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Meet the Cloncurry DPI team

Page published: April 22, 2025 | Page reviewed: April 22, 2025

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has a team of 5 in Cloncurry who service the whole northwest district of Queensland.

The Cloncurry DPI Team (From left to right): Sally Alford, Jane Evans, Kirra Riggs, Greta Dunne, Harriet Dunne.

In the past year, our group has expanded and there are now 2 biosecurity officers, and 3 beef extension officers based in the Courthouse on Daintree Street. We are committed to supporting the local beef industry by providing free personalised on-farm advice and support.  If we are not in the office, you will find us out and about, on property, at workshops and in the community talking about all topics grazing land management, biosecurity, genetics and disease management to name a few.

Biosecurity

Kirra Riggs grew up on her family-owned and operated cattle station in the Sturt Plateau region of the Northern Territory. During her extended gap year, she worked as a veterinary nurse for two and a half years. Over the past few years, while working on other properties and her family’s station, Kirra has been studying a Bachelor of Animal Science, majoring in Livestock Science, online at the University of New England (UNE) and is expected to graduate at the end of 2025. In January 2024, Kirra relocated to Cloncurry to join the DPI as a biosecurity officer. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, playing sports, gardening, riding her horses, and spending time with her dogs, Dodge and Sally.

Sally Alford is originally from Lawrence, New South Wales. After school, Sally completed her first year of a Bachelor of Agriculture majoring in Agribusiness through Central Queensland University while working at the Fitzroy Basin Association in Rockhampton as a land management officer. For the following few years, Sally worked in the Northern Territory as a station hand on the Barkly while studying part-time. Sally continues to study while working as a biosecurity officer and is expected to graduate this year. Sally is passionate about campdrafting and beef production in northern Australia and loves to get out and about.

 Kirra and Sally can help you with:

  • general animal biosecurity
  • animal disease surveillance
  • disease investigations and TSEs (see Bucks for Brains pamphlet)
  • animal welfare
  • Registered Biosecurity Entity (RBE) and Property Identification Code (PIC) support and enquiries
  • brand enquiries
  • NLIS accounts and device assistance.

Beef Extension

DPI Cloncurry extension team

Jane Evans grew up around Injune and Roma in south-west Queensland where her family runs a small beef business. After school, she worked as a station hand in the Northern Territory’s Victoria River region before heading to Gatton to attend university. Jane completed a dual degree in Agribusiness and Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Queensland in 2020. With a particular interest in beef breeding, genetics, and production, she then went on to work at a wagyu stud near Condamine before making the move to Cloncurry. Jane has lived and worked here for the past 3.5 years and is very passionate about promoting all that North West Queensland and the beef industry has to offer. She is secretary of the Northwest Queensland Regional Beef Research Committee and is involved in the Cloncurry and District Show Society and Cloncurry and District Race Club. Jane also plays in the local netball, volleyball and touch football competitions and enjoys supporting and attending regional events.

Greta Dunne is originally from a family cattle property southwest of Biloela in Central Queensland. Growing up in a farming family sparked her passion for the beef cattle industry and family businesses, leading her to study a Bachelor of Business with a major in Agribusiness at the University of New England. After completing her degree in 2023, Greta secured a position with the DPI in Charters Towers as a technical officer, where she gained valuable experience in grazing land management, genetics, herd management, and data collection. She became part of the Cloncurry DPI team in August 2024. Although she’s only been in Cloncurry for a short time, Greta has become the secretary of the Cloncurry and District Race Club, joined the local netball and volleyball teams, and enjoys participating in community events. Outside of work, you will find Greta baking, reading and spending time with her dog.

Harriet Dunne joined the DPI last year. Originally from Biloela, Harriet graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture from Central Queensland University in Rockhampton in 2019. Following her graduation, she worked for two years in a rural financial consulting business before heading to the Northern Territory in 2021 and spent three seasons working on a Northern Territory cattle property.  Harriet enjoys spending time with her horses and has worked as a pen rider at a feedlot in Condamine.

 Jane, Greta and Harriet can you with:

  • grazing land management
  • data collection and utilisation
  • business planning
  • breeding and genetics
  • improved pastures
  • herd health and management
  • nutrition.

Contact us

Come and visit us in-person at the Cloncurry DPI Office behind the Courthouse, (48 Daintree Street, Cloncurry) or call 13 25 23 with your enquiry and ask for one of us!