Charles Sturt University (CSU) weed scientist and a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture, Professor Deirdre Lemerle is retiring as Director of the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation. Professor Lemerle has been the Centre Director since its inception ten years ago and before that spent 25 years with the NSW Department of Primary Industries in Wagga Wagga. Reflecting on her tenure, Professor Lemerle said the alliance between CSU and the NSW DPI has fired-up research to improve the profitability and productivity for agriculture. "There's a great team of scientists at the Graham Centre and we have developed partnerships with farming systems groups to ensure that our research is needs driven," she said. "I've also enjoyed working on projects to improve farming overseas, particularly Asia." Professor Lemerle's research has included non-chemical weed management and increasing crop competitiveness with weeds. She was awarded the Council of Australian Weed Science Societies Medal for Excellence in Weed Science in 1998, and the CSU Vice-Chancellors Award for Research Excellence to Allelopathy Research Group 2000. A morning tea to farewell Professor Lemerle will be held at the CSU Convention Centre at 10am on Friday 20 March.