Professor Powles serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of two US based and one France based startups in the agbiotech area. In a voluntary capacity he serves on the Board of Grains Industry WA (GIWA) and is Regional Chair for the Australian Academy of Science. He owns a 340 hectare grain cropping enterprise in the great southern region of WA.

Professor Powles' early research (PhD and postdoctoral research in Canberra, Stanford and Paris) earnt him an international scientific reputation in plant physiology/biochemistry. On return to Australia in 1984 Powles demonstrated his vision by correctly foreseeing that herbicide resistance would blight Australia and world agriculture. Powles pioneered modern weed science in Australia and became the national and international authority on herbicide resistance. He is a superb communicator at the academic, industry, practitioner and community level. Recently, Powles has successfully moved into senior scientific management and leadership roles. He (with Dr J. Cullen) initiated and orchestrated the successful bid for the Australian Co-operative Research Centre for Weed Management and served as inaugural Director for several years. Powles catalysed major industry funding to establish the WA Herbicide Resistance Initiative.