Emmanuel College alumnus, 1965 Collegian of the Year, Honorary Fellow and former Council member David Crombie AM (EMC 1962-65) has been awarded the 2018 Colleges’ UQ Alumni Award. David is a leader in Australian agricultural innovation and industry, having served as president of the National Farmers Federation, as chair of Meat and Livestock Australia, and on the board of Grainco. He is the founding partner of GRM International (now Palladium), a company specialising in the management of agricultural development projects in Australia and overseas. He is also well respected for his contributions to rugby, as a representative player and as president of Queensland Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby Union.
Always generous with his time and talents, David has helped many through organisations such as Foodbank Queensland and by mentoring young people through the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, The University of Queensland and Emmanuel College.
“Emmanuel College has been an important part of my life. It was a place of safe transition and adventure between school and career where all that University had on offer could be experienced to the full. It was a place where enduring friendships were formed across faculties, socially and on the sporting fields. Since leaving College, I have continued to enjoy my association by serving on the Council, as a parent of daughters who resided at Emmanuel, as an Honorary Fellow and by mentoring students. I am always invigorated by the enthusiasm of College students as they make their way, as we did, towards their chosen life streams. I am humbled by this award and give thanks to Emmanuel for creating so many opportunities for me.”
Emmanuel College Principal Dr Jane Thomson said, “We are so pleased and proud that David Crombie’s outstanding contributions to Emmanuel and our students, UQ, and the community have been formally recognised with this award. David’s leadership in the agricultural sector is more important than ever, given the current drought and the problems facing farming families.”
David’s current agribusiness interests include directorship of the Australian Agricultural Company, advising UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) research institute, operating family properties, breeding cattle and growing crops in southern Queensland. His outstanding contributions to community have also been recognised through receiving the 2017 Rabo Bank Award for Leadership in Agriculture in Australia and New Zealand and a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for services to the meat and livestock industry and support for social welfare, primary producers and sporting organisations.
This is the third consecutive year that an Emmanuel College alumnus has received this prestigious award from The University of Queensland. Diplomat Maxwell Gaylard (EMC 1964-66) and public servant Dr Heather Smith PSM (EMC 1984-86) received the award in 2017 and 2016 respectively.
