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

• NAPCo seeks new CEO, as Allan Cooney steps down
• New marketing manager for ACC
• New chair for Rural RDCs
• Drought resilience work earns science award
• Stocklive expands northern business footprint
• Agtech prize for Pairtree
• Indonesia Live Cattle Taskforce to strengthen key market
• Smart tag developer appoints field staff

NAPCo seeks new CEO, as Allan Cooney steps down

North Australian Pastoral Co’s chief executive officer Allan Cooney will step down from his role at the end of August, following an orderly leadership transition.

Allan Cooney

Following Mr Cooney’s departure, James Carson – currently NAPCo’s general manager of intensive production and sales – will step into the role of interim chief executive, while the board undertakes a process to make a permanent appointment.

Mr Cooney joined NAPCo as CEO in 2021, succeeding Richard Brimblecombe.

NAPCo’s board provided Beef Central with a statement saying that during his five-year tenure, Mr Cooney had helped strengthen the business, champion land stewardship and sustainability initiatives, and support the development of NAPCo’s people and operations across northern Australia.

James Carson

James Carson is well known across the broader beef industry through his current role in charge of intensive production (via NAPCo’s large Wainui feedlot on Queensland’s Darling Downs) and meat sales. He carries extensive operational and commercial experience having worked at NAPCo for the past nine years, and the board said it was confident he will provide strong leadership and continuity through the transition period.

“NAPCo remains in a strong position and focused on what it has always done best – producing high-quality beef, supporting its people and communities, and continuing to build a sustainable and successful business for the long term,” the board statement said.

The board thanked Mr Cooney for his dedication, professionalism and significant contribution to NAPCo’s progress.

“He leaves the business in a strong position and with a legacy that will continue to benefit NAPCo for many years to come,” it said.

New marketing manager for ACC

Brisbane-based processor and red meat supply chain manager Australian Country Choice has appointed Sabina Kindler as the company’s marketing manager – a new role within the company.

Sabina Kindler

Ms Kindler has had a diverse career across the meat and livestock industry, working in genetics, animal identification, beef brand development and market access and export market development.

Prior to joining ACC, she spent eight years with Meat & Livestock Australia, including the past four as market development manager for the US region. Earlier she was marketing manager with the Australian Agricultural Co.

ACC completed a three-year business transformation in 2023, moving from its original focus as a service kill operator for Coles Supermarkets, to a much more diversified business model included a shift to a multi-client customer base, a move towards premium Wagyu and Angus cattle and beef production and the launch of its own-branded export product.

ACC’s supply chain today includes large breeding and backgrounding operations across Queensland, lotfeeding capacity of about 56,000 head, and Brisbane-based processing operations (both company-owned and service kill) capable of processing 350,000 head per year, with daily throughput of 1400 head, plus extensive value-adding and retail-ready facilities.

Sabina started in her new role this month.

New chair for Rural RDCs

The Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations has appointed experienced board member and grain and livestock producer Sharon Starick as its new chair.

Ms Starick succeeds Troy Setter, who has acted as Rural RDCs chair for the past four years. Ms Starick has more than three decades’ experience as a South Australian grain and livestock producer and nine years on the Grain Research and Development Corporation board, including two as chair.

The red meat industry RDCs that function under the rural RDC umbrella include AMPC, MLA, Livecorp, and Agrifutures.

Sharon Starick

The appointment reflects the RDC system’s enduring focus of underpinning  productivity and profitability for primary producers and processors, and for the national good, as they navigate rising input costs, supply chain disruption and volatile global markets.

Ms Starick will drive further collaboration between RDCs to generate productivity, economic and social benefits for Australian agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries.

She said she is looking forward to building on the strong foundation Troy Setter established. “Over the past four years, Troy’s leadership has been pivotal in advancing the RDC system’s collective work, deepening collaboration across industries and strengthening Australian food and fibre as a fundamental driver of national economic growth,” Ms Starick said.

“Australia’s RDCs have spent more than 35 years proving that coordinated investment and innovation work, generating $8 for every $1 invested. This globally respected model has a strong record of delivery, and in an increasingly uncertain global environment, it is exactly the kind of strength Australian farmers, fishers and growers need.”

Drought resilience work earns science award

The Farrer Memorial Trust has named Associate Professor Rhiannon Schilling as the 2026 recipient of the annual Farrer Memorial Mid-Career Award.

This award recognises Prof Schilling’s outstanding contributions to Australian agricultural science and leadership in drought resilience, agronomy and climate-smart farming systems.

Farrer Memorial Trust chair Kate Lorimer Ward said the award acknowledged exceptional achievement by a mid-career professional who has made a significant contribution to the Australian agricultural sector through research, innovation, adoption, extension or policy.

“The award recognises professionals who have already made a significant contribution to Australian agriculture and are well placed to continue that impact throughout their careers,” Ms Lorimer Ward said.

“Rhiannon’s work demonstrates not only excellence in ag science, but a clear vision for how research, innovation and adoption can support farming systems to adapt to a changing climate.”

Prof Schilling holds the position of Associate Professor in Agricultural Sciences (Agronomy) at Flinders University. She previously served as Program Leader of Agronomy at the South Australian Research and Development Institute, leading 40 research and technical staff across SA, and has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Adelaide.

