FABI congratulates and celebrates with two researchers who have reached remarkable milestones in their careers! Drs Brett Hurley and Sanushka Naidoo were both promoted to Associate Professors, a feat that recognises their contributions not only to the Institute but also in their fields of research.

Prof. Bernard Slippers said Dr. Hurley’s promotion recognised his growing international profile as a research leader in forest entomology and biological control as well as the quality of his substantial academic output in teaching undergraduate students and supervising postgraduate research. Dr. Hurley’s research focuses on understanding and developing management strategies against forest insect pests such as Sirex noctilio, Leptocybe invasa and Glycaspis brimblecombeii.

Prof. Zander Myburg said Dr. Naidoo’s achievement recognised her contribution to research excellence at FABI and the Forest Molecular Genetics programme. As research leader of the Eucalyptus and Pine Pathogen Interactions programme at FABI, Dr. Naidoo’s research has focused on understanding these commercially important trees’ defence responses to pathogens in order to implement substantial biotechnological strategies as part of integrated management strategies to reduce losses.