News

People on the Move: Appointments, retirements, achievements

Jon Condon, 04/03/2020

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

  • Consumer insights gun Lisa Sharp to depart MLA
  • CEO appointed for valuer, Herron Todd White
  • New management role at Hancock/Kidman
  • Recognition for innovative NSW scientist
  • New CEO for meat training organisation
  • National feral pig management coordinator appointed
  • National Apprentice of the Year award to young Bronte butcher

Consumer insights gun Lisa Sharp to depart MLA

A recruitment process will commence shortly, following a decision by Meat & Livestock Australia’s chief marketing and insights officer Lisa Sharp to finish up with the industry service delivery company.

Lisa Sharp addressing last year’s Australian Wagyu Association conference

Ms Sharp has spent five years with MLA, leaving full-time employment with the company at the end of April. After departure she will also continue her involvement in the development of MLA’s next Strategic Plan & supporting industry consultation, and may continue in a consultancy role, working on specific projects.

Her original MLA appointment back in 2015 started as manager of international and domestic marketing, replacing Michael Edmonds. Since then she has moved into a variety of different roles, encompassing consumer insights, communications, industry corporate affairs and issues management, stakeholder engagement, community programs and sustainability.

Ms Sharp has become well known to livestock producers across the country, speaking at countless industry gatherings, mostly on red meat marketing and consumer insights.

“Lisa has had a huge impact on MLA and the red meat industry in her incredibly varied roles,” MLA managing director Jason Strong told staff in an internal communication this morning.

“Over the next couple of months she will remain focussed on delivery of domestic market programs – beef and lamb promotions, including the Olympics, Nutrition & Industry Insights,” Mr Strong said.

“Lisa has developed a tremendous passion for the industry and MLA and to this end, we are exploring opportunities for her to work with MLA in an advisory role on some of the key industry initiatives like the sustainability frameworks,” he said.

“Lisa is looking forward to her next challenge and most importantly, a little more time at home with her family,” Mr Strong said.

Ms Sharp previously worked for a number of global consumer goods and food and beverage companies, as head of marketing for Novartis Consumer Health, and held senior management positions at PZ Cussons, Coca-Cola Amatil and Goodman Fielder.

New CEO for valuer, Herron Todd White

Rural valuation firm Herron Todd White has appointed a new chief executive officer.

Gary Brinkworth is an experienced CEO and board director, having enjoyed a successful and diverse career working in large scale operations, both locally and internationally.

Gary Brinkworth HTW

He started in his new role with HTW last month, departing from United Petroleum, where he served as Group CEO. Prior to that, he was CEO and managing director at Barristers Chambers Ltd, which owns and operates a material property management portfolio in Victoria.

He got to meet many industry stakeholders at HTW’s recent annual Brisbane property breakfast. Mr Brinkworth said he looked forward to helping further cement Herron Todd White’s reputation.

“I’m looking forward to working with clients, the board of directors, the executive team, shareholders and staff to execute the organisation’s future vision – with a keen focus on remaining a strong and trusted partner for our clients” he said in a statement.

HTW’s board said it had been encouraged by the interest shown in the role and the calibre of candidates.

“Gary’s extensive experience puts HTW in a strong position for the future,” it said.

Acting as interim CEO until Mr Brinkworth’s appointment was Jacqui Bayles, who now resumes her executive leadership role as HTW’s general counsel, company secretary & head of legal, risk and standards.

New management role at Hancock/Kidman

Experienced pastoral and feedlot operations manager Carl Greaves has joined the Hancock/Kidman pastoral businesses.

Carl Greaves

As reported on last month’s People on the Move, he recently departed Consolidated Pastoral Co where he served for five years as general manager Queensland and commercial manager. Prior to that he held management roles in the feedlot industry including management of the Teys Condamine and Mort and Co Grassdale feedlots. The early part of his career was spent on the land working for Stanbroke Pastoral Co commencing as a jackeroo and rising to assistant manager before attending Marcus Oldham College and moving into administrative roles.

Mr Greaves started with Hancock on Monday in the role of regional and business development manager. He will be based in the company’s Brisbane office, reporting to George Scott on specific projects. After Easter he will transition to the Kidman team reporting to CEO David Larkin.

