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 head for RMA Network
• Next cohort announced for Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program
• New boardmember for MINTRAC
• Gun NT butchery apprentice honoured
• Vale Noel Kennedy
• NTCA Life Membership for much-admired NT cattle woman
• Committee members sought for Young Beef Producers network
• GPA announces new CEO

New head for RMA Network

Independent agency group, the RMA Network has appointed Jason Woolhouse as the group’s new chief executive officer, as Chris Howie transitions out of the role into retirement.

Jason Woolhouse

Mr Woolhouse joins RMA this week from Hume Bank, where he most recently served as Chief Innovation Officer. He brings 25 years of experience across strategy, partnerships, financial services, insurance, business growth and development.

The RMA Board said the appointment marked an important step in the continued evolution of the RMA Network, positioning the organisation to strengthen its service offering and support the long-term success of independent real estate and stock & station agencies across Australia.

Network president Kat Bidstrup said Mr Woolhouse’s breadth of experience and leadership capability made him an outstanding choice to lead the organisation into its next phase.

“With 120 locations spread across all Australian states, this appointment reinforces our ongoing commitment to connecting and empowering independent agencies for success,” Ms Bidstrup said.

“The RMA Network continues to support our members and associate members by acting as the ‘agents’ agent, providing back-end support across insurance, marketing, industry level training, central processing, and day-to-day operational assistance, while fostering strong connections across the network.”

“Jason’s strong background in innovation, strategic growth and financial services aligns with our vision for the future of the RMA Network,” Ms Bidstrup said.

To support a smooth leadership transition, outgoing CEO Chris Howie will remain with the organisation until the end of July, working closely with Mr Woolhouse and the team to ensure continuity of member and industry-facing support. Chris will continue to pen his popular monthly column for Beef Central.

The RMA Network is also recruiting for a Business Development Manager role based in NSW to further strengthen member engagement and industry alignment, complementing the organisation’s strategic direction under Mr Woolhouse’s leadership.

Next cohort announced for Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program

A group of nine dynamic young industry stakeholders has been announced as the 2027 Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program cohort, leading up to next year’s Beef Australia 2027 event in Rockhampton.

Since its inception in 2015, the Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program has provided rising industry leaders with a comprehensive mentoring experience designed to strengthen their leadership skills, expand their hands‑on industry knowledge, and support the development of a project aimed at benefiting the Australian beef industry.

Applications for the mentoring program opened in February, calling on up-and-coming leaders of the beef and agriculture sectors to participate as mentees in the next program intake.

Beef Australia chief executive Simon Irwin said following a thorough and competitive assessment and independent selection process, nine program spots had been awarded.

The latest intake includes Drew Walsh (NSW), Gemma Somerset (NT), Amelia Unthank (NSW), Sean Wright (TAS), Caitlin Herbert (NSW), Adam Bonner (QLD), Naomi Leahy (NSW), Laura Healey (VIC) and Zoe MacFarlan (NSW).

Eligible participants included individuals aged up to thirty-five who work in, or are connected to, any area of the beef supply chain, spanning production, processing, corporate functions, marketing, and agribusiness.

“Over the next 13 months, the Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program will provide the mentees with access to one-on-one guidance from committed mentors, industry connections, and opportunities for personal and professional growth,” Mr Irwin said.

Opportunities for dairy beef

Incoming 2026/2027 program participant Sean Wright from Tasmania said he had applied as a personal development opportunity, and as an opportunity to gain mentorship and direction in a topic and area of the beef industry, where he sees enormous potential.

“Having the extra support and connection via mentorship is something I will be leaning into and utilising to identify gaps and opportunities within my project topic,” he said.

Mr Wright’s project will look at options for a blueprint for a coordinated dairy-beef supply chain, linking all parties together. “By identifying bottlenecks, particularly in calf aggregation and rearing capacity, the project will outline scalable models that transform low-value calves into high-quality cattle for the Australian beef industry,” he said.

The Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program is an initiative of Beef Australia, in memory of the late Graeme Acton.

New boardmember for MINTRAC

Meat industry training and skills development organisation MINTRAC has added Clare Winkel to its Board of Directors.

Ms Winkel brings 45 years of experience across the food industry, including extensive work in both the meat and seafood processing sectors. She is currently director of technical solutions at Integrity Compliance Solutions and has held senior roles across industry, research and government.

Ms Winkel’s career spans roles across research, industry and government. Her experience includes work with CSIRO’s meat research laboratory, AusMeat, Teys Australia, Woolworths and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, as well as international experience as a verification auditor in the United States. She also spent seven years working in the seafood industry in Alberta, Canada.

Her appointment to the MINTRAC board will strengthen MINTRAC’s capability in the seafood sector, enhancing industry engagement and contributing to the development of sector knowledge, including the identification of key challenges and opportunities, and strengthening connections with relevant industry networks.

Gun NT butchery apprentice honoured

A highlight of the 2026 Meat Excellence Awards hosted by the Australian meat Industry Council in Melbourne was the crowning of the 2025 National Apprentice Butcher of the Year.

Receiving the award was Tamika Banks of Malone’s Butchery, Northern Territory, with Natasha Fisher of Rumpshakers, Western Australia, named runner‑up.

Tamika said she was hungry for first place after competing in the 2024 National Apprentice of the Year competition – and she absolutely meant it.

