Beef Central publishes an occasional summary of appointments, departures and achievements occurring across the red meat and livestock supply chain. Send details for entries to admin@beefcentral.com

• New chair for Australian Beef Sustainability Framework Steering Group
• Trump appoints new Secretary of Agriculture
• NT pastoral legend Ian McBean passes
• Stud stock marketing identity launches consultancy
• New feedlot project manager for MLA
• Specialist Wagyu marketing agency moves forward
• New appointments for Elders Queensland and NT team
• Nutrien Western Livestock expands onto Central Highlands
• Angus Australia and MLA execs join ABRI leadership
• New business development manager for Angus Australia
• Zanda McDonald Award welcomes new Board Members
• Alison Penfold seeks Federal seat

New chair for Australian Beef Sustainability Framework Steering Group

The Australian Beef Sustainability Framework has appointed Patrick Hutchinson as the new independent chair of the ABSF Steering Group. He succeeds Queensland’s Mark Davey, who left the part-time role towards the end of last year.

Patrick Hutchinson

The ABSF sets out the key indicators of sustainability performance for the beef industry, providing evidence-based metrics to allow producers to track their performance on animal care, environmental stewardship, economic resilience, and people and the community.

The ABSF benchmarks the Australian beef producers and tracks performance against 24 priority issues and 53 sustainability indicators. It assures customers that producers care as much about sustainability as they do.

Mr Hutchinson left his previous role as chief executive officer of the Australian Meat Industry Council in October last year. AMIC is yet to make a permanent replacement, but AMIC’s general manager of Industry Affairs, Tim Ryan, has been handling the role on an interim basis. An appointment is expected by the end of February.

Mr Hutchinson has spent 25 years in the red meat and livestock industry, spanning advocacy, industry service delivery, global trade and policy. He now has his own agribusiness advisory. He brings a broad, supply chain-wide perspective to the role to ensure sustainability remains a priority for the entire industry.

Mr Hutchinson believes that ABSF use can empower the Australian beef industry to demonstrate its value to customers, investors, retailers and stakeholders.

“My priority will be to engage with all parts of the supply chain to drive meaningful sustainability outcomes. Collaboration is key, and I will work to ensure the ABSF continues to reflect the needs and ambitions of the entire beef industry,” he said.

The Australian Beef Sustainability Framework is owned, developed, and led by industry through its peak industry bodies of Cattle Australia, Australian Lot Feeders Association, and the Australian Meat Industry Council. The ABSF is overseen by an Advisory Board and led by the independent Steering Group.

Trump appoints new Secretary of Agriculture

US President Donald Trump has appointed Texan Brooke Rollins as the new US Secretary of Agriculture. The US Senate recently confirmed her nomination with a vote of 72-28.

Brooke Rollins

Ms Rollins graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development. After adding her Law Degree at the University of Texas School of Law, she served as Governor Rick Perry’s policy director before running the Texas Public Policy Foundation for 15 years. Most recently, she served as the chief executive of the America First Policy Institute. During President Trump’s first administration, she was the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives in the White House.

As Agriculture secretary, here policy settings will be closely watched by the exporters servicing the US market, including the Australian red meat industry.

The American Meat Institute congratulated Ms Rollins, saying she takes the helm of the USDA at a critical time for meat processors.

“The Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, written during the Biden Administration, wrongly excluded meat and poultry as part of a healthy dietary pattern,” AMI said. “The unscientific and ideologically-driven report recommended reducing red and processed meats in Americans’ diets. Meat products are nutrient dense foods that help Americans meet their essential amino acid and nutrient requirements.”

“Brooke Rollins’ passion for agriculture is clear and we know she will be a strong advocate for the entire agriculture and food value chain from production to harvest and beyond,” said Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute president.

NT pastoral legend Ian McBean passes

Northern Territory pastoral legend Ian McBean passed away recently aged 93, removing another link with the top end’s colourful pioneering history.

ABC Darwin’s Matt Brann filed a worthy tribute to Mr McBean, who began his career as a ringer near Alice Springs, later becoming a boss drover and eventually building his own cattle business.

