Meet the 2024/2025 Alumni

COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER MUSTERING PILOT - DIRRANBANDI - QLD

Julia is a third generation seedstock beef producer from Manilla NSW. Julia moved to the NT in 2017 straight out of boarding school and worked on a large cattle station outside of Camooweal QLD/ NT.

Seven years on, her passion for the beef industry still stands and is more apparent this year as she embarks on the ABL program.

Julia enjoys working closely with beef producers and learning about best agribusiness practices and breeding programs that can assist her in implementing into her own production. 

PRODUCER - FLETCHERVALE, CHARTERS TOWERS - QLD

Max is the 5th generation of a Brahman/Droughtmaster cross breeding and finishing operation in North Queensland, targeting optimum slaughter and live export markets. Additionally to working across Australia, Max spent two years working abroad in agriculture and tourism, broadening his horizons both culturally and personally.

Upon the completion of university studies and various networking opportunities, Max developed a desire to understand the “big picture” of global economics and trade. Max believes there is always more to learn, creating a hunger to seek new opportunities and experiences in both career development and personal growth.

Max is excited for the opportunity that ABL will provide to network with and gain an appreciation of the wide divergence of experiences and views that exist within the beef industry.

GRAZIER/WAGYU PRODUCER - AVERY AGRICULTURE, MCKINLAY - QLD and OWNER OF LIVESTOCK AGENCY ‘TOPX CLONCURRY”

As a producer of premium pure-bred Wagyu cattle on the open downs country, based near McKinlay NWQ, Ele’s passion for her cattle is deeply intertwined with business, land stewardship, and family legacy. 

In addition to her role as a producer, Ele assists her husband to operate their Livestock Agency business 'TopX Cloncurry', serving clients across a vast region spanning from Winton to the Gulf and parts of the NT. 

Driven to ensure that her three children inherit not just a business, but a profound connection to the land and their way of life, she is committed to balancing time in the office with quality time in the paddock with her family.  Ele’s passion lies in business sustainability and resilience, she is particularly intrigued by the challenge of breeding and finishing Wagyu cattle in varying conditions, she sees immense potential in the concept of 'grass-fed/finished Wagyu' and securing diverse markets for the family’s beef, especially considering the uncertainties that lie ahead.  Learning the skills to better tell their producer story, Ele is keen to build the Avery family brand as some of the world’s luxury beef.

VETERINARIAN & GRAZIER - QLD

I am a wife, a mother, a veterinarian and grazier. It is my passion to work with others to see the beef industry recognised and valued within the Australian community as a sophisticated and fundamental industry that nourishes people and the planet.

My husband and I are fourth generation graziers in South-West Queensland and are raising our children on-farm, using our beef breeding enterprise to immerse them in the initial stages of the beef industry supply chain.

Professionally, I have been a veterinarian since 2010 and have practiced in mixed, specialist and emergency environments in Queensland. I balance my current part-time employment as a Veterinarian in Roma with my commitments to my family and our farm business.

Within my community, I am the secretary of my children’s School’s Parents and Friends Association. In my free time I enjoy training for ultra races, hanging out with my grazier husband, our creative 10-year-old daughter and adventurous 8-year-old son. 

SEEDSTOCK PRODUCER/LAWYER - ANDURAMBA - QLD

Tom’s family operates the Copley Pastoral Brahman seedstock business, a fully Breedplan recorded and genomically analysed herd, focused on fertility and temperament for sales to clients in Northern Australia.

Tom is currently employed as a lawyer in intellectual property, technology and cyber security in Brisbane, and returns home on weekends, with a desire to be working on-farm fulltime. 

He is the current committee chair of the Young Beef Producers Forum (YBPF).  Tom’s interests include businesses that successfully grow, pasture improvement, productivity and asking questions.

PRODUCER - SORRELL HILLS, DUARINGA - QLD

John runs a cattle and dryland cropping operation in Central Queensland.  He has an organic cattle herd from cow/calf through to grass fed bullocks.  As part of a family business, he grazes cattle on a wide variety of soil and vegetation types, from thick Buloke forest to cleared softwood scrub. 

