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

• New role at Condabri for experienced feedlot manager
• Carbon manager appoints former Teys sustainability head as CEO
• Acting animal export inspector general announced
• Mark Schipp signs off as Australia’s chief vet
• Departures at Jumbuck Pastoral
• Valuer HTW has new board chair
• New CEO for Integrity Systems Co
• Series of changes in MLA international ranks
• Former AA Co head Hugh Killen goes nuts
• New chair and directors for Agribusiness Australia
• Renderers salute retiring executive officer’s deep contribution
• UNE scientist appointed as 2023 ATSE Fellow
• Japanese ag student gets a taste of Aussie cattle industry
• ABS appoints national beef manager
• New chair for ABC

New role at Condabri for experienced feedlot manager

Experienced feedlot operations manager Amanda Moohen recently finished her contract with Twiggy Forrest’s Harvest Road beef supply chain in Western Australia, and has taken a new position with Simon Drury’s expanding Condabri Beef lotfeeding business on Queensland’s Darling Downs.

Amanda Moohen

While in WA for the past year and a half, Ms Moohen played a key role as general manager of feeding facilities in the development of Harvest Road’s new Koogan Downs intensive feeding facility, outlined in this earlier Top 25 Lotfeeders article.

In her new role at Candabri Beef (see Condabri’s Top 25 Lotfeeders entry here), she will act as chief operating officer, overseeing expansion plans from its current level of 20,000 head over the next few years.

Prior to heading west to Harvest Road last year, Ms Moohen spent the previous three years as the Australian Agricultural Co’s regional manager for intensive, with responsibility for the company’s Aronui and Goonoo feedlots in Queensland. Prior to that she spent nine years as operations manager and feedlot manager at Camm Agricultural Group’s Wonga Plains feedlot on the Darling Downs.

Carbon manager appoints former Teys sustainability head as CEO

The former chief sustainability officer for Teys Australia has been appointed chief executive officer of a new business leading the charge in carbon and energy management.

Following seven years working in sustainability within the meat processing industry, Carl Duncan has taken on the new role with NRG-ONE.  Independently owned Southeast Queensland trade service company NRG Services has launched a new business, NRG-ONE, to help Australian organisations meet their net zero goals.

Carl Duncan

The new company brings emissions-free energy services to organisations, with a focus on accelerating the uptake of renewables and clean energy solutions that drive business productivity.

During his time at Teys, Mr Duncan played a lead role in creating value and driving sustainability within the meat processing company and has a track record of leading a portfolio of energy and greenhouse gas abatement projects. He is also a current member of the Sustainability Steering Group for the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework.

As food production intensifies to meet the needs of a growing global population, energy and carbon management had become a value-add opportunity, Mr Duncan said.

“I’ve seen the pain that high energy costs have had on businesses over the past ten years, with lots of ups and downs in energy markets. But it doesn’t need to be that way – NRG-ONE provides the capability so businesses can control and reduce their carbon footprint while taking a strategic position on sustainability matters,” he said.

The company is targeting the support of a range of agribusinesses – red meat processing, lotfeeding, grain handling or aquaculture – in introducing efficiencies or removing part of the energy spend with renewables, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. All this is about making businesses more sustainable.

“Personally, I’m grateful for my learnings at Teys as I embark on my new role as CEO of NRG-ONE,” Mr Duncan said.

Acting animal export inspector general announced

Dr Mike Bond has been appointed as the Federal Government’s interim Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports.

Dr Bond has governance and regulatory experience going back 50 years, serving as the Interim Inspector-General of Biosecurity and previously working in roles involving animal welfare. He has been responsible for reviewing livestock exports, environmental protection and quarantine. He comes to the role after Ross Carter retired in April.

The interim nature of the appointment is due to the Government’s commitment to setting up a new, broader role of an Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports, which will expand the current office of the IGLAE. Dr Bond will act in the IGLAE position until August next year, or the appointment of the new Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports.

The main function of the IGLAE is to independently audit and review the performance of functions and exercise of powers by DAFF in regulating livestock exports under the Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021.

Mark Schipp signs off as Australia’s chief vet

Dr Mark Schipp will finish up as Australia’s chief veterinary officer in coming months.

