CSIRO’s Dr Hayley Norman selected Anameka Saltbush from 60,000 plants.
LEADING sheep researchers Hayley Norman and Andrew Thompson have been honoured as 2026 Fellows by the Australian Association of Animal Sciences.
At the 36th Biennial AAAS Conference in Adelaide, the 2026 Fellows were announced to an audience of more than 200 peers, industry colleagues and university students.
AAAS president Matt Bekker presented the Fellowship Awards to Andrew Thompson and Hayley Norman as recognition of their eminent contributions to animal production in general or within Australia.
The association said Andrew Thompson grew up on a sheep and cropping farm at Newdegate in Western Australia’s wheat-sheep belt, where he developed the work ethic, systems thinking and practical focus that have defined his career. His brother Steve still runs the family farm, while Andrew has spent more than three decades helping sheep producers across Australia improve productivity, profitability and animal welfare through research that works in the real world.
Dr Andrew Thompson
After completing his studies at the University of Western Australia and the University of Adelaide, Andrew built an outstanding research career across government and academia and is now Professor of Animal Production Science at Murdoch University.
He is well klnown for his leadership of the ground-breaking Lifetimewool project that brought together animal scientists, economists, extension specialists and producers to demonstrate how strategic ewe management could transform flock performance. The resulting Lifetime Ewe Management program has reached more than 5000 producers, influencing around 40 percent of Australia’s sheep flock and generating economic benefits estimated at more than one billion dollars.
The association said throughout his career, Andrew has exemplified the power of collaboration across disciplines, combining animal science, producer knowledge and economic modelling to deliver solutions that are both scientifically rigorous and commercially relevant.
With more than $40 million in research funding, over 100 scientific publications, and an extraordinary legacy of industry adoption, Andrew has helped shape the Australian sheep industry for the better, the AAAS said in a statement.
Hayley Norman
The association since joining CSIRO in 2000, Hayley has built an internationally recognised research career focused on improving the role of livestock in Mediterranean and arid farming systems. With expertise spanning animal nutrition, agronomy, plant ecology, and spectroscopy, she has consistently brought together disciplines that don’t always sit in the same paddock, but certainly produce better outcomes when they do.
The AAAS said Hayley is best known for her pioneering work on salt-tolerant shrubs and feedbase development, helping transform saline and marginal landscapes from a problem to an opportunity. Her leadership in developing and commercialising Anameka™ Oldman saltbush has led to more than eight million plants established on Australian farms, delivering benefits for producers, livestock, and the environment.
Hayley’s research has also advanced the understanding of forage quality, animal nutrition, and methane emissions, combining scientific rigour with a strong focus on practical adoption. She has published extensively, supervised students and postdoctoral researchers, contributed to projects across Australia and internationally, and become a trusted and valued collaborator, the association said.
The AAAS said one of Hayley’s most influential ideas was simply to ask the sheep what they preferred to eat and then let the science explain why. It is a reminder that great innovation often starts with a great question.
Through her leadership, scientific excellence, and commitment to improving farming systems, Hayley has made an outstanding contribution to Australian animal science, the association said.
Well done Hayley and Andrew. Extremely well deserved.