Shaun Coffey is Chief Executive of the Crawford Fund for Food Security, an Australian non-profit advancing international agricultural research and capacity building to address global food and nutrition challenges. A systems thinker and leadership educator, Shaun brings decades of experience across government, research, and the private sector. He champions co-design, inclusive development, and ethical governance. At the Crawford Fund, he has launched the Global Research Leadership Collective and new advocacy frameworks to strengthen Australia's role in global food systems. Shaun writes regularly on connected leadership, improvisation, and the practice of leading with purpose

Coffey has led organisations making major contributions to the application of S&T in Australian agriculture. He is highly successful in refocusing and revitalising research and technology activities. Coffey has consistently created organisations characterised by high moral, with a strong focus on delivering S&T outcomes and with adequate resources for the task. His major contributions have been in the effective interaction between research and industry practice in animal based agriculture. Widely acknowledged for his success, Coffey regularly accepts invitations to present papers overseas, serves on numerous committees and boards and leads national and international review activities.