Dr Mark Schipp

Dr Schipp has been instrumental in building the capacity of the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer, with a focus on biosecurity, One Health, international engagement in the Pacific and south-east Asia, and advocacy for the veterinary profession.

Since 2012, Dr Schipp has been Australia’s delegate to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). He was elected president of the WOAH general assembly for a three-year term ended 2021. He will continue to serve on the WOAH Council as immediate past-president until 2024.

The Department of Agriculture issued a statement saying through his appointments, Dr Schipp saw Australia’s animal health status remain free from many emergency diseases – a status central to our access to international markets. He also worked to progress international standards to improve animal health and welfare worldwide.

The department thanked Dr Schipp for his “incredible work improving animal health and welfare, supporting the Australian agriculture industry, and leadership in the control of transboundary animal diseases.”

He finishes as CVO on 1 December. An external recruitment process is being undertaken to identify a replacement.

Departures at Jumbuck Pastoral

Jumbuck Pastoral joint managing directors Jock and Callum MacLachlan have moved on from their family-owned, Adelaide-based cattle and sheep producing business, as part of a rationalisation of the business due to family succession.

In a newsletter to stakeholders, the pair announced plans to depart the Jumbuck business during September, after 30 years of service (Jock) and 25 years (Callum).

“We have spent the last 14 years as joint managing directors and feel this has been a good era at Jumbuck, with some weather events thrown in that were a bit difficult for us all. But of the things that we could manage, we have felt we have given it our best crack. There have been highs and lows but many of the highs have come from working with the Jumbuck team, which includes all our people across all the stations and the office staff. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you all,” the pair said.

While the brothers have stepped back from their roles at Jumbuck, they are not departing the pastoral industry. Jock will continue directing Meda (500,000ha near Derby WA, running about 25,000 Brahman cattle) and McCoy’s Well (60,000ha of Merino sheep country near Yunta, SA), while Callum will continue with Killarney (540,000ha near Katherine), Wave Hill (1.2m ha running about 35,000 cattle in the Victoria River District) and Springfield from other offices.

“Whilst neither of us envisaged this as scripted when we commenced working for this business, change is unavoidable and with it, we flex, refocus, and move on,” the pair said.

“One chapter closes and another opens. We wish owner and chairman Hugh MacLachlan and our sisters, Airlie MacLachlan, Islay McKenzie and Brooke Yates, good seasons, good markets and good fortune with the future management of Jumbuck.”

Valuer HTW has new chair

Rural property valuer Herron Todd White Australia has a new board chair, following the recent election of Sheena Wilson to the role.

Sheena Wilson

Ms Wilson’s appointment follows the departure of previous chair Jeff Forbes, who stood down after nine years as an independent director and eight years leading the board.

HTW chief executive Gary Brinkworth said the group was delighted to have Ms Wilson helm the board.  Ms Wilson was elected to the board at the same time as Mr Forbes and became deputy chair in 2015.

Also joining the HTW board this year as an independent director is accountant Andrew Wellington.

Based in Brisbane, Mr Wellington is a former partner of PwC’s Deals Practice division, specialising in business valuation, and has been a member of the PwC Australia Board of Partners.

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, Mr Wellington served as chair of FINSIA Queensland’s Regional Council from 2007 to 2011 He has been the chair of the Brisbane Lions Football Club since 2017.

New CEO for Integrity Systems Co

Meat & Livestock Australia has made an internal appointment to fill the vacant role of chief executive officer of its subsidiary, Integrity Systems Company.

Jo Quigley

Jo Quigley accepted the position. Ms Quigley has served as ISC’s group manager of operations for the last seven years and has been acting CEO since August. The position became available when Dr Jane Weatherley moved into a new role as MLA’s general manager for communication & adoption.

ISC is responsible for managing Australia’s key red meat traceability, animal welfare, food safety and biosecurity programs including the National Livestock Identification System, Livestock Production Assurance and the electronic National Vendor Declaration.

In announcing her appointment, MLA managing director Jason Strong said Ms Quigley’s industry insights, extensive experience, and strong relationships with stakeholders made her highly suited to the position.

“Jo’s track record of project delivery, her outstanding diplomacy and stakeholder relationship skills, and the high esteem in which she is already held by stakeholders will be highly valued in this role,” Mr Strong said.