Seeking adventure, Mr McBean travelled to the NT at the age of 21, taking a job as a ringer on Elkedra Station, northeast of Alice Springs. He would go on to spend more than 60 years working in the territory’s cattle industry, including a decade as a contract drover. In 1963, he moved 1250 Shorthorns 1500km from Auvergne Station down the famous Murranji stock route and across the Barkly Tableland to Avon Downs.

After years of droving, Mr McBean went on to become a cattle producer, initially owning Innesvale Station, before buying Bradshaw Station in the Victoria River District and then Bonalbo in the Douglas Daly in retirement. He earned a n Australia Medal (AM) for services to the industry in 2008.

In a statement, the NT Cattlemens Association said Mr McBean was a profound loss to his family, friends, and the NT cattle industry, where he was not just a pioneer but one of its strongest advocates.

“Ian’s legacy is one of resilience, leadership, and an enduring commitment to the industry. From his early days as a drover to becoming a respected station owner, Ian dedicated more than 60 years to shaping the NT’s pastoral sector.”

Click here to read ABC’s recent tribute.

Stud stock marketing identity launches consultancy

Experienced stud stock marketing and promotion expert Brett Tindal has launched his own consultancy business, having worked for 22 years with legacy media ag newspaper publisher Australian Community Media (formerly Fairfax and Rural Press).

Mr Tindal was formerly national livestock advertising manager for ACM, where he accumulated vast knowledge and contacts across the eastern and southern states beef and sheep stud stock industry.

In his new business, Signature Ag Marketing, he will work with beef, Merino and lamb stud stock clients, new and old, in designing and executing marketing campaigns and other content for upcoming sales. His skills extend across editorial, advertising and photography sides of the business, and he comes highly recommended by Beef and Sheep Central.

He was one of the founders of the NSW Beef Spectacular Feedback Trail run in collaboration with Teys Australia.

His new business is based out of Wagga Wagga NSW. Click here to make contact.

New feedlot project manager for MLA

Meat & Livestock Australia has appointed Liz Pearson as the industry service delivery company’s new feedlot project manager.

Liz Pearson

She replaces Matt Van der Saag, who has moved up into a new role as MLA program manager feedlot and sustainability.

Ms Pearson is well known across the red meat industry, having worked in program, operations and supply chain management roles management roles across the industry. Most recently she was program manager for online auction and live streaming services provider StockLive.

Prior to that she spent  eight years with Angus Australia, working in a variety of roles including commercial supply chain management, and marketing and communications management.

She started in her new role this month.

Specialist Wagyu marketing agency moves forward

Specialist Wagyu marketing and genetics advisory firm Premium Bovine Solutions has established its own agency entity, having previously operated through an alignment with Adcock Partners Property & Livestock.

George Lubbe

Principal and founder George Lubbe said over the past two and a half years Premium Bovine Solutions had grown into a respected livestock sales and marketing enterprise, assisting Wagyu producers to secure forward supply contracts and facilitating the sale of cattle during particularly difficult trading periods.

By negotiating forward supply contracts, optimising market solutions for clients, and forging premium supply chain partnerships, PBS has established itself as a trusted and innovative supply chain manager. The company’s ability to align livestock genetics with target markets and ensure supply security has strengthened its reputation – particularly in aiding Wagyu operations during challenging industry conditions, such as assisting producers in navigating market volatility and securing forward contracts ensuring consistent cash flow during price downturns.

With a career built around strategic livestock procurement, feedlot operations, premium breeding programs, and supply chain management, the foundation of PBS is rooted in experience and industry knowledge.

Premium Bovine Solutions (PBS Marketing) has now a livestock agency in its own right, recently joining the Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association and Stock & Station Agents Co-operative Limited (StockInsure).

The company has also deployed the industry leading AgriNous digital livestock sales management software to enhance operations and improve client service.

“Looking ahead, we are committed to leveraging our expertise to drive operational excellence, foster industry partnerships, and launch premium cattle programs, including an upcoming Wagyu producer support initiative aimed at enhancing market access and improving supply chain efficiency,” Mr Lubbe said.