John actively seeks out efficiencies within the industry, from inputs and infrastructure, to time and labour, while trying to create economy of scale. He prides himself on breeding animals adapted to the local environment that require minimal inputs. 

John sees his role in agriculture as a simple one; to honour those that did the hard yards before us, and leave a thriving, positive and productive industry for those that are still to come

OPERATIONS and LOGISTICS COORDINATOR - AAM INVESTMENT GROUP BRISBANE - QLD

Based in AAM Investment Group’s Head office, Isabel is a key figure in supporting the management of large-scale cattle operations in the Northern Territory.

Isabel has a strong passion for the industry, which was instilled by growing up on her family’s trading enterprise in Central Queensland, where she remains actively involved. Isabel holds a Bachelor of Agriculture with a major in Animal Production.

Before joining AAM, she gained valuable hands-on experience in the industry, which she now leverages to assist colleagues in the office who do not have the same understanding in operational decision-making.

Passionate about her role, Isabel is dedicated to supporting beef producers and enhancing her knowledge of how different operational strategies can improve profitability and productivity in the beef industry.

FARM BUSINESS PLANNING OFFICER - BARCALDINE - QLD

Sammy’s journey in the Beef Industry began in 2018 after a late career change from the social services sector. She has worked on various cattle stations around the Gulf of Carpentaria and then Yarra Station in Central Queensland as the Livestock Overseer. Most recently, she is a Farm Business Planning Officer in Barcaldine.

Having finally found her passion, Sammy is focused on fasttracking her progress within the Beef Industry by seeking learning opportunities like ABL to build her skills, knowledge and professional reputation.

Sammy has a particular interest in regenerative agriculture principles and advocating for the beef industry as a career opportunity for all, especially those who didn’t grow up with dirt on their faces and a pet kangaroo.

Sammy loves the outdoors and the physicality of her job, but above all it is the people in the industry who keep her coming back for more.

FEEDLOT MANAGER - ROMA - QLD

I am Nick Henderson - a fella passionate about the beef industry and about living in the bush.

My journey has taken me across all areas of agriculture and across Australia, from Victoria to The Gulf and I am now based in Roma as a Feedlot Manager.

I am passionate about profitable beef production, incorporating good management practices and technology to improve efficiency of our industry. I enjoy working within a team and getting good outcomes for all. I hope to create lasting change and improve lifetstyle and business outcomes for anyone I deal with. I look forward to getting the most out of ABL.

GRAZIER/PRODUCER - SUGARBAG - QLD

Rebecca manages a Braham cross breeder herd in Far North Queensland on the family-owned Sugarbag Station.  Rebecca’s core passion is stock handling & management.  The ultimate goal for the station is to build systems that achieve financial viability whilst putting animal welfare at the highest possible standards. 

Although Rebecca continually strives to focus on the success drivers of the business, she also feels there is a growing importance in our modern age to find a lifestyle balance in business.

The station has been in the family for close to 40 years and has always been a big part of Rebecca’s life. 

SALES & PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE - OBE ORGANIC, BRISBANE - QLD

I am passionate about advocating for beef producers, through educating people in urban environments about where their red meat comes from and how it comes to be on their plate.

I am also a strong advocate for the health benefits consuming Australian beef can bring and I aspire to be in a leadership position where I can communicate these messages effectively to consumers.

After finishing my Agribusiness degree, I was fortunate enough to begin working for OBE Organic in a sales and production role for several years, before moving down to work on a shorthorn cattle and merino sheep operation in Central West NSW, at the start of 2023.

Having had this opportunity to develop my practical skills and understanding, I have recently returned to OBE to continue my passion of liaising with abattoirs and communicating with our customers, to sell Australian beef into domestic and export markets.

PROPERTY MANAGER - STUARTS CREEK, ROMA - QLD

Trent manages a backgrounding operation on 20,000 acres 65km North-West of Roma. The property now owned by Queensland Natural Capital Fund whose focus is on environmentally sustainable operations complementary to grazing operations.

Trent is maintaining this focus whilst running an efficient and profitable operation. He is always looking to improve himself and become more knowledgeable to help him achieve this.

Having finished school in 2008, Trent went to Dalby Agricultural College in 2009 and completed a Certificate 3 in Agriculture. Since this time, Trent has worked his way from a jackaroo to now a property manager.