“Her deep knowledge and understanding of the industry and ISC will allow her to continue to work with industry to ensure it had an increasingly robust and reliable traceability system,” he said.

Ms Quigley started with MLA in 2003 as a technical field officer, supporting the national roll-out of NLIS for cattle. She also spent time as NLIS Database Manager and the Manager of NLIS Ltd (the predecessor to ISC).

Series of changes in MLA international ranks

There’s been a series of changes in recent months in a ‘soft transition’ within MLA’s international markets team.

Scott Walker

Scott Walker is MLA’s new regional manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa, based out of Dubai. Scott was previously MLA’s Regional Manager, Japan and Korea.

In his place, Travis Brown is MLA’s new regional manager for Japan and Korea. An experienced leader with almost 20 years of food and beverage experience, Travis began his career in the wineries and vineyards of McLaren Vale in South Australia and has since seen him based in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Japan. He was most recently working for Australia’s largest premium wine producer, Treasury Wine Estates as general manager of the company’s Asia business.

A veteran of 19 years with MLA, Sam Gill in July moved into a new role as business manager for International Markets, based in Brisbane. He was previously regional manager and business development manager for the Middle East & North Africa region, where he spent five years since 2017 based in Dubai.

Earlier still, Mr Gill was manager of MLA’s digital strategy and business development based in Armidale, and managed beef genetics R&D and data insights, based out of Armidale.

Former AA Co chief Hugh Killen goes nuts

Hugh Killen, who departed his role as managing director of the Australian Agricultural Co last year, has re-emerged as a player in UK fund manager Climate Asset Management’s push to establish a foothold in the booming macadamia industry in Australia.

CAM, a joint venture between HSBC Asset Management and climate advisory firm Pollination, paid about $40 million for 1800ha of former sugarcane farmland near Bundaberg, which it plans to transform into a high-value macadamia orchard.

Pollination was founded in 2019 by Australian investment banker Tony O’Sullivan and former Clean Energy Finance Corporation director Martijn Wilder.

After departing AA Co in June last year, Mr Killen worked as a consultant to Pollination on a part-time basis before moving to London to work as a full-time senior adviser. In June, he was appointed chair of CAM, which raised $US650 million for its Natural Capital Fund following support from institutional investors and corporates. CAM’s Natural Capital Fund already has farmland investments in Spain and Portugal producing almonds and olives.

Renderers salute retiring executive officer’s deep contribution

One of the low-key, unsung heroes of the Australian meat industry was saluted during his transition into retirement recently.

As executive officer of the Australian Renderers Association, Dennis King made a contribution stretching across 22 years to the success of the rendering industry – an important adjunct to the beef and lamb sectors.

The ARA is the national body representing the interests of producers and traders of rendered products – meat and bone meals and tallows – at the State and Federal Government levels and in all forums where there is a need for the industry to be represented. Whilst it does not become involved in commercial issues, the ARA facilitates trade in rendered products domestically and internationally.

Up to his retirement, Mr King worked with ARA for 22 years, sitting as executive officer since 2013, proving to be a formidable leader in and across many key result areas for Australian export market access for rendered products.

As far back as 2005 and 2007 he organised nutrition workshops in China and Philippines to showcase Australian rendered products to major feedmill customers.

“I have been fortunate to have had a great team of directors to support and work with me over the last 22 years – including Andy Bennett, Paul Stenzel, Craig Palmer, Warren McLean, John Seletto and current president Peter Milzewski,” Mr King said in his acknowledgement speech.

In outlining some of the many market access challenges the industry had faced over the past two decades, Mr King included the 2018 suspension of trade to Indonesia of all rendered meals.

“It’s something we hope is nearing resolution,” he said hopefully.

The ARA led the rendering industry worldwide when it developed the Australian Standard for the hygienic production of rendered animal products, and set up an audited accreditation program.

In providing a testimonial during Mr King’s send-off during the ARA’s recent annual meeting, processing executive and ARA chairman Peter Milzewski said he first worked commercially with Mr King in the early 1990s.

“He has always been a character of integrity, a clear purposeful communicator and a man of his word,” Mr Milzewski said.

“Without Dennis’s individual contributions, leadership and relationship building capabilities, the Australian rendering industry would not be as well positioned as it is today in-market,” he said.