After moving to Kidman, Mr Greaves’ specialist skills will remain available to the Hancock Pastoral team and he will retain some responsibilities within the company.

Recognition for innovative NSW scientist

A young NSW Department of Primary Industries scientist has been recognised for his part in building stronger primary industries through a project that aims to ensure the sustainability of red meat exports to China.

Meat scientist Dr Benjamin Holman was honoured with a Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture on Tuesday at the 2020 ABARES Outlook Conference in Canberra.

NSW DPI’s Ben Holman with Edwina Toohey at last night’s awards, Click on image for a larger view

The Science Awards recognise young scientists, researchers and innovators with original projects focused on keeping Australia’s rural industries sustainable and profitable.

“The majority of Australian red meat is exported to overseas markets, generating vital export income and supporting thousands of rural and regional jobs,” Dr Holman said. “Growth in these markets depends on us providing high quality, safe red meat products.”

Dr Holman said export markets, particularly the Chinese market, use total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) to measure meat freshness. His project aims to establish the relationship between TVB-N and other metrics for freshness including microbial, oxidative and quality attributes.

“This is of interest, because Chinese authorities and potentially others can use TVB-N standards on imported meat, which may restrict the access of our red meat to their market,” Dr Holman said.  “This is pre-emptive research on a potential future challenge that may confront our industries in accessing a key export market.”

This is the second time Dr Holman has received a Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture. His previous receipt was in 2017 to support his investigation of dark cutting beef using a smart device linked colorimeter.

New CEO for meat training organisation

Meat and livestock industry education and training service provider, MINTRAC has a new chief executive officer.

Mick Crouch

Jenny Kroonstuiver recently handed over the reins after many years leading the organisation to new CEO Mick Crouch. 

Mr Crouch hails from outside of the meat industry, having previously led global organisations in the professional services, not-for-profit, utilities and outsourcing sectors. Most of his previous roles have covered managing human capital and training functions, so while he is new to the meat industry, he is no stranger to training and advisory services delivery.

MINTRAC holds its National Training Conference for 2020 on 6 and 7 May in Adelaide. The event was originally scheduled for March but has rescheduled to the later dates. Click here for details 

National feral pig management coordinator appointed

Australian Pork Ltd’s general manager for research and innovation, Dr Heather Channon, has been appointed as Australia’s first national feral pig management coordinator.

Dr Heather Channon

The appointment follows a $1.4 million package which was announced by the Federal Government late last year for APL to support a coordinator to tackle Australia’s feral pig population and reduce the risk feral pigs pose to Australia’s biosecurity.

She takes on the role as the threat of African Swine Fever creeps closer to the nation’s borders. Feral pigs are a major pest to Australia’s $60 billion agriculture industry. The role will coordinate reliable methods and work collaboratively on the ground with landholders, the states and territories to manage feral pig numbers.

A roundtable will be held in Canberra in late March to bring together industry, governments, researchers and other stakeholder to deliver a national approach to feral pig management.

There is an estimated 25 million feral pigs roaming across 45pc of Australia, costing the national agricultural sector about $14.5 million a year through production losses.

Speaking at the time the funding was made available last year, former agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie said that cost would “balloon exponentially” if ASF reached Australia. “There would be widespread ramifications for Australian agriculture if our hard-earned international reputation for producing safe, clean and green food and fibre was damaged by a disease outbreak,” she said.

ASF has been confirmed in Indonesia and was found on Australia’s doorstep in Timor-Leste in September.

National Apprentice of the Year award to young Bronte butcher

Bonnie Ewan, from Lucas Quality Meats in the Sydney suburb of Bronte, was crowned National Apprentice of the Year at the 2020 National Sausage Kings awards dinner

A young butcher from Sydney’s eastern suburbs has won Australian Meat Industry Council’s National Apprentice of the Year award for 2020.

Bonnie Ewan, from Lucas Quality Meats in the Sydney suburb of Bronte, was crowned National Apprentice of the Year at the National Sausage Kings awards dinner at Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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