GRAZIER/PRODUCER - HIGH COUNTRY, TOOGOOLAWAH - QLD

Steph is a beef producer from the Somerset Area Qld. Graduating with a Dual Bachelor of Agribusiness and Sustainable Agriculture (Livestock Science) from UQ Gatton, Steph now works full time on the family stud and commercial cattle operation, handling all of the general tasks, running of the annual bull sale, the breeding operation and all of the behind the scenes records and accounts.

With a passion for the production of breeding cattle and genetics on the family’s 10,000 acre and 500 breeder farm, Steph has developed a range of skills for all aspects of cattle production that assist in the running of the operation.

GRAZIER - PEARL CREEK, DUARINGA - QLD

Darcy works within his family’s Droughtmaster stud operation and lives on their breeder block outside Duaringa. Being a 4th generation producer, Darcy understands the importance of efficient and productive breeding and grazing systems.

Working 3 years in the Northern Territory on remote cattle stations and finishing a bachelor of agribusiness at Marcus Oldham, Darcy has understood the variety of skills and knowledge needed to become successful producer. Darcy enjoys listening to agricultural producers that have had to explore outside their own communities for success within their own business.

Darcy hopes to use this knowledge to bring the regenerative and stud stock industry together, for his family and other family’s success.

GRAZIER - MITCHELL RIVER - QLD

Jack Pedersen is a 3rd generation grazier born and raised on a Brahman Breeder block on the Mitchell River in Far North Queensland. Jack has lived and worked around the area completing his trade and operating his own business as a boilermaker. Jack has expanded his experience across other beef operations while contract fencing and mustering across the Northern Gulf and Cape York regions.

Jack  is currently taking steps to becoming a full time producer in my own right. He is passionate about the bush, the way the land is managed, the people who work in it, cattle management strategies and the rich history of our bush pioneers.

GRAZIER/PRODUCER - JUNEVALE STATION, ALMADEN-GINGERELLA - QLD

Rene is a mother of three and has lived on Junevale Station in the Northern Gulf of Far Northern Queensland for the last 10 years. Rene and her partner Mark are the third  generation living and working on the family property. Their family-based business involves the kids in all their ventures from mustering to lick runs.

They breed Brahman-cross cattle and are working towards a quality red herd. Our primary focus within our breeder herd is growth and fertility and developing infrastructure to maintain numbers long-term.

LANDSCAPE COORDINATOR, DCCA -BAUHINIA - QLD

Cate’s background in Agriculture is underpinned by a strong educational foundation and extensive hands-on experience. With a career in pivotal roles extending from Station Hand, Rural Supply Store Manager, Tafe Teacher, and Project management, Cate has established herself as a proficient professional in the rural sector.

Currently living with her family on 250,000 acre property in Rolleston managed by her husband, and building their own Brahman Stud with their In-laws, Cate skill fully balances Station work, her role as a Landscape Coordinator for the Dawson Catchment Coordinating Association and being an active mum.

LAND MANAGEMENT OFFICER, FITZROY BASIN

Sophie enjoys working with landholders to support the implementation of sustainable grazing land management practices. She takes a holistic approach to finding solutions that improve the productivity and profitability of beef businesses, while also having positive environmental outcomes.

Having completed a Certificate III in Agriculture and Bachelor of Wildlife Science, Sophie went on to work as a station hand for four years in Central QLD and the Northern Territory on backgrounding, breeding, and export properties.

In Sophie’s current role as a Land Management Officer with Fitzroy Basin Association, she enjoys upskilling herself through networking with a range of landholders and industry professionals and attending various workshops.

VETERINARIAN & GRAZIER - MITCHELL - QLD

Louise and her husband are in a family partnership running a mixed grazing beef cattle enterprise near Mitchell. 

She is a veterinarian and has worked in livestock biosecurity, health and welfare to help producers understand and manage their risks and promote best practice health and management options. 

Louise has an avid interest in reproduction and genetics, collecting and analysing production data, and has completed post graduate education in ruminant nutrition. 

She is passionate about personal development and continuous learning, as well as being a mother to her two beautiful boys.