Over the past decade, she has played a central role in strengthening drought resilience in Australian ag, founding the SA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and the SA Climate Resilience Discovery Farms network initiatives that bring together researchers, farmers, agribusinesses and government to accelerate the adoption of research and trial climate-resilient farming practices.

Stocklive expands northern business footprint

Online livestock marketing platform StockLive has welcomed Sheree Kershaw to the team as the business’s new Northern Business Development Manager.

Based in Western Queensland, Sheree brings extensive experience across the livestock and agricultural sectors, with a strong background in media and producer engagement throughout Central Queensland.

Most recently, she spent eight years working in print media, working closely with seedstock operators, breed societies and sheep producers to develop tailored marketing solutions and maximise industry exposure.

In her new role with StockLive, Sheree will focus on supporting clients across northern Australia, working as an extension of producers’ businesses to deliver innovative online marketing and auction solutions.

Her emphasis will be on building strong relationships, identifying growth opportunities and helping vendors achieve greater reach and engagement through the StockLive platform.

Agtech prize for Pairtree

Hamish Munro and his team at Pairtree Intelligence took out multiple awards at the Australian Agritech Awards Gala in Brisbane last week – including the top gong, Australian Agritech of the Year.

Hamish Munro with Pairtree’s Agtech award presented last week

The awards were presented as part of National Agritech Week and recognise the companies, technologies and partnerships shaping the future of Australian agriculture.

Pairtree founder and CEO Hamish Munro said the recognition reflected the company’s vision of helping agriculture become more connected, more efficient and more profitable through data interoperability.

“Australian farmers already use world-class technologies. The challenge isn’t a lack of innovation; it’s that critical information is often trapped in disconnected systems,” he said.

Pairtree’s mission has been to connect the agricultural ecosystem so farmers, advisers and agribusinesses can make better decisions with less friction and greater confidence. The platform enables data connectivity and interoperability across agricultural software, machinery, sensors, weather networks and advisory systems, allowing users to access information through a single, connected environment.

Indonesia Live Cattle Taskforce to strengthen key market

The Australian red meat and livestock industry has established the Indonesia Live Cattle Industry Taskforce, a strategic advisory body designed to enhance collaboration, guide investment and strengthen outcomes in Australia’s most important live cattle export market.

The Taskforce will work closely with the Livestock Export Program, which is jointly funded by Meat & Livestock Australia and LiveCorp. It focuses on improving animal health and welfare, biosecurity, supply chain efficiency and long-term market access.

Membership includes representatives from cattle producers nominated by Cattle Australia and the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, exporter representatives nominated by the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council, and organisational representatives from both LiveCorp and MLA.

Greg Pankhurst

Chairing the new taskforce is Greg Pankhurst, who said the initiative reflected a coordinated commitment to supporting both Australian industry and Indonesian partners.

“Indonesia is a vital partner for northern Australian cattle producers, while our cattle and beef help underpin both food security and the resilience of Indonesian supply chains,” Mr Pankhurst said.

“The Taskforce brings together experience, practical knowledge and strategic insight so that we can help shape programs that benefit producers, exporters and our Indonesian customers. This includes continued leadership in animal welfare, greater productivity in feedlots, stronger engagement with Indonesian government and industry and the long-term stability of the trade.”

Mr Pankhurst said Australia is a trusted supplier for Indonesian customers and strengthening this partnership is essential.

“The Taskforce will help MLA and LiveCorp ensure that programs align with Indonesia’s needs. Our priority is to ensure that investments through the LEP are well targeted, effective and backed by strong collaboration with industry.

“It will provide strategic advice, engage with producers and exporters, review market challenges and support partnerships that improve welfare, commercial outcomes and community confidence, and monitor progress of LEP investments to identify future opportunities which benefit both countries,” he said.

Smart tag developer appoints field staff

As part of its Australian commercial launch scheduled for coming months, US-based livestock smart tag developer and manufacturer 701x is making local staff appointments.

701x is a North Dakota-based based company producing an integrated ecosystem of products including smart tags, a registry service for beef breeds, a herd management app for on-ranch records, remote water sensors and other complementary tech. The company’s eartags for cattle track location, breeding performance and herd health.

Graeme Winnell

701x has recently added Graham Winnell and AJ Knowles, two experienced industry professionals, to support the Australian launch.

Graeme Winnell brings extensive, hands-on experience in the Australian cattle industry and will focus on adapting these tools and forming relationships with producers in different regions in Australia. Originally from Deniliquin, NSW, he has built his career across the Riverina, North East, and Western Districts of Victoria.

With extensive experience in management roles spanning breeding, finishing, sales, and marketing, he has previously owned and operated his own bull breeding business, worked as Shorthorn Beef general manager and provided a studstock consultancy.

AJ Knowles is a graduate from Texas A&M University, receiving his bachelor’s in Animal Science and master’s in Animal Breeding. He worked for two years as Director of Breed Improvement for the American Brahman Breeders Association, before working as a Beef Geneticist supporting the breed improvement department at the Red Angus Association of America. Mr Knowles joins 701x as the International and Technical Solutions Specialist, where he will work alongside Graham Winnell to represent 701x in Australia.