Livestock producers have four weeks to apply for one of three positions on the board of Meat and Livestock Australia.

The levy-funded red meat marketing and R&D organisation this afternoon announced that it had opened an application process to fill three independent director positions on its board.

One of the three positions is a vacancy created by the departure of MLA chairman Don Heatley, who announced earlier this year that he would not re-stand for the MLA board at the next AGM.

The other two positions are for the board positions currently held by MLA directors Peter Boyden and Grant Burtbidge. Both have served their three year terms and their seats have rotated for compulsory election. A MLA spokesperson said Mr Boyden and Mr Burtbidge had not yet indicated whether they will be seeking re-election at the AGM.

An MLA press release said the board was seeking candidates with “skills and experience from a range of areas to maintain the balance of expertise”.

“The MLA Board is skills-based, covering production, marketing and research and development. This year we are seeking candidates with skills and experience in northern beef production, sheepmeat production and/or corporate governance and strategy development,” the press statement said.

“Nominees will be subject to a thorough selection process, where the selection committee, assisted by an external board recruitment consultant, consider nominations based on skills, experience and industry knowledge.

“They then conduct interviews and endorse candidates who are presented to the AGM for election by MLA members."

The closing date for applications is 10 June 2011.

The successful applicants will be appointed at MLA’s annual general meeting at Longreach on November 17.

Further information can be found at the MLA website by clicking here.