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Seeking short to medium term positions as consultant on seed quality and quality control, incl. quality assurance

Family Name:   DON  
First Names:    
RONALD
Date of Birth:  
8 April 1951
Nationality:      
British
Civil Status:     
Single

Education:       

Institution

University of Stirling

Date:  from (month /        year): to (month / year)

September 1969: June 1972

Degree or Diploma obtained

BA (Hons) 1st Class Chemistry and Biology (included approaches & methods, philosophy, psychology and sociology)

Institution

Stevenson College, Edinburgh

Date:  from (month /year): to (month / year)

September 2000: June 2002

Degree or Diploma obtained

Certificate in Training Practice

Language Skills:  (Mark 1 to 5 for competence) (5 being most competent)        

 Language

 Reading

 Speaking

Writing

English

5

5

5

French

2

1

1


Membership of professional bodies:

Designated Member of the International Seed Testing Association

Membership of International Seed Testing Association Committees
• Germination (Chairman)
• Moisture Content (Member at large)
• Proficiency (Member at large)
• Rules (Member at large)
• Tetrazolium (Vice-Chairman)

Other skills

Fully Computer literate

UK Government fully trained staff inspector and management and organisational consultant

Present position

Chief Officer of the Official Seed Testing Station for Scotland within the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA)

Years with the firm: 11 years

 

Key qualifications:  (relevant to the programme)

International expert in seed testing and seed quality control.

Extensive managerial experience of official and licensed seed testing stations in UK.  Responsible for the:

Ø  provision of Scottish seed testing  services and their supervision;

Ø  training of UK seed analysts;

Ø  training of Scottish seed samplers;

Ø  training of seed technologists; and

Ø  seed quality research and development programmes at SASA.

 

International consultant:

Ø  Advising the government of Nepal. Involved advice on: amendment of the Nepal Seeds Act; evaluation of seed testing and certification services and steps needed to bring it up to international standards; formulation of appropriate internal and overseas training courses; development of quality control systems; and the encouragement of the private sector. Also organised and  presented seed quality workshops and training courses. 

Ø  Advising the EC on seed quality control in Turkmenistan and steps required to bring procedures in line with international standards.

Ø  Advising the Irish government on steps required to be taken for their seed testing services to achieve quality assurance accreditation by the ISTA

Ø  Advising the authorities in Kosovo on the steps required to enable the seed testing services in Kosovo to: enforce Kosovan Seed Regulations; and  become accredited to ISTA.

 

Organiser of ISTA Workshops and training courses on germination, tetrazolium and quality assurance

 

30 years specific experience of seed physiology and testing covering all aspects of research and development; administration and training.

 

21 years experience of lecturing and assessment of students on Food Production Systems; Environmental Health and Public Control courses.

 

 

Currently Member of UK Chief Officer’s Group - responsible for examination of trainee seed samplers and seed analysts and the maintenance of seed testing standards in UK.  UK Designated Member of ISTA; member of ISTA Committees: Germination (Chairman), Moisture Content, Proficiency, Rules and, Tetrazolium (Vice-Chairman).

 

Overseas Experience: 

 

Date:  from

(month / year)

to (month / year)

 

Details

 

March 1996

(4 weeks)

Location: Ashkabad, Turkmenistan

Company: Sopex, Belgium

Position: Seed Testing Expert

Description: EU Tacis project. Evaluated steps required to bring seed testing services up to date and in line with international standards and organised training course and workshop covering differences between local seed testing methods and those of ISTA

 

November 1999

(4 Weeks)

March 2000

(4 weeks)

Location: Nepal (based in Kathmandu)

Company: DIFID Seed Sector Support Project. Project team: Hunting Technical Services Ltd., Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, Scottish Agricultural College and Metcon Consultants (Nepal)

Position: Seed Testing and Quality Control Expert

Description: Involved advice on: amendment of the Nepal Seeds Act; the development of quality control systems; the formulation of appropriate internal and overseas training courses; and the encouragement of the private sector. Evaluated seed testing and certification services and made recommendations on steps needed to bring it up to international standards.  Also presented seed quality workshops and training courses.

