News

Cattle Australia names inaugural CEO

James Nason, 22/02/2023

Cattle Australia has taken another step towards building its national leadership team with the appointment today of a face well known within the industry as its inaugural Chief Executive Officer.

Luke Bowen will swing up into the saddle of the new national peak council representing cattle producers all over Australia from mid April.

Luke has had a diverse career in the Australian cattle and broader agricultural sector, but is perhaps best known for the key role he played representing the northern cattle industry during the turbulent days of the 2011 suspension of cattle exports to Indonesia.

As a relatively new CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association he was thrust into the national media spotlight and earned respect for his calm, clear and consistent advocacy and leadership skills during a chaotic time for the industry.

Mr Bowen is currently head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Biosecurity with the Northern Territory Department of Industry Tourism and Trade.

Prior to working with the Commonwealth and the NTCA, the Western Australian-raised Mr Bowen worked in South Australia and subsequently with the Indigenous Land Corporation.

Cattle Australia chair David Foote said Mr Bowen brings to the role a broad and extensive wealth of knowledge in, the cattle industry, advocacy processes, grant funding, program management and membership-based organisations.

“There was an overwhelming response and an exceptionally strong candidate field which had applied for this role which is a wonderful endorsement of our new national body, established to advance and advocate the interests of Australian grassfed cattle producers”.

The formation of Cattle Australia follows many years of work by industry to restructure to a single commodity representative body for the nation’s single largest agricultural sector.

With an annual value of production of around $20 billion, directly employing 35,000 people and managing 42pc of the Australian landmass, the grassfed cattle industry forms the backbone of rural, regional and remote Australia.

Mr Bowen will start in the role from 17 April.

 

 

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Comments

  1. DEBORAH NEWELL, 28/02/2023

    And he is young and across so many relevant areas with serious expertise.

  2. Chris Howie, 23/02/2023

    What a fantastic appointment.
    Well done Luke.

  3. David Connolly, 23/02/2023

    Congratulations to Luke Bowen on this new and exciting appointment. Cattle Australia has commenced with a fresh and capable Board and the appointment of this experienced industry identity means that now the business can get to work sorting out its challenges.
    I am certain CA is now well equipped to move forward.

    Well done also to the cattlemen and cattlewomen of Australia that are supportive of this organisation and our great industry.

  4. William Wilson, 22/02/2023

    Congratulations
    This is a big job and I’m told Luke is the right person. Well done to the new Cattle Australia board.

  5. Anita Lethbridge, 22/02/2023

    An excellent appointment. Thank you for your commitment to our industry. Wishing you every success.

  6. Jock Whittle, 22/02/2023

    Great appointment. Cattle Australia has established a strong Board and now has a very capable CEO.

    It has been a long time since the cattle industry in Australia has been so well represented.

    Good Luck

  7. Damien Bowen, 22/02/2023

    You got the best man in Australia …he’s my young brother of whom I am very proud.

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