Annette Cowie has a background in soil science and plant nutrition, with particular interest in sustainable resource management. She is Director of Rural Climate Solutions, a collaboration between NSW Department of Primary Industries and the University of New England. Her research focuses on greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, carbon dynamics in forests and agricultural soils, and life cycle assessment of GHG impacts of reforestation, bioenergy and biochar. She contributes to development of climate change policy, including GHG accounting for emissions trading at state, national and international levels.