October 2001

(1 week)

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Company: Scottish Executive, UK Government

Position: Seed Testing and Quality Assurance Expert

Description: Carried out an audit of seed testing services and made recommendations on steps required to ensure that the Irish Official Seed Testing Station would achieve accreditation to the ISTA.

July 2004-11-22
(1 week)

Memphis, USA

Company: ISTA

Position: Tetrazolium Expert

Description: Organised and provided training on tetrazolium testing (theoretical and practical) for seed analysts of USDA seed testing laboratories.

August/ September 2004

(5 Weeks)

 

Location: Prishtina and Peje (Kosovo)

Company: European Agency for Reconstruction Seed Regulatory Services Project.  Project Team: Agrifor Consult in association with SASA

Position: Seed Testing and Laboratory Expert

Description: Carried out an audit of seed testing services and made recommendations on steps required to ensure that the Kosovan Seed Testing Service could enforce the Kosovan Seed Marketing Regulations.  Also made recommendations on steps required to introduce QA to seed quality control services and become accredited to ISTA.  Organised and provided training to laboratory, field and administrative staff.

May 2007

(1 Week)

 

Location: Curitiba, Brazil

Company: ISTA

Position: Germination and tetrazolium expert

Description: Organised and provided training on germination tetrazolium testing at ISTA Workshop.

May 2007

(1 Week)

 

Location: Brookings, USA

Company: Mid-West Seed Services

Position: ISTA Germination and Tetrazolium Expert

Description: Seed Technology Workshop

November 2007

(1 Week)

 

Location: Angers, France

Company: ISTA

Position: Germination expert

Description: Organised and provided training on germination procedures and methodology at ISTA Workshop.

 


 

Professional Experience Record:

 

Date:  from

(month / year)

to (month / year)

 

November 1993 - present

                

        

Location

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Company

Scottish Agricultural Scientific Services

Position

Chief Officer, Official Seed Testing Station for Scotland

Description

Management of the OSTS and responsible for:

·         the provision of seed testing services and supervision of licensed seed testing stations;

·         the UK training of seed analysts and seed samplers;

·         the training of seed technologists;

·         the OSTS research and development programme in support of seed quality testing;

·         collaboration with ISTA and UK representative at ISTA meetings;

·         leading and lecturing at ISTA workshops;

·         international seed quality consultancies;

·         the technical management of Quality Assurance System; and

·         the strategic planning of OSTS activities.

Date:  from

(month / year)

to (month / year)

December 1979 – September 2001

                

                

                

      .

 

Location

Scotland

Company

The Open University

Position

Tutor

Description

Lecturing and assessment of students enrolled for Food Production Systems; and Environmental Health and Public Control Courses.  Fully trained in distance teaching techniques and in assisting students realise their potential

Date:  from

(month / year)

to (month / year)

August 1989 – November 1992

                

                

                

           

Location

Scotland

Company

The Scottish Office Efficiency Unit

Position

Senior Assignment Officer

Description

Management and Organisational Consultant and Staff Inspector trained by HM Treasury.  Carried out reviews of the work of central government.  Author/co‑author of 10 reports making recommendations for efficiency, economy and effectiveness. Senior management accepted and implemented 90% of the recommendations contained within the reports

Date:  from

(month / year)

to (month / year)

May 1977 – August 1989

                

                

        

Location

Edinburgh, Scotland

Company

Official Seed Testing Station for Scotland

Position

Seed Physiologist

Description

Involved in all aspects of the station’s work; administrative, research and development, representational and training.  Examples of duties include: responsibility for the commissioning and completion of new seed testing buildings in 1987; author/co‑author of 15 scientific papers; member of ISTA germination, statistics and tetrazolium technical committees/working groups; and supervisor to 14 Edinburgh University MSc Seed Technology students.

