Oliver Overman joined TIA in January to take on the role of Industry Engagement and Extension Officer. He grew up in the regional farming community of Moriac in southwest Victoria. Oliver completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociology in 2017 at Deakin University, before switching his career focus on working in the wine sector.
Since 2018 he has worked for vineyards and wineries across mainland Australia and in Europe, settling in Tasmania in 2021. In addition to vineyards, Oliver has worked in market gardens, livestock farms and environmental community enterprises. He has developed a passion for sustainable vineyard/farming practices, having enrolled in a Diploma of Regenerative Agriculture with SCU in 2024.
Tell us about your role?
I'm working on the Growing value from irrigation for Tasmanian agriculture project. This is a three year, statewide project focusing on how to boost sustainability and profitability for Tasmanian farmers through the efficient use of irrigation. The project involves economic analysis of irrigation investment and will establish five case study sites to benchmark current irrigation efficiency.
As an industry engagement and extension officer, Oliver is responsible for maintaining relationships with the research partners and stakeholders. He works with representatives from State Government and industry bodies, as well as growers and irrigation specialists, to ensure that the needs or questions of the community are incorporated, heard and addressed. He acts as in-the-field reporter for the scientists that are leading the project. In addition to this, Oliver will also be involved in producing communication material, organising extension activities and evaluation.
Oliver is also working with Professor Kathy Evans on the co-designed Testing botrytis management options for wine grapes project as a field officer. In this project, Oliver works closely with Kathy and the vineyard managers of 11 vineyards across the state. Each site is trialling a different method of botrytis management, and Oli’s role is to chat to growers about the season, assist with the disease assessment, and help prepare workshops and reference materials.
What is the best part of your job?
I really enjoy getting to meet farmers, irrigators and managers to discuss their farming operation. The best days are when I get to sit in a ute and drive around with a farmer looking at pipes and damns, pivots and crops. I grew up in a farming community and worked on farms for most of my life, so chatting about the complexities of disease management or irrigation comes naturally to me.
What do you consider your most significant accomplishment so far?
Not a scientist or a teacher, but I worked in vineyards for years prior to this job, and I was always pretty proud of the vines, and the wine we produced.
Why did you choose to work in agricultural science?
I grew up in and around farms in south-west Victoria and after my undergrad I decided to try wine making. That took me down a path of viticulture, sustainable farming and regenerative agriculture.
You can’t make good wine without a healthy environment and a sustainable farm. I now enjoy being on the other side of the fence helping growers figure out how to be more sustainable.
When you’re not at work, what types of activities keep you busy?
I love living in Tassy. I think Tasmanian pinot noir is the best in the country, and you’re never too far away from a national park or a beautiful beach. I enjoy hiking, gardening, and ocean swimming, so for me this is the perfect place to be.
I still try to keep involved in the wine industry; helping out friends with harvest or pruning. I’m even planning on fermenting some grapes of my own this year.
To get in touch with Oliver, send him an email: oliver.overman@utas.edu.au
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