Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA) is proud to announce Dr Rob Wilson AM as the inaugural recipient of the ASA Honour Award, created to recognise individuals who have made an outstanding and lasting contribution to the agricultural show movement. The formal presentation will take place at the upcoming Perth Royal Show.
The ASA Honour Award was established to celebrate exceptional vision, service, leadership, collaboration, and impact. As ASA Chair Jacqueline Wilson-Smith reflected in her speech:
“There could be no more fitting inaugural recipient than Dr Rob Wilson. Rob’s contribution is truly remarkable — not just in the decades of service he has given, but in the foresight, courage, and unwavering belief in the power of collective action that has defined his leadership.”
Dr Wilson’s leadership came to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic, when shows across Australia faced cancellation and an uncertain future. He successfully took ASA’s case to Canberra, securing millions of dollars in federal funding that supported royals, regionals, and country shows nationwide. This vital support ensured the survival of over 580 shows — keeping the show movement alive at a time of great vulnerability.
Beyond this achievement, Rob has exemplified the very values the ASA Honour Award was created to acknowledge:
- Service – through tireless dedication to the movement.
- Leadership – stepping forward in times of challenge and showing the way.
- Collaboration – weaving together voices and efforts into a united force.
- Legacy – making a lasting difference to shows across Australia and the communities they serve.
It is especially fitting that the award will be formally presented in Perth, in Rob’s home state of Western Australia, by his peers John Snowball and Robyn Sermon on behalf of ASA.
On behalf of the ASA Board, members, and the broader show community, we extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Rob Wilson AM. His contribution has been profound, his leadership pioneering, and his legacy enduring.
“You are a trailblazer of collaborative leadership, and it is with the deepest gratitude that we recognise you as the first recipient of the ASA Honour Award,” said Ms Wilson-Smith.