A capacity audience of 200 guests from across the meat supply chain attended the inaugural Australian Meat Business Women event staged in Melbourne in April

ON THE back of a successful launch event in Melbourne in April, organisers of the Australian chapter of Meat Business Women have announced the network’s second event this year, to be held in Brisbane in October.

More than 200 stakeholders from across the meat supply chain attended the inaugural Australian Meat Business Women event in Melbourne, where Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes, told the gathering that women in the meat industry were not merely shaping the agenda, but setting it.

The Meat Business Women Network is well established overseas, and has activated this year in both New Zealand and Australia.

The Australian arm of Meat Business Women is industry-run under the auspices of the Australian Meat Industry Council. The Australian meat sector is a $22 billion industry and is Australia’s seventh biggest export earner.

Organiser Stacey McKenna, AMIC’s industry research, standards and capability manager, said there was much excitement about the upcoming event on October 9.

“When we started planning the inaugural event, we saw there was a lot of interest right from the start – but even so, we could never have predicted what an incredible success it would be. We had to close off ticket sales earlier than expected because we were just bursting at the seams.

“Demand for this kind of event that supports women in the meat sector and works on ways to help them achieve their career goals is simply extraordinary,” she said.

“So many of the delegates who did attend have told us they can’t wait for the next event and of course those who missed out have been watching closely for their next opportunity.”

The network has secured a larger venue for its second event in Brisbane, but the organisers think there is a good chance it will sell out again.

“As a result, we are encouraging anyone who wants to come along to lock in their tickets as soon as possible,” Ms McKenna said.

The theme of the October event, ‘Advancing the Culture of the Industry’, recognises that there is more to be done to create a sector where women are valued and able to reach their potential, she said.

“Our Brisbane event will probe how we can collectively help advance our industry’s image, culture and landscape for women.”

“The event is designed to create deep conversations and deliver actionable outcomes. It’s the next step in shaping an industry that supports, educates, mentors and provides networking opportunities for women,” Ms McKenna said.

• The next Meat Business Women event will be held at MODA Events Portside in Brisbane from 9.30am on 9 October. For more information or to book tickets visit amic.org.au/mbw/
• AMIC is the peak council representing meat retailers, processors, wholesalers and smallgoods manufacturers and is the only industry association representing the post-farmgate Australian meat industry.