Cattle Australia president Garry Edwards left, and CEO Will Evans, right, with six of the seven BBL graduates this year – Liam Mowbray, Teagan Lawrence, Mia Doering, Tyla Comerford,; Larry Farquhar, and Ben Reardon. Absent Lewis Crothers (NSW). Click on images for a larger view.

TAKE one part youthful enthusiasm and energy; add a dash of ambition and sprinkles of curiosity and yearning for knowledge.

This is the powerful recipe that has underpinned the progress of a fine bunch of young beef industry stakeholders who graduated from Cattle Australia’s 2025-26 National Beef Leaders program in Brisbane on Thursday.

The NBL program is CA’s flagship leadership initiative and is designed for people 21-35 years who are established in their careers and ready to take the next step in leadership and advocacy.

Last week’s graduates, the second cohort to pass through the program launched a year earlier, first came together at the Cattle Connect industry event in Dalby last November.

Since then they have met frequently, either via zoom or in face-to-face training workshops, for a deep immersion in the beef industry; to learn how the sector functions and how it interacts with government, other industries and the broader community. Modules have covered leadership, policy development, corporate governance, learning profiling and media engagement.

Each was paired with a senior beef industry stakeholder for mentoring sessions and joined in CA board activities, including meeting with Ministers and Government officials at Parliament House.

Drawn from across all parts and regions of the Australian beef industry, this year’s program participants (full profiles below) were chosen for their potential to become future champions of the industry.

If there was one topic that came up during our chats with the graduates on Thursday, it was around the challenge of getting all beef industry stakeholders to engage more within the industry in which they operate.

“I was probably coasting along through the industry and I got to an age where I thought, I really need to step up and have a say in where the industry goes,” graduate Larry Farquhar, a beef producer from Rolleston, Central Queensland told Thursday’s graduation.

“”It became a case of: If not you, then who? There’s a lot of potential leaders among the younger end of the industry, but I don’t think enough of us stand up,” he said.

“The program been such an eye-opening experience: the contacts we’ve made, and the next level of industry understanding has really broadened my horizons.”

Graduate Tyla Comerford, from Dubbo, NSW, told the audience that the despite the fact that the ceremoney marked the end of the program for the group, it “did not stop or finish here, by any means.”

“If I was to summarise the program into three main points, it would be the importance of having a voice among young people in the industry, being curious, and asking those questions of ourselves and industry, and how we can really have impact; understanding industry structures and policies – we wre all quite shocked at how little we actually knew about who does what and where, and how industry decisions are made; and thirdly, the value of having a cohort of NBL graduates that we can now all reach out to, and are not afraid to challenge each other’s views and opinions.”

“That will serve is well, going forward.”

CA chairman Garry Edwards said The Beef Leaders was a truly inspiring activity.

“We start off meeting these wonderful bright young minds, hoping to impart a level of challenge and inspiration in them, to go out and conquer things far beyond what they think they, themselves can do,” he said.

“Listening to their presentations in the boardroom last week, it was amazing to see the development that’s taken place, in only a relatively short period of time.”

“If we look at the impact that the previous round of NBL program participants have done – going back to their fields, being engaged, and getting more involved in the industry, in so many ways – that is absolutely what this program is all about,” Mr Edwards said.

“This year’s graduating group will do the same, I am sure. I inspire you all to go off and seek-out the next round of candidates, because it’s going to get tougher and tougher to secure a position in this program as word spreads, because the people that are applying now are of a very high standard. That’s a great outcome.”

CA Chief Executive Officer Will Evans said the beef industry was not one that is short of leadership.

“We have many amazing leaders in the beef industry. But one of the biggest challenges we have is creating an environment where young people are able to learn skills and pick up knowledge to allow them to transition into leadership – there are sacrifices in terms of time and leaving the farm and family – but its about creating an environment where they feel that that sacrifice is worthwhile,” Mr Evans said.

“Those selected have already proven they are capable, focused and committed to the beef industry; the NBL program is helping them take their careers to the next level.”

Meet the 2025-26 NBL Graduates

Liam Mowbray, Barrington, NSW

Liam Mowbray, pictured below receiving his graduation certificate, is a cattle veterinarian, Angus breeder, and Research & Development Specialist at Angus Australia. Based in the Barrington region of New South Wales, Liam works with producers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to deliver genetic research outcomes and guide national breed improvement strategies. He also facilitates the Angus Sire Benchmarking and Genetic Evaluation Consultative Committees, helping shape the direction of genetic R&D across the beef industry. Alongside his professional role, Liam operates Marlea Angus, a growing beef breeding business spanning three properties in the foothills of the Barrington Tops, focused on producing resilient, high-performing Angus cattle with exceptional eating quality. Driven by a passion for genetics, fertility, and cattle health, Liam has built his business from the ground up, and is committed to helping others see a future in the beef industry. He aims to grow as a communicator and advocate, contributing to an efficient and sustainable Australian beef sector.