Appointments for Elders Queensland and NT team

Elders has made several key appointments in the company’s Queensland and Northern Territory operations.

Chris Todd

Experienced former agent and livestock manager Chris Todd will take up a new role as branch manager covering Rockhampton, Moura and Theodore next Monday.

In his most recently role he spent three years as general manager of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders Association of Australia, having previously worked in senior positions within Mort & Co, Consolidated Meat Group and the. Earlier he served as manager of Primac’s Rockhampton branch, and has held various senior livestock leadership roles with Primac and Elders.

Joining Chris in the Moura and Theodore branches will be Matthew Olsson. Matthew has been appointed as Territory Sales Manager, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in the livestock agency business.

Further strengthening the livestock team, Sam Ritchie and Michael Moritz have been appointed to Territory Sales Manager positions in Cloncurry and Charleville respectively.

Further north, Neil Mathieson took up his role as Territory Sales Manager in Katherine mid last year, servicing livestock clients throughout the region. Mr Mathieson has broad experience in the beef industry, having worked across northern Australia as a jackaroo, station manager, and contract musterer, before working in organic beef for Hewitt Foods for the last few years.

Todd Donaldson

In other developments, familiar face Todd Donaldson, who has been with Elders for two years, has been appointed branch manager for Elders in northwest Queensland. Mr Donaldson was previously in a livestock production advisory role, providing animal health advice to clients out of Townsville.

Elders Area Manager northern Queensland and NT Andrew Young said Mr Donaldson’s experience in the northern pastoral industry would be a great asset to the Elders team in the northwest.

“Todd is well known and respected in the industry, with more than 25 years’ experience servicing customers at the coalface. He has a passion for increasing livestock productivity by value adding through tailored animal health and livestock nutrition programs for his client base,” Mr Young said.

Nutrien Western Livestock expands onto Central Highlands

In other stock agency developments, Will Beirne is relocating to Emerald to lead the Nutrien Western Livestock and Property team in the Central Highlands.

Will Beirne

Mr Beirne is a member of the Nutrien Western Livestock and Property group which includes Boyd Curran, Jeremy Barron, Des Cuffe and Sam Curran. Nutrien Western began as a partnership between Nutrien (then Landmark) and Longreach sheep and cattle producer and agribusiness service provider Boyd Curran in 2015 and now has representatives in Longreach, Blackall, Winton, Hughenden and Emerald. Mr Curran has strong family ties to the Central Highlands, having grown up at Capella, and his family also has deep links to Nutrien and its predecessor companies.

“Our business is very strong in the Central West and the North West and we are excited with the opportunity to expand into the Central Highlands. My family have been dealing with Nutrien for generations; initially through New Zealand Loan and Dalgety’s in Emerald so when we partnered with Nutrien in 2015 it made sense. It feels like we are going home.”

Mr Curran said Will, who has a Commerce Law Degree, has been a member of the team for three years, and further appointments in the Central Highlands are expected to follow. From its base in Queensland’s Central West, Nutrien Western sells cattle right through the Northern Territory and the Queensland Gulf, and is now looking to expand its footprint in the key Central Highlands region.

Angus Australia and MLA execs join ABRI leadership

The Agricultural Business Research Institute has appointed Christian Duff as the body’s new chief operations officer, and Rudolph Linde in the new role of chief commercialisation officer, both based in Armidale.

ABRI is a data-driven livestock improvement services provider, delivering genetic evaluation technologies like BreedPlan to enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability in the beef industry in Australia and globally.

Rudolph Linde, ABRI managing director Anita Kauffmann and Christian Duff.

Messrs Duff and Linde both bring a wealth of experience in livestock genetics and breeding technologies to their respective new leadership positions.

Mr Duff will join ABRI in March from Angus Australia where he has been general manager for genetic improvement for the past ten years. Mr Linde will join ABRI in late February from his role as Meat & Livestock Australia’s genetics business manager.

ABRI Managing Director Anita Kauffmann said the skills and experience the pair brought would further position ABRI to respond strategically to industry needs.

