We're thrilled to share some fantastic news from last night's Irrigation Australia Conference dinner in Sydney. Chris Thompson (Global Water Leader at Pinion Advisory), or 'Thommo' as we know him, has become the joint 2024 Maclean-Iedema Award winner alongside Ben Chapman.
This biennial honour is awarded in memory of Scott MacLean and Don Iedema, both of whom were known to Thommo through their work in the professional irrigation community. The award recognises someone who has made a significant contribution to the irrigation sector over a long period of time.
Thommo has been a critical player in many groundbreaking irrigation projects. His knack for turning big ideas into reality and challenging historical norms has led to significant agricultural development in Tasmania and further afield.
Andrew Kneebone, CEO of Tasmanian Irrigation, sums it up perfectly: “Thommo is a thought leader and innovator in irrigation and water matters more broadly, whose long-term vision for agricultural irrigation stretches well beyond Tasmania. Thommo brings a unique combination of innovation, vision and common sense, all with a sense of humour and humility.”
“In my opinion, Chris Thompson has had a greater impact on Tasmanian agriculture than any other Tasmanian. Over the last 40 years, Chris has had more influence than anyone in developing irrigation in Tasmania, which has allowed for expansion, enterprise change, reliability and economic growth of the sector,” said Howard Hansen, Managing Director at Hansen Orchards.
“Thommo is an incredible mentor. So many of us have benefited from his knowledge, experience and genuine love for working in water and agriculture. He’s a bit of a force of nature! The whole team at Pinion Advisory is thrilled to see him recognised,” mentioned Sarah Jones (Water & Environment Manager at Pinion Advisory).
We're incredibly proud of Thommo and can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.
Well done and congratulations, Thommo!