Click on images for a larger view

Teagan Lawrence, Charters Towers, Qld

Teagan Lawrence, pictured below, is an extension officer (carbon) in the Department of Primary Industries’ Extensive Livestock Systems team. She supports beef producers across North Queensland to understand emissions reduction, sustainability and carbon markets. Teagan has worked across Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland, gaining valuable practical insight into the challenges and opportunities of beef production in different environments. She holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and Business from the University of New England and combines this knowledge with her practical experience to support graziers in identifying opportunities to improve productivity, reduce emissions and remain competitive amid evolving market and regulatory expectations. Teagan is particularly interested in how policy and extension can align to ensure sustainability frameworks are practical and achievable at the farm level, supporting long-term outcomes for producers and the broader beef industry through improved knowledge, efficiency and resilience.

Mia Doering, Tansey, Qld

Mia Doering has until the past few weeks been the Safety and Welfare Business Partner at Consolidated Pastoral Co, which owns and operates a portfolio of 10 station aggregations across northern Australia and two feedlots in Indonesia. She has recently accepted an offer to study in the US for the next two years. Based in Brisbane and maintaining close ties to her family’s Santa Gertrudis stud at Tansey, Qld, Mia has a strong appreciation for both family and corporate agriculture. She spent four years in the Kimberley working on cattle stations and in contracting camps while completing her degree in Agribusiness and Sustainable Agriculture remotely. In 2024, Mia was awarded the RJ Kleberg Scholarship as the Santa Gertrudis Youth Ambassador, spending nine weeks at King Ranch in the United States exploring global beef production systems and the origins of Santa Gertrudis cattle. As Vice Chair of the Young Livestock Exporters Network and an MLA Red Meat Ambassador, Mia is committed to driving positive change, bridging the gap between producers and consumers, and supporting the next generation of leaders across northern Australia’s beef industry.

MLA managing director Mick Crowley and CA president Garry Edwards congratulate Mia on her graduation

Tyla Comerford, Dubbo, NSW

Tyla Comerford has built a diverse career within the Australian and international beef industry, with experience spanning the seedstock sector, beef export trade, pastoral operations, and the broader beef supply chain. After graduating in 2020 with a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing, she commenced her career with an organic export beef and lamb operation before transitioning into the corporate agency sector. Driven to broaden her knowledge, Tyla worked across Canada and the United States, gaining hands-on experience as a lab technician and semen analyst at a bull collection centre, as well as in feedlot and backgrounding systems. Now back in Australia, Tyla is enthusiastic about contributing to the seedstock industry and supporting the next generation through her involvement in youth and agricultural events. Currently working as the Central Sales Representative at StockLive, she is dedicated to personal growth, learning from those in industry and working for a more sustainable industry for generations to come.

Larry Farquhar, Rolleston, Qld

Larry, pictured below, is a fifth-generation grazier based north-east of Rolleston in Central Queensland. His family has operated a breeding and backgrounding enterprise on their property, ‘Katrina’, for 49 years across three generations. They run about 1100 breeding females, with surplus progeny turned off primarily at feeder weight. In 2015, Larry and his family registered a nucleus herd of seedstock Droughtmaster females. Following the recent purchase of an established Droughtmaster stud herd, they now manage 240 registered breeding females and market auction sale bulls through multi-vendor sales in Rolleston and Clermont. Larry was recently elected as the Central Zone Director for the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders Society and is proud to serve as an active and passionate board member. Through the National Beef Leaders program, Larry looks forward to making connections, embracing new challenges and learning as much as he can.

Ben Reardon, Alice Springs, NT

Ben Reardon is an emerging beef industry professional with extensive experience in pastoral management, livestock production and station operations across Northern and Central Australia. He currently serves as a station manager in Cloncurry, Qld. Ben has developed a broad skill set in herd management, data systems, animal welfare and team leadership through years of hands-on experience across diverse pastoral environments. Holding formal qualifications in agriculture, he is committed to continuous professional development and the adoption of innovative, sustainable practices within the beef industry. Ben is passionate about driving productivity within pastoral environments, fostering capabilities within rural teams, and contributing to the ongoing strength and resilience of Australia’s cattle sector.

Lewis Crothers, Matheson, NSW

Graduate Lewis Crothers was unable to attend Thursday’s graduation. He is a driven agriculturalist with a passion for the production and genetic development of high-quality cattle, fodder crops and pastures. He has experience across the commercial cattle industry operating both breeding and trading enterprises on owned and leased country throughout the Northern New England of NSW. After a short secondment to one of Australia’s largest and most successful seedstock cattle producers, he now values the importance of data-driven decision-making to enhance productivity. Lew was born and raised on the land, however at 18 enlisted into the Australian Army, where he spent almost 15 years leading some of the finest soldiers in the world. This career shaped his leadership and problem-solving skills which are now qualities applied to help manage and grow his family farming business within the ever-evolving agricultural industry. Lew is married to Kirsten, an AgriBanker, and together they have two young daughters, Matilda and Ivy.