Caitlyn Barton and Caitlin Obst who work for Darling Downs lotfeeder Mort & Co, were both successful in their application to join the Graeme Acton beef Connections Program

WIDE ranging fields including beef production, lotfeeding, processing, agribusiness and live export are included in the work profiles of ten young industry stakeholders announced today as participants in Beef 2021’s Graeme Acton Beef Connections mentor program.

The program was launched at Beef Australia in 2015, designed to match promising young industry personnel with an experienced industry mentor to guide their progress. This year attracted a record 41 applicants from throughout Australia. The number of females who applied, and who have been successful, celebrates the changing gender balance within the industry.

Beef Australia chair Bryce Camm said the strength of the Australian beef industry came from its people – and the Graeme Acton Beef Connections program had produced impressive leaders who are already making positive impacts on the industry.

“I am looking forward to meeting the 2021 Mentor Partners and following their journey,” he said.

The ten Mentor Partners were selected by a panel from an impressive field of young beef industry professionals from most Australian states and territories.

Beef Australia CEO Ian Mill said the unique combination of providing these learning opportunities, with personal and professional development while establishing industry networks, was what made the program successful.

“There are some inspiring alumni and I know we will see many more industry leaders rise from the 2021 program,” Mr Mill said.

Mentor Partners will soon be paired with industry Mentors to undertake a 14-month project which will benefit the Australian beef industry.

Program coordinator Barb Bishop said she now moved to the critical task of ensuring each Mentor Partner was matched with the best possible Mentor.

“It is important to not only align for the development of personal and professional skills, we want to see industry networks developed to ensure long-term success from the program,” she said.

Two young staff working for Darling Downs lotfeeder Mort & Co,  Caitlyn Barton and Caitlin Obst, were successful in being selected as 2021 Mentor Partners.

“We are both thrilled and honoured to be selected as part of the Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program,” Caitlyn said.

“It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to further develop ourselves and give back to the industry that has provided us so much. We look forward to developing our projects and working with our mentors to steer us towards achieving great things and promoting the beef industry as the only industry for us.”

The Beef Connections Program is supported by Westpac.

The full list of Mentor Partners for the 2021 program includes:

• Caitlyn Barton, Feedlot sector
• Rebecca Clapperton, Beef Producer
• Hugh Courts, Agribusiness
• Georgia Glasson, Beef Producer
• Chloe Gould, Beef Processing
• Kari Moffat, Live export
• Caitlin Obst, Feedlot sector
• Ryan Olive, Beef Producer
• Kate Power, Beef Processing
• Ellen Simpson, Agribusiness.