Rubus Industry Development Officer
The Rubus IDO is based in Tasmania
Simon Neil commenced as the Tasmanian Berry Industry Development Officer in September 2025, taking over from Ella Roper. Based in Hobart with the Fruit Growers Tasmania team, Simon is the first point of contact for berry growers across the state.
Simon comes from a scientific and regulatory background in the pharmaceutical and medicinal plant industries, with a focus on chemistry, compliance, and process development. He holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Chemistry from the University of Queensland.
He is focused on building strong relationships with growers, understanding their priorities, and linking them to research, best-practice tools, and national initiatives. Simon is looking forward to working with the wider berry industry — both in Tasmania and nationally — to contribute to the sector’s continued growth and resilience.
Although this role is based in Tasmania, it is responsible for providing support to all Rubus growers across Australia – regardless of the region where you grow. The role is also going to be able to provide on-the-ground support for growers of all berry types in the Tasmanian region so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Contact the Rubus IDO
