Craig Johns

Dr Craig Johns

Associate Professor

School of Economics and Public Policy

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Craig’s primary research interest is analysing agribusiness and agroforestry value chains and the resulting value chain improvement activities across the industry. He has global food experience from production to consumption from the perspective of both the private and public sectors. Craig has held roles as a general manager of a successful food production company, a program manager in charge of allocating national value chain funding and a senior business consultant delivering on international value chain projects.

Since joining the University in 2011, Craig has been involved in international development projects in various agriculture, marine and forestry sectors across Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, PNG, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. His early training in food technology, quality management and business management, coupled with his appreciation for the roles of industry and government, enable him to understand key constraints and how industry development can lead to wider benefits for all stakeholders.

Craig also holds the position of Post Graduate Program Director for the School of Economics and Public Policy and is the CEO of the University Agribusiness Advisory Board. All of these responsibilities have enabled Craig to improve engagement and interaction between the University and leading agribusiness companies for the benefit of research and teaching activities.

0030084798: Changing urban consumer behaviour and the role of different retail outlets in the food industry of Fiji Authored by: Johns C; Lyon P; Stringer R; Umberger W, ASIA PACIFIC DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL Published by: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Published: 2017

0030058691: Evaluating the outcomes of VCA-led improvement projects : a case study of an Australian prawn fishery Authored by: Johns CM; Kimber N; Howieson J; Lawley M, BRITISH FOOD JOURNAL Volume: 118 Issue: 12 Pages: 2997-3011 Published by: Emerald Group Publishing Limited Published: 2016

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2015 - ongoing CEO Agribusiness Advisory Board University of Adelaide
    2011 - ongoing Associate Director of Agribusiness Innovation University of Adelaide
    2007 - 2011 Senior Business Consultant, Food Chain Innovations Rural Solutions SA
    2005 - 2007 Program Manager for Value Chains, Market Development National Food Industry Strategy
    2001 - 2005 General Manager Australian Pure Fruits Pty Ltd
    1995 - 2001 Food Technologist and Quality Manager Australian Pure Fruits Pty Ltd
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2020 Award Executive Dean Award for Vision, Service, Culture, Excellence in External Engagement University of Adelaide Australia -
    2019 Award Executive Dean Award University of Adelaide Australia -
    2018 Award Pro Vice Chancellor Internationalisation Excellence Award University of Adelaide Australia -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2012 - 2023 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    1993 - 1993 Flinders University Australia Honours Degree
    1990 - 1992 Flinders University Australia Bachelor of Science Degree
  • Research Interests

0001038052: ACIAR - Grant: Promoting sustainable agriculture and agroforestry to replace unproductive land-use in Fiji and Vanuatu; Years: 2014-2015; Johns, Craig Michael; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $3,000

0001038589: ACIAR - Grant: Improving livelihoods and economic progress through rehabilitation of degraded catchments in Fiji and Vanuatu; Years: 2014; Johns, Craig Michael; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $2,400

0001040437: ACIAR - Grant: Enhancing private sector-led development of the canarium industry in Papua New Guinea; Years: 2015-2017; Johns, Craig Michael; Wallace, Helen; Simos, Theo; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $473,291

0006000040: ACIAR - Grant: Enhancing value added products and environmental benefits from agroforestry systems in the Pacific; Years: 2015-2019; Johns, Craig Michael; Ahmed, Sharmina; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $456,955

0006000129: ACIAR - Grant: Improving Returns from Community Teak Plantings in Solomon Islands ; Years: 2016-2019; Johns, Craig Michael; Blumfield, Tim; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $79,000

0006005888: ACIAR - Grant: Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative Phase 2 - PARDI 2; Years: 2018-2020; Umberger, Wendy Jeanne; Johns, Craig Michael; Thomson, Lex; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $119,870

Program Director for Master of Global Food and Agricultural Business and the Master of Agribusiness

Manager of the Centre for Global Food and Resources Internship program

Course Coordinator for AGRIBUS 7059 Experiences and Insights in Agrifood Systems

Course Coordinator for AGRIBUS 7041 Topics in Ag Bus

  • Board Memberships

    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2021 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Ag Institute Ag Institute South Australia Australia
    2015 - ongoing Director Agribusiness Advisory Board University of Adelaide Australia
  • Position: Associate Professor
  • Phone: 83136765
  • Email: craig.johns@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Nexus 10, floor 6
  • Org Unit: Centre for Global Food and Resources

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