Last week, BCG farewelled a long-time colleague and friend, Ciara Cullen, who is leaving BCG to travel the world.
Ciara joined BCG almost nine years ago as an agricultural science graduate from the University of Melbourne, stepping into an Extension Officer position. Growing up on a potato farm in West Gippsland, Ciara developed an interest in the grains industry at University and was exposed to BCG through doing a University project on Wimmera and Mallee farmer attitudes towards GM canola.
If you’ve been to a BCG Main Field Day, Trials Review Day, or Expo, Ciara has been the driving force behind ensuring that the program is relevant, the speakers engaging and that the whole event is professional, well-coordinated and meets BCG member needs. Even with damaging winds, flooded marquees and bogged presenters, Ciara always ensured that the event ran on time and that our members were well looked after.
If you’re also a regular reader of the BCG Season Research Results, the Technical Bulletin and BCG eNews, you can be assured that before you read it, it had undergone Ciara’s scrutiny. A diligent and thorough editor, Ciara not only checks for spelling and grammar, but also ensures that all BCG communications have clear and actionable messages for our members to use.
BCG CEO Chris Sounness thanked Ciara for her contribution to BCG. “Ciara believed strongly in the objectives of BCG and worked hard to deliver high quality, professionally presented information that farmers could apply to their businesses” he said,
“Whilst we will miss her experience and expertise, we support her decision to expand her networks elsewhere. We are confident her skills will be retained in agriculture.”
“BCG is an incredible organisation – it has given me a solid foundation, immense career and personal development, provided me with opportunities I may not have had elsewhere, engrossed me into a rural community and incredible friendships,” said Ciara on her departure.
A highlight for Ciara in her time at BCG has been her involvement with the Mallee advisory committee, building her relationships with this group and translating their feedback into research and extension activities that help solve BCG member problems.
Ciara cites professional growth, developing networks and opportunities to move into senior roles as key achievements in her time at BCG and feels that BCG has given her just as many, if not more, opportunities for exciting projects and career progression as her university peers who chose to remain in cities.
Outside of her professional endeavours at BCG, Ciara is well renowned for her time at the helm of BCG’s social club, where her event management know-how came in handy for organising staff trips and social nights that are remembered fondly many years down the track. She will be remembered as the chief organiser of anything fun.
See has also fully embraced living in the Birchip community with roles on the Lake committee and the B&S committee.
Ciara is efficient, organised, loyal, compassionate, witty and absolutely loves Birchip. We wish her all the very best in Nashville and beyond and know that she will continue to remain a close friend of BCG.