“I have observed Dennis defend the soul of our organisation above all else and satisfy our varied industry constituents and members over the past 22 years,” Mr Milzewski said.

Dennis King being congratulated by ARA president Peter Milzewski and new executive officer Tim Juzefowicz.

New chair and directors for Agribusiness Australia

Agribusiness Australia has elected Elders’ Mark Barber as the body’s the new chairman during its recent annual general meeting.

Mark Barber

The appointment was made after Elders chief executive Mark Allison decided to step away after a decade in the role. Agribusiness Australia also re-appointed Patrick McClelland to the board, retaining his role as deputy chair, along with two new directors – Elizabeth Jackson and Paul Thompson.

Mr Barber joined the board in 2017 when he was Investment Director at Laguna Bay Pastoral Co, and now is general manager, Farmland Agency and Agribusiness Investments for Elders.

The changes provide stability to Agribusiness Australia’s leadership, while injecting new capabilities and perspectives, setting up the organisation for another three years of sectoral advocacy, promotion and leadership, AA said in a statement.

Outgoing chair Mark Allison said Agribusiness Australia’s strong position reflects the growing importance agribusiness plays in the Australian economy, overcoming challenges and volatility to provide prosperity and growth.

New chair for ABC

The taxpayer-funded ABC will have a new chair by March next year, following a decision by current chair Ita Buttrose to step down after the completion of her current term.

Meanwhile ABC managing director David Anderson has had his term extended by the ABC Board for a further five years, taking his term through to 2028.

The national broadcaster has been widely criticised for its ‘yes’ case coverage bias before and after last weekend’s referendum.

UNE scientist appointed as 2023 ATSE Fellow

Improving animal welfare, increasing sustainability in agriculture, and supporting women in STEM are all things that Armidale-based Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit Professor Susanne Hermesch is excited to achieve, after being announced as a 2023 ATSE Fellow.

The ATSE Fellowship is awarded to Australia’s top scientists, and recognises excellence and accomplishment in the STEM sector.

AGBU is a joint venture between the NSW Department of Primary Industries and UNE, and supports Australian livestock industries by providing genetic evaluation and breeding systems to breeders and commercial producers.

Through the appointment, Prof Hermesch joins a long list of notable scientists, including UNE Vice Chancellor and CEO Chris Moran, and former UNE Vice Chancellor and CEO Annabel Duncan.

Over the course of her 30-year career at AGBU, Professor Hermesch has developed new selection strategies for genetic improvement of livestock to optimise feed efficiency, productivity, carcase and meat quality, sustainability, and health and welfare.

She said she was looking forward to building on this work through the fellowship.

Japanese ag student gets a taste of Aussie cattle industry

A young Japanese agricultural university student has recently returned home after a month-long immersion in the Australian beef industry.

Ag exchange student Hiroaki Miyahara with Wagyu breeder Jerome Hayden on his property near Glen Innes. Click on image for a larger view

The latest exchange student from Meiji University was Hiroaki Miyahara, who is studying biology and agricultural science. He spent most of his visit in northern NSW, with Wagyu breeder Jerome Hayden near Glen Innes.

“As an agricultural student studying many issues such as self-sufficiency rate and declining number of farmers, I enjoyed studying large-scale agriculture in Australia,” he said.

This was the sixth such Japanese student visit to Australia to have have taken place, and the second since COVID restrictions were lifted last year in Japan. The exchange was organised by Beef Central’s Tokyo correspondent Taduharu (Bully) Khono, whose alma mater is the students’ Meiji University in Tokyo.

Mr Miyahara gave an account of his Australian farming experience during a visit to the Australian Embassy in Tokyo last month.

Several of the earlier Australian exchange students are now working with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in Isjhikawa Prefecture.

ABS national beef manager appointed

Adrian Carr has been appointed National Beef Manager for genetics services provider ABS Australia.

Mr Carr has more than 20 years’ experience in sales, marketing and management roles in the ag industry including eight years at Apiam Animal Health. He also successfully launched and established a new veterinary services business, Southern Cross Feedlot Services in 2011, and has acquired extensive knowledge within the animal health industry, especially around beef genetics through his involvement in the feedlot industry.

He grew up on an Angus beef cattle property and currently lives in Bendigo.

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