Dr Sharna Holman (Qld Sth)

I live in Toowoomba, a happening regional city in South-East Queensland, that offers everything from wine bars and great restaurants while still being only a short drive to the cotton fields of the Darling Downs (and those further afield!).

It’s the perfect balance for someone who was born and grew up in Sydney but found a sense of purpose working in agriculture. I love that I can spend a morning in a research meeting, and an afternoon standing in a field. 

I was motivated to become an APEN Regional Coordinator after spending the past few years embedded in the research space, undertaking my PhD investigating Spodoptera litura in cotton.

Recently, my projects have leaned further into extension, and it felt like the right time to grow my skills, deepen my knowledge of the profession, and engage more actively with the extension community. Becoming more involved with APEN offered an invaluable opportunity to connect with like-minded extension professionals who are equally passionate about creating change within their industries and communities. I’m excited to both learn from others and contribute through collaboration and shared insight.

My three core values are Integrity. Community. Growth.