Tam O’Keeffe

I was lucky to spend my childhood on and around research farms in South Australia … I was hooked! After formal training in environmental biology, I worked in the agricultural industry in SA, New Zealand and Western Australia before completing my PhD at UWA.

Fascinated by soil – this diverse and often overlooked resource – I have spent over two decades assessing and studying it and its role within both agricultural and environmental systems.

I combine strong scientific expertise with practical experience. This has ranged from investigating the impacts of compost and amendment use on soil biology, nutrient cycles and vegetable production, to assessing both plant health and soil chemical and physical characteristics.

My work has taken place under cropping, pasture, viticulture and in natural and rehabilitated systems, pre- and post-mining.

I have led topsoil management programs on Barrow Island and contributed to environmental monitoring, rehabilitation, extension and research projects across WA and the Northern Territory. I have developed an appreciation of the processes occurring within soil, and how they relate directly and indirectly to plant growth, and a curiosity about how to manage them for sustainable and profitable production.