Danny O'Brien, who formally worked as a media manager for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, has been appointed the new chief executive officer at the National Irrigators Council.

While Mr O'Brien only started working with the council this week, its board, led by western NSW citrus grower Col Thomson, has met several times.

Mr O'Brien said one of his first jobs would be hitting the road meeting irrigators across Australia, with a national tour on the cards for coming weeks.

He said while the National Irrigators Council represented irrigators both within and outside the Murray-Darling Basin, one of its priorities would be working with the Federal Government on its reforms for the basin, particularly pushing for more investment on irrigation infrastructure upgrades.