“These appointments signal to industry that ABRI is serious in its mission to deliver leading-edge, data-driven solutions that enhance the productivity, sustainability and profitability of the global agricultural industry,” Ms Kauffmann said.

“Christian’s life-long affinity with the Australian agricultural industry is well known, and many have witnessed his achievements at Angus Australia. His experience and acumen in areas including applied research, industry collaboration, and the targeted development of genomic evaluation enhancements, will have an immediate and lasting impact on the value we provide to our customers.

“Rudolph’s part in the transformation of sheep genetic evaluation within MLA gives him key insights into delivering new services for the beef industry. His understanding of the complexity of commercialising beef and dairy genetic evaluation services globally, in order to address the needs of industry, will ensure that ABRI leverages the power of DNA and EBV data for multi-breed and commercial cattle herd products.”

New business development manager for Angus Australia

Angus Australia has appointed Jake Bourne as the breed society’s new business development executive.

Mr Bourne, a former genetics specialist with Zoetis Genetics Australia, will be working with Angus Australia to build new business opportunities, particularly in the genomics field. Prior to that he worked with RuralCo and Fort Dodge. He has specialised in performance animal systems and has a wealth of experience, and will be available to AA commercial and seedstock members to maximise the potential of Angus HeiferSelect, Angus SteerSelect and other tools.

CEO Scott Wright said Jake’s appointment was an important development and allowed Angus Australia to service members with genomic technologies, particularly in the commercial industry. “We see his appointment as critical in aligning our seedstock and commercial member needs,” he said.

Zanda McDonald Award welcomes new board members

The Zanda McDonald Award, a recognition of excellence in agriculture across Australia and New Zealand, has appointed four new board members.

Joining the group are Tess Herbert, Traci Houpapa, Adelaide McDonald and Greg Pankhurst, strengthening the award’s vision, ensuring the next generation of agricultural leaders continue to be inspired, supported, and celebrated.

Tess Herbert brings expertise in sustainable farming and environmental stewardship, and a wealth of board experience. She is owner/operator of a sixth-generation family farming business which includes lotfeeding, lamb and wool production and crops, silage and hay production. She is a former Australian beef Sustainability Framework chair.

Traci Houpapa is a recognised NZ industry leader and trusted advisor to Māori, Government and industry on strategic and economic development. Known for her strong and inclusive leadership, she is dedicated to empowering others and driving positive change in industry.

Adelaide McDonald has a long standing connection with the Australian beef industry, serving as director of MDH, one of the largest in Australia. She brings corporate, financial and a extensive agricultural expertise to the board.

QLEA president Greg Pankhurst

Greg Pankhurst is an agribusiness consultant with extensive experience in strategy, rural development, and agribusiness innovation across South East Asia and Australia. He spent 25 years living in Indonesia, and still has business interests across Asia.

“Together, the four bring unparalleled expertise, diverse perspectives, and a shared passion for agriculture. This marks the next phase of the award’s growth and development, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to the team so we can reach new heights in the years ahead.” said award chairman Shane McManaway.

After years of service to the award, Julie McDonald has announced her retirement from the Board. Emma Black, the inaugural winner of the Zanda McDonald award and co-founder of Black Box Co, has also retired from the Board after a significant contribution.

The Zanda McDonald Award is committed to inspiring, mentoring, and nurturing the future of agriculture, providing opportunities for young leaders to thrive, innovate, and shape the future of the industry in both Australia and New Zealand.

Alison Penfold seeks Federal seat

Alison Penfold

Well known livestock industry lobbyist Alison Penfold has been pre-selected as the Nationals Candidate for the Federal seat of Lyne, in the leadup to this year’s election. Stretching 16,000sq km from the Hastings River to the Hunter, Lyne is a diverse seat of coastal and country landscapes with diverse industry in place.

Ms Penfold has most recently worked as senior adviser to the Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism, Kevin Hogan, and prior to that spent five years as chief executive officer with the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council, and earlier, Government Relations Manager with Woolworths Group. Prior work history included NSW State Director with the Nationals and advisory roles with Canberra heavyweights Mark Vaile, David Littleproud and Warren Truss.