Sharyn is the National Manager, Surveillance at Plant Health Australia. She started working at PHA as National Manager, Broadacre Cropping in August 2015 and previously worked at PHA from 2007 to 2012 as Program Manager, Biosecurity Planning and Implementation.

Between 2012 and 2014 Sharyn worked for the Plant Biosecurity CRC as Program Coordinator, Grains, and in 2014–15 she joined GRDC as Program Manager, Plant Health Surveillance and Mitigation. Work in both agencies expanded her background and experience in managing large research and development programs.

Sharyn’s scientific background is in nematology, and from 1991 to 2007 she worked for the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) as a grains nematologist, leading the Nematology Group at SARDI for several years.

She was awarded her PhD from the University of Adelaide in 2000, with her thesis entitled The ecology and epidemiology of Pratylenchus neglectus and P. thornei in South Australia. In addition to her nematology role, between 2001 and 2007 she managed the Post Entry Plant Quarantine facility at SARDI.