BEEF Australia today announced the appointment of a new Chairman and Board of Directors, following the company’s 2024 Annual General Meeting held today in Rockhampton.

Following member elections, the Board of Directors appointed Adelaide McDonald as new Chair of Beef Australia, succeeding Bryce Camm from Camm Agriculture who served two terms as chairman.

Ms McDonald, an accountant by training, said she was honoured to have been selected by Directors to lead the team for Beef 2027.

“I look forward to working with the Board and the wider Beef Australia team to deliver a groundbreaking event in 2027 and build on the success that we saw at Beef2024,” she said.

Ms McDonald is a director on the board of McDonald Holdings, a large scale northern pastoral and lotfeeding operation based out of Cloncurry.

Beef Australia’s members elected Cameron Hewitt and Wendy Mayne as new Directors, and re-elected current Directors Claire Mactaggart and Russell Hughes.

Adelaide, daughter of the late Bob McDonald, brings a wealth of experience in agriculture and finance and is well-positioned to lead the Beef Australia Board into its next phase of growth.

She is currently a director of multiple entities including MDH Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s largest family-owned pastoral operations encompassing 3.36 million hectares and 150,000 head of cattle.

In addition, Adelaide has been appointed a Director of the Zanda McDonald Award and is a respected financial services professional with a background in corporate finance, accounting, mergers & acquisitions, and strategy.

Filling the other executive positions are Elisha Parker and Jess Webb as vice chairs, Kay Becker as Treasurer, and Claire Mactaggart as Secretary.

Beef Australia CEO Simon Irwin said the new Board of Directors bring a wealth of skills and experience which will be invaluable as planning starts for Beef2027.

“We look forward to working with the Board to build on the successes we saw at Beef2024 and advancing our strategic initiatives,” Mr Irwin said.

Two of Beef Australia’s long-serving directors retired from their roles at the AGM, with past chair Bryce Camm and past treasurer Richard Brosnan stepping down from their roles.

Adelaide McDonald said both retiring directors have been instrumental in guiding the company through significant growth and innovation.

“On behalf of Beef Australia’s new Board of Directors and the wider team I would like to thank Bryce and Richard for their unwavering commitment and dedication to delivering successful Beef Australia events over the years,” Ms McDonald said.

New Directors:

Cameron Hewitt

Cameron is a fifth-generation grazier and is the current Operations Manager of his family’s cattle business, Hewitt Pastoral Enterprises. He is also the Director of HP Wagyu, is part of the Australian Topstock Collective where he works with US meat companies to supply Australian beef and was a Member of the 2018 Beef Australia NextGen Committee. Cameron has a strong passion for beef genetics, live animal and carcase performance data, and enjoys working from the plate back to paddock to improve herd performance, efficiency and quality. He was a Co-Founder of the Queensland Food Future and has been involved with various industry related advocacy efforts to help shape the future of Australia’s beef industry.

Wendy Mayne

Born and raised on a seedstock cattle operation in the Riverina of NSW, Wendy has a deep passion for the beef industry. She is currently a Director at Texas Angus, a beef cattle operation that she operates alongside her husband. Wendy has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Melbourne University, has previously worked in the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) Beef Export Marketing team, and was a sole cotton buyer for the Swiss company Volcott Cotton. Wendy currently serves on the World Angus Forum Committee, has completed several leadership programs, was part of Angus Australia’s Genetic Evaluation Consultative Committee, and has judged at several Royal Agricultural Shows.

Beef Australia’s 2027 Board:

• Adelaide McDonald (Chair)
• Elisha Parker (Vice Chair)
• Jess Webb (Vice Chair)
• Kay Becker (Treasurer)
• Claire Mactaggart (Secretary)
• Rodney Bell
• Grant Cassidy
• Cameron Hewitt
• Russell Hughes
• Wendy Mayne
• Trent Thorne

Source: Beef Australia