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
- AMPC cements Edwina Toohey as CEO
- John Carter, Bruce Milne saluted with ABIF Howard Yelland Awards
- Cattle Australia board elections
- New chairman for Elders
- Vale processing equipment innovator, Warren Farr
- New board for peak fodder body
- Search begins for new Hereford CEO
- Ag teacher in training crowned 2025 National Rural Ambassador
AMPC cements Edwina Toohey as CEO
The Australian Meat Processor Corporation has appointed Edwina Toohey as the service delivery company’s chief executive officer, after a six month period serving in an interim capacity. Ms Toohey’s appointment is effective today.
Edwina Toohey
AMPC provides research, development, and extension services that improve the sustainability and efficiency of the red meat processing industry.
D8uring her interim CEO spell, Ms Toohey provided strong and steady leadership, AMPC said in a statement.
She brings extensive experience in research and development to the role, along with deep knowledge of the red meat processing industry. Since joining AMPC in June 2023 as general manager of Research, Development and Adoption, Ms Toohey has been instrumental in delivering impactful R&D outcomes for processors and stakeholders across the industry.
Before joining AMPC, she held senior roles at the NSW Department of Primary Industries, where she led major R&D programs and worked closely with the red meat industry, including processors, to drive innovation and practical outcomes.
Her first official function this week is the AMPC R&D showcase event being held in Brisbane.
AMPC chair Melissa Fletcher welcomed the appointment, saying Edwina had already demonstrated exceptional leadership during her time at AMPC.
“Her strategic insight, deep industry knowledge, and commitment to innovation make her ideally suited to lead the organisation through its next five-year strategy. The Board is confident Edwina will continue to deliver strong outcomes for processors.”
“As AMPC embark on a new five-year strategy, I’m excited to work alongside the red meat processing industry to ensure we are globally recognised for our sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness, delivering safe, high-quality products to the world,” Ms Toohey said.
John Carter, Bruce Milne saluted with ABIF Howard Yelland Awards
The Australian Beef Industry Foundation and Marcus Oldham College have announced their Howard Yelland Award winners for 2024 and 2025, during the NAB Rural Leadership Program dinner held at the College last week.
The latest recipients were NSW beef industry campaigner John Carter from Crookwell, and progressive seedstock producer Bruce Milne from Ballarat, Victoria.
John Carter receives the 2024 Howard Yelland Award from John Gunthorpe, Chairman of ABIF and Sam Inglis, Director, ABIF Education Fund. Click on image for a larger view
With great foresight, 116 years ago in Central Victoria, Howard Yelland began weighing cattle, recording and making selection decisions based on the performance results he obtained. Information based on measurement was the basis for the mating program decisions he made within his herd, and became the forerunner to modern day objective measurement practised across the beef seedstock industry.
Each year, the Australian Beef Industry Foundation presents an award to a progressive and impactful beef industry stakeholder, in his name. There have been 39 recipients since the award’s inception in 1987.
The 2024 Howard Yelland award – the 40th to be presented, was bestowed on John Carter, recognising his outstanding contribution to the industry “above and beyond” any normal role.
Mr Carter has had an extensive background in the Australian red meat industry through his tenure in the Cattlemen’s Union, CEO of the NSW Meat Industry Authority and Chair of the Australian Beef Association.
Before his recent passing, Don Lawson in nominating John for the award said:
“John’s major contribution to the meat industry has been his pioneering work in establishing the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging program. When John was in the US, he saw the equivalent of the ICMJ, and he liked it that much, that when he returned to Australia, he brought the idea back with him and turned into reality for Australia.”
Under his auspices as CEO of the NSW Meat Industry Authority, Mr Carter was able to promote and develop the concept in undergraduate programs at Universities in Australia – the first competition was held in 1990 and since its inception over 2000 students have participated in the program.
Not limited to Australian universities, teams from the US, Japan, Indonesia and Korea compete in the program – Australian Teams also travel to US to compete against the American Colleges.
In 2025, ten teams and 150 students contested the ICMJ competition at Wagga.
John Carter was a guest of honour at the ICMJ National Competition Gala Awards Dinner in July, where he presented the John Carter Founders Buckle to the individual overall meat judging champion, Katya Zapf from the University of Queensland.
In presenting the award to John, the chairman of the Australian Beef Industry Foundation, John Gunthorpe, noted his vision and inspiration in the development and ongoing support of the ICMJ Competition through an extensive program of competition and events as a pathway for