The Society for Range Management (SRM) recently honoured Dr. Ann Waters-Bayer, Dr. Maryam Niamir-Fuller and Dr. Barbara Hutchinson with the Society’s most prestigious honour, the Frederic G. Renner Award.
Drs. Waters-Bayer, Niamir-Fuller, and Hutchinson were recognized for their work promoting rangelands and pastoralism, including their pivotal roles in the international effort that led to the United Nations designation of 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).
Further details about the award are available here. A film about the trio’s work has also been released by the SRM and can be viewed here.
Many of you may recognise Dr Waters-Bayer’s name in particular. Ann undertook a postgraduate Diploma in Agricultural Economics at the University of New England (UNE) from 1979-81 as an external student initially living in Townsville. While Ann has worked in pastoralist development, mainly in Africa, since 1981 she has maintained her ties with Australia primarily through the Australian Rangeland Society, as associate (now advisory) editor of The Rangeland Journal.