Date:  from

(month / year)

to (month / year)

September 1972 – September 1976

                                                          

                

        

Location

Scotland

Company

Glasgow and Stirling Universities

Position

Research Assistant

Description

Investigation of factors controlling the Dormancy of Wild Oats (Avena fatua L.).

 

 

Publications

Scientific:

 

Adegbuyi E; Cooper SR and DON R (1981).  Osmotic priming of some herbage grass seed using polyethylene glycol (PEG).  Seed Science and Technology 9, 867‑879.

 

Berrie AMM, DON R, Buller DC, Alam M and Parker W (1975).  The occurrence and function of short chain fatty acids in plants, Plant Science Letters, 6, 163‑173.

 

Berrie AMM, Buller DC, DON R, Alam M and Parker W (1979).  Possible role of volatile fatty acids and abscisic acids in the dormancy of oats.  Plant Physiology 63, 758‑765.

 

Black M, Bewley J D and Halmer P (2006). The Encyclopedia of Seeds CABI  ISBN-10: 0-85199-723-6

Entries by DON R:

Abnormal seedlings, p1

Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA), p23 - 24

Certification schemes, p75 – 77

Certified seed, p77

Germination testing, p289 – 292

International Seed Testing Association, p355 – 356

Laws and regulations, p366 – 369

Purity testing, p564 – 565

Quality-Declared Seed, p567

Quality testing, p567 – 568

Sampling, p594 – 596

Tetrazolium test, p698 – 699

Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU), p739

 

Bustamante L, Seddon MG, DON R and Rennie W (1984).  Pea seed quality and seedling emergence in the field.  Seed Science and Technology 12, 551‑559.

 

Cockerell V and DON R (1999) The value of Quality Assurance in seed for Scottish Cereal Production. 1999 Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain  85 – 90.

 

DON R (2006) ISTA Handbook on Seedling Evaluation 3rd Edition 2003 including Amendment 2006

ISBN-10 3-906549-39-9.

 

DON R (2006)   Report on the Performance of Grinders used in OSTS for Scotland  Seed Testing International 132, 23-27.

 

DON R (2006) Amendments to ISTA Handbook on Seedling Evaluation Seed Testing International 131, 36.

 

DON R (2005)   Technical Committee Report – Germination Committee  Seed Testing International 130, 40 - 41.

 

DON R (2005) Germination Rounding Procedure  Seed Testing International 130, 46 - 47.

 

DON R (2005) ISTA Tetrazolium Proficiency Test 04-1  Seed Testing International 129, 38 - 39.

 

DON R (2005) ISTA Moisture Content Proficiency Test 04-1  Seed Testing International 129, 40 - 41.

 

DON R (2005) ISTA Tetrazolium Vigour Comparative Test Seed Testing International 129, 41 - 43.

 

DON R (2003) ISTA Moisture Content Proficiency Test. Seed Testing International 126, 40-41.

 

DON R (2003) Moisture Content Proficiency Test. Seed Testing International 125, 25-28 .

 

DON R (2003) Temperature Measurement and Control in ISTA Laboratories. Seed Testing International 125, 28-30 .

 

DON R (1997) Weed seed contaminants in cereal seed. In: Proceedings of the British Crop Protection Conference: Weeds – 1997, 17-20 November, 255-262

 

DON R (1979).  The use of chemicals particularly gibberellic acid for breaking cereal seed dormancy.  Seed Science and Technology 7, 355‑367.

 

DON R (1979).  The tetrazolium test - A biochemical test for viability.  In: Seed Technology for Genebanks, IBPGR, Rome, 35-37.

 

DON R, Leist N and Steiner AM (2001) Proceedings of the ISTA Tetrazolium Workshop ISBN 3-906549-33-X

 

DON R, Bartz J, Bryant GFM, van Geffen A, Lunn G, Overaa P and Steiner AM (1990).  Germination and tetrazolium testing of treated barley seed samples from glyphosate treated crops in 7 ISTA stations.  Seed Science and Technology 18, 641‑645.

