Building upon a growing demand for agricultural education at Charles Sturt University (CSU) is the key focus of the new Head of the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Professor Gavin Ash. Deputy Director of the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Professor Ash specialises in plant pathology, has a strong research background and a long career in agricultural education. Professor Ash said CSU has more than a thousand agricultural undergraduate students and enrolments in the Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management have steadily increased. "Students are recognising that there are very good opportunities for agricultural scientists in terms of the diversity of jobs and the remuneration," he said. "Agriculture is a power-house in terms of research at Charles Sturt University and with new facilities we have an opportunity to build our profile, not just in southern NSW but overseas in places like South East Asia."  Professor Ash's research has focused on exploring innovative approaches to the management of diseases, weeds, insects, nematodes and molluscs in annual crops such as wheat, rice, canola and perennial crops such as grapevines. Professor Ash replaces Professor John Mawson who will take up a role of Professor of Food Engineering, working with the Faculty of Science on specific projects.