearoa, New Zealand.”

Since 1987 AGMARDT has invested more than $105 million across 1,900+ grants while growing its funding base and establishing an extensive network and strategic relationships. AGMARDT’s priorities are: focusing on the future, investment principles, strategic leadership, partnering and collaborating, and clarity of messaging.

Contact Annabel at [email protected], or book a 15-minute grants chat.