 

DON R, Bustamante L, Rennie WJ and Seddon MG (1984).  Hollow heart of pea (Pisum sativum).  Seed Science and Technology 12, 707‑721.

 

DON R, Rennie WJ and Tomlin MM (1981).  A comparison of laboratory test procedures for winter wheat seed samples.  Seed Science and Technology9, 641‑653.

 

Hampton JG, Moreira de Carvalho N, Kruse M, DON R, Brodal G, Come D and Copeland LO  (2002) Quality Seed – a factor for sustainable progress Seed Science and Technology 30, 463 - 475.

 

Herath HB, DON R and Jack DA (1981).  Investigation into the effect of damage caused by mechanical treatment of mung bean (Vigna radiata) seeds at various moisture levels; increased moisture contents being obtained by a new quick method.  Seed Science and Technology 9, 853‑861.

 

McLaren G and DON R (2004).  The effect of glyphosate treatment on the germination potential of barley seed. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2004 153 – 158.

 

McLaren G and DON R (2002) The effect of glyphosate treatment on the germination potential of resultant crops. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2002, 103 – 108.

 

McLaren G and DON R (2002) The performance of glyphosate affected barley seed. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2002, 207 – 210.

 

McLaren G, DON R and Roberts AMI (2004) The performance of Glyphosate affected barley seed. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2004 223 – 228.

 

Nijënstein H, Nydan J, DON R and McGill C (2007) ISTA Handbook on Moisture Determination 1st Edition

ISBN 978-3-906549-49-1

 

Parkes ME, Legasse N and DON R (1990).  Assumptions used with the seed viability equation.  Seed Science and Technology 18, 653‑658.

 

Powell AA, DON R, Haig P, Phillips G, Tonkin JHB and Wheaton O (1984).  Assessment of the repeatability of the controlled deterioration vigour test both within and between laboratories.  Seed Science and Technology 12, 551‑559.

 

Rennie WJ, Tomlin MM and DON R (1980).  An examination of some factors affecting the quality of winter wheat seed sown in Scotland in 1976 and 1977.  Journal of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany 15, 362‑371.

 

Rennie WJ, Cockerell V, DON R and Sommerville (1990).  Assessing the germination potential of Monographella nivalis infected winter wheat seed.  Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 1990, 135‑138.

 

Talbot M, Wheelwright AV and DON R (1989).  Monitoring the performance of seed analysts when using sequential sampling procedures.  International Seed Testing Association Seed Symposium.  Reprint 96.

 

Talbot M, Soutar A and DON R (1989).  Monitoring the performance of seed analysts.  International Seed Testing Association Seed Symposium, Reprint 97.

 

Talbot M, Wheelwright AV and DON R (1989).  A sequential procedure for the routine tetrazolium testing of cereal seed viability.  International Seed Testing Association Seed Symposium Reprint 98.

 

Management Consultancy and Staff Inspection Reports - All published by The Scottish Office:

 

DON R (1990).  Review of posts of SEO and above in the Scottish Office Training Unit.

 

DON R and Hughes K (1991).  Review of the Scottish Sports Council.

 

DON R, Craig G, McDermott M, Mackay A and Freer G (1991).  Review of Statistical, Economist and Research Services.

 

DON R and Ure L (1991).  Review of The Scottish Office Welfare Unit.

 

DON R, Friel W, Robertson A and Thomson D (1992).  Review of the Roads Directorate.

 

DON R (1993).  Telecommunications Field Depots - In-House Bid Team Business Plan.

 

DON R (1993).  In-House Bid for “Specialist Communications Systems Maintenance” and “Radio Systems Maintenance”.

 

DON R and Freer G (1993).  Review of grading of National Galleries of Scotland Keeper Posts.

 

McQueen WRJ and DON R (1992).  Text Creation in The Scottish Office.

 

Wiseman A, Smith R, DON R and Friel W (1990).  Review of Personnel Management Division

1832

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