Graduate Profile: Deborah Perkins

For my research project in the fourth year of my Agriculture degree at the University of Western Australia, I investigated the economics of growing Tagasasti on sandy WA soils.

On graduation I joined the Rural & Industries Bank (now Bankwest), initially as a Rural Consultant. Whilst working for Bankwest I had the opportunity to sit on one of the Department of Agriculture’s partnership groups for Sustainable Development, attend the inaugural WA Rural Leadership Course and was a Board member of the Rural Adjustment and Finance Corporation for two years.

I subsequently completed a Master in Business Administration from the Melbourne Business School and in September 2000 joined Rabobank International's Sydney office.

After managing the Australian Food & Agribusiness Research (FAR) team for four years I moved to the USA to take up the position of Executive Director, Head of FAR, Rabobank International, New York. In this role, I am responsible for leading the FAR team in the Americas to conduct strategic research into the issues facing the food and agribusiness sectors, and ensuring the research activities of the department support the business objectives of the bank.