This year’s apprentice finalists delivered an outstanding showcase of skill, dedication and passion over two impressive days of competition, highlighting the exceptional talent emerging across the industry.

The National Apprentice Competition was held at William Angliss Institute last month, following state competitions throughout 2025 which saw more than 80 apprentices compete nationally. The program also reflected the changing face of the industry, with five of the seven national finalists being female apprentice butchers.

AMIC also announced Luke Leyson of Schlink Smallgoods as the 2026 Smallgoods Young Achiever. This award recognises outstanding young professionals under 35 who are making a meaningful impact across Australia’s smallgoods sector through leadership, innovation and commitment to excellence.

AMIC Young Apprentice of the year Tamika Banks

Vale Noel Kennedy

Veteran North Queensland livestock producer and industry body representative, Noel Kennedy has passed away.

From his property near Winton, Mr Kennedy spent many years representing the interests of Northern Australian livestock producers via the former United Graziers Association’s Central and Northern Queensland division.

UGA’s successor, AgForce, paid tribute to Mr Kennedy’s industry contribution late last week.

“We mourn the passing of another great of industry, Noel Kennedy. AgForce joins the agricultural community in recognising the significant contribution Noel made to the industry, particularly within the wool and livestock sectors,” an AgForce statement said.

AgForce General President Shane McCarthy reflected on Noel’s legacy: “Noel was another icon of the agricultural industry especially through the Wool Council and later the United Graziers Association. I know the many battles he had on behalf of industry we are the better for today and we could all take a leaf out of his uncompromising advocacy on behalf of producers,” Mr McCarthy said.

AgForce member and long-time industry leader Don Heatley also paid tribute: “I came to know Noel in the late 1970s via the then Central & Northern Graziers Association, a Division of the UGA. He was a tireless advocate for the cattle and sheep industries and was tough and uncompromising when confronted by policies he believed were at odds with the interests of the livestock producers he so competently represented. Noel was unique in his ability to see issues from “both sides of the fence” and constantly offered solutions that advanced the pastoral industry and supported those who worked within it,” Mr Heatley said. “He was a man of strict principles, great vision and a wonderful mentor to those who were willing to represent the pastoral industry.”

NTCA Life Membership for much-admired NT cattle woman

The Northern Territory Cattlemens Association has bestowed its highest honour on one of the region’s most influential and hard-working women – Anne Stanes from Lyndavale Cattle Co.

Ms Stanes was awarded Life Membership for her life-long commitment to the Territory’s pastoral and beef industry, her service in leading many industry bodies, her strength in advocating for continual improvement and her close involvement with her community.

She grew up in Alice Springs and was a keen horse rider competing in many disciplines while spending holidays on Stations, especially Deep Well where Old Billy Hayes taught her about the bush and horsemanship.

After attaining a Graduate Diploma in Ag business and a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Agriculture at Sydney University, Anne married John Stanes in 1982 and soon moved out to Lyndavale, a block with very little on it including a house.

Over 40 years Anne and John developed Lyndavale Cattle Co, producing organic beef across pastoral properties in Central Australia, grow organic hay and finishing cattle on farmland in South Australia.

Now with their sons Ross and his wife Jo, and Bennett and his wife Lily, they have further enhanced the family business, producing high quality, grassfed, Organic Accredited beef and were recently named in the top 100 MSA producers in SA and NT.

They have a strong ethical approach to their cattle and land management, and attribute much of their growth and success to the sustainable approach in which their land and cattle are managed.

Over the years the States’ developed Lyndavale, purchased De Rose Hill, and then farmland in SA, and more recently Mt Ebenezer in the NT.

Ms States at different times  acted as NTCA chair and deputy chair, sat on the Cattle Council of Australia Board, was an NT Pastoral Land Board member, ASPIAC Chair and committee member and chaired the State Planning Group for Farmbis.

Committee members sought for Young Beef Producers network

The highly successful Young Beef Producers Forum, which holds an annual gathering in Roma, has put out a call for new committee members for the 2026 event, to coincide with the Roma Cup Races on 20-21 November.

Committee members are involved with:

• Fortnightly Zoom meetings, then weekly as the event approaches
• Building relationships with speakers and sponsors, taking responsibility for communicating with various companies and individuals
• Participating in various sub-committees to organise each aspect of the Forum
• Attending the forum and ensuring speakers, sponsors and attendees have a positive and seamless event experience (including completing set up the day before)

The roles within the YBPF committee are varied and various skills and network connections are sought to support the event.

Applications close Friday 24 April.

Click here for details about joining the committee

GPA announces new CEO

Grain Producers Australia has appointed experienced industry body administrator Duncan Bremner as its new chief executive officer, effective 27 April.

Duncan Bremner

Mr Bremner has 20 years’ experience in leading and advising national agricultural organisations with producer, political and business focuses. He was raised in central west New South Wales, living on a mixed farming enterprise property. He started his career in the northern Australian cattle industry before moving across into industry representation. He has worked with Animal Medicines Australia, Rugby Australia, Cattle Council of Australia, and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He is also an Australian Rural Leadership Program alumni.

GPA Chair Barry Large said Mr Bremner brought significant experience in the agricultural sector and leadership qualities that would complement GPA’s work on behalf of grain producers.

Mr Large said it was important for GPA to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of its outgoing Chief Executive Colin Bettles.