Last night’s award winners – from left, Pratulya Pradeep, JBS Australia; Sean Jurd, EC Throsby; Cailan Byrnes, Rocky Creek Abattoir; Michael Finucan, JBS Australia; Malerie Janes, Midfield Group; Max Barnes, All Energy; Jonathan Cook, Intelligent Robotics; Simon Stahl, Casino Food Co.
CAILAN Byrnes from Rocky Creek Abattoir in Far North Queensland has been named Emerging Leader of the Year at the inaugural AMPC Awards of Excellence, announced in Brisbane last night.
Celebrating innovation, leadership and impact across the red meat processing industry, the awards were presented as part of the Multivac Industry Dinner at the Australian meat processor Corporation’s 2025 Innovation Showcase.
Cailan is part of the third generation of his family to operate a vertically integrated grazing and butchering enterprise in the Cairns and hinterland region.
As plant manager at Rocky Creek, near Innisfail, he oversees the processing of about 150 beef cattle each week, including processing on behalf of more than 50 local producers.
“My goal is to see RCA grow into a Tier 1 processing facility and play a leading role in the Far North Queensland red meat sector,” Cailan said last night.
“A central part of this vision is to deliver a sustainable, regionally-based processing solution that actively supports and engages Indigenous communities. By processing locally for locals, I aim to reduce food miles and strengthen regional food security.”
Niels Juel – Multivac Australia; Edwina Toohey – AMPC; Cailan Byrnes – Rocky Creek Abattoir; Lauren Smith – AMPC.
AMPC chief executive Edwina Toohey congratulated Cailan on his achievement and praised all the award recipients.
“These awards celebrate the talent, vision, and dedication that are shaping the future of red meat processing in Australia,” she said.
“Cailan represents the passion and leadership that will carry our industry forward, and all of tonight’s winners demonstrate the value of innovation and collaboration in ensuring we remain world leaders. These inaugural awards are a chance to celebrate the best of our industry – from groundbreaking research to environmental leadership and the next generation of leaders.”
The dinner concluded a trade show and conference program that included 450 delegates and 50 exhibitors.
“Over the last two days, we’ve seen firsthand the innovation, collaboration and energy that define our red meat processing industry, from technology demonstrations to thought-provoking presentations and everything in between. This Showcase reminds us just how future-focused our industry really is,” Ms Toohey said.
2025 AMPC Awards of Excellence – other winners
Continuous Improvement and Global Competitiveness – EC Throsby, Whittington, NSW
EC Throsby recognised that poly entrapment in cartons of frozen bulk trim was a potential food safety concern, as well as a potential market access issue, so they trialled replacing the plastic liner in packaging with a thermoformed pouch. The solution had the added benefit of reducing plastic waste.
Workforce Innovation – The Casino Food Co, Casino, NSW (Strategic partnership with TAFE NSW)
The Casino Food Company (CFC), in partnership with TAFE NSW, has developed a workforce initiative that redefines attraction, training, retention, safety, inclusion and wellbeing in the red meat processing industry. TAFE educators work onsite, ensuring training reflects real workplace processes, policies and safety standards.
Driving Innovation & Technology Leadership – JBS Australia
JBS is the first beef processor to receive “Facility OCM Device Approval” from AUS-MEAT and now has sites approved by AUS-MEAT for MEQ cold carcase grading. This achievement follows three years of collaborative work including the integration and deployment of new technologies across JBS, paving the way for industry adoption of new technologies and advancing efficiency, safety, sustainability and competitiveness.
Environmental Performance – The Midfield Group, Warrnambool, Victoria
This award recognises the red meat processor that has demonstrated the most exceptional environmental results through measured outcomes in water, energy, waste, and emissions intensity as part of AMPC’s 2024 Environmental Performance Review. The Midfield Group achieved best practice results in resource efficiency and demonstrated a strong efficiency culture across all levels of management.
R&D Excellence – All Energy, Brisbane, Queensland
All Energy delivered a pilot program to develop and test the potential for biomass boilers to provide sustainable fuel options for Australia’s red meat processing facilities. The project, supported by JBS Australia, contributed to on-site coal being replaced by bioenergy as the sector’s second largest source of thermal energy.
R&D Collaboration – Intelligent Robotics, Kilcoy, Queensland and Cootamundra, NSW
The IR SCRIBE automated beef scribing system is a pioneering AI-driven, robotic carcase cutting technology developed by Intelligent Robotics in collaboration with processors Kilcoy Global Foods and Australian Meat Group (AMG) Cootamundra, along with collaborating research partners, including Stafford Engineering, Staubli and Greenleaf Enterprises. The IR SCRIBE AI-driven beef scribing systems’ core purpose is to improve processing accuracy, yield, labour efficiency and workplace safety.
Innovation Manager of the Year – Pratulya Pradeep, JBS Australia, Brisbane, Queensland
Pratulya exemplifies the core objectives of the AMPC Innovation Managers Program, which are to improve collaboration, support the extension and adoption of new ideas, help deliver impactful programs and projects, and actively build capability through professional development.
Source: AMPC