PETER CHIESA

ABL Pilot Program, ABBA Director, NQBRC Committee, NQ ABBA Chairperson, owner Palm Creek Brahmans

A passionate stud and commercial beef producer specializing in Brahman Cattle. Peter’s career has involved building a grazing operation from the ground up, marketing promoting Brahmans and establishing a new Brahman sale in the Whitsundays for North Queensland producers. Peter is focused on linking up the supply chain from bull production through to plate. Brahman focus, trying to increase beef production in northern Australia though Brahman cattle. This is reflected in the committee positions that Peter is involved with though ABBA.

SAMANTHA COBB

Director – CHHRUP, Deputy Chair – CQ RBRC

Sammi has spent almost all her life in and around the beef industry, growing up and working on cattle stations, mostly in Central Qld.  She also spent a year in Montana, USA, working on cattle and cutting horse ranches with the International Agricultural Exchange Assoc as well as completing an Assoc. Diploma of Animal Production through UQ, Gatton, both externally and on campus.  After several years of managing properties, she now owns and operates Cobb Cattle Co. with her husband.  Their home is Mellaluka Station, 150km NW of Clermont where they breed and grow an EU, Grassland and MSA and Regen Roots accredited herd. She is passionate about community connection as well as adoption and improvement of beef industry production which has led her to be involved with several beef industry groups and local community committees.  Sammi is currently on the board of CHHRUP and is deputy chair of CQRBRC.

JAYNE CUDDIHY

Freelance Journalist

Jayne has spent over 20 years telling the stories of regional and rural Australia and has won several awards along the road.  With a knack for having a chat, Jayne currently hosts a plethora of podcasts, contributes regularly to Graziher and Galah magazines and industry publications and is an event MC and facilitator.  Jayne relishes being on local and industry committees, is the website editor for the Australian Rangeland Society and is an active member of ICPA Queensland and school boards. Jayne completed the ABL course in 2021, but delights in nothing more than working with her husband in her family’s beef business and working with others to achieve their leadership and career goals.

SAM FRYER

@aplacetocallhomepodcast, Director Southern Gulf NRM, Councillor - Queensland Young Producers Council

Sam is based just outside of Hughenden, with his wife and 3 kids, where they run a cattle operation on agistment in the area. Both Sam and Emily are passionate and active members of their community. Passionate about the beef industry and the area, Sam sits on the Southern Gulf Natural Resource Management board and is also a Councillor for the AgForce YPC Council. Sam also hosts the @aplacetocallhomepodcast which focuses on bringing the next generation into the agricultural industry.

JASON HEADING

Jason and his wife, along with their 4 children run a beef cattle operation in North Queensland. Jason also has a keen interest in Australian Stock Horses, and breeds and sells competition horses. Prior to retuning full time to the family beef operation, Jason was a diesel fitter in the mines.

EMMA KNIGHT DAg&DAgBus

Co-President Queensland Young Producers Council, Concillor NFF Young Farmers Council
Emma is a primary producer and agribusiness professional based in Southern Inland Queensland. Emma divides her time between a young family, agribusiness development & rural economics, community volunteer roles, beef breeding and trading, and is the co-president of Queensland’s Young Producer Council. Emma is deeply passionate about all things Beef, and the increasing role Australian Agriculture plays in global food security. Emma is focussed on identifying pathway opportunities to connect producers to decision-making processes and policies through industry, and communicating our environmental and social commitments to consumers.

TRACEY MARTIN GAICD, Msc (LSE)

Director, Lawyer QLD Government | Sustainability | Financial Services – Governance & Risk | International Policy

Tracey is working for Government at Director level as a lawyer and policy and risk expert addressing integrity and public safety across Queensland. She has 15 years’ experience in regulatory craft and studied policy making, strategy and global risk at the London School of Economics. She is the former CEO of the Australian Agritech Association (AusAgritech). She is also an agriculture producer, has contributed to agriculture policy as a member of the Cattle Council of Australia Policy Council and was a Nuffield Scholar in 2020. A seasoned financial services professional, lawyer and risk leader with recent international policy experience as a committee Chair in the European Union. Senior executive and advisory experience spanning diverse roles, organisations, and sectors.

ANITA MCNAMARA BVSc

Anita helps run her family's Merino sheep and Droughtmaster cattle operation, as well as providing production animal veterinary services to local clients. She has a 4-month-old baby which is taking up the majority of her time at present! Anita is a producer member of the North Queensland Beef Research Committee and volunteers for other local events such as the Stamford Race Club and Hughenden Show. She is passionate about improving land condition and helping producers run fertile, profitable herds.

The ABL program is open to beef producers and agribusiness professionals.
Applicants must be 18+.

22 participants are selected following an expression of interest, application, and online interview.

Participants meet each mentor through a 'speed-dating' process and rank in order of best fit.
Where possible, participants will be matched with their first selection.

** Participants may enquire with ABL staff if they have a mentor outside the ABL program with whom they would like to work.

Each of the six modules has three x two-hour sessions. These sessions usually run between 11am - 1pm on a Monday.
A full calendar will be provided to successful applicants at the beginning of the program.

Participants should negotiate the amount of time they wish to spend with their mentor and choose suitable meeting times for both parties.

Successful applicants contribute $2,000 to the program. The estimated value of the program is more than $15,000.

Participants must also cover their travel, accommodation, and food costs associated with the three-day supply chain tour and forum/graduation.

Select the “Apply Now” button on the home page or click this link.

Complete your application during the open application period.
If your written application is shortlisted, you will be invited to undertake an interview with the selection committee. Selected participants will then be contacted by email.

Select the “Apply Now” button on the home page or click this link.

Complete your application during the open application period.
If your written application is shortlisted, you will be invited to undertake an interview with the selection committee. Selected participants will then be contacted by email.

Select the “Apply Now” button on the home page or click this link.

Complete your application during the open application period.
If your written application is shortlisted, you will be invited to undertake an interview with the selection committee. Selected participants will then be contacted by email.

Select the “Apply Now” button on the home page or click this link.

Complete your application during the open application period.
If your written application is shortlisted, you will be invited to undertake an interview with the selection committee. Selected participants will then be contacted by email.

Select the “Apply Now” button on the home page or click this link.

Complete your application during the open application period.
If your written application is shortlisted, you will be invited to undertake an interview with the selection committee. Selected participants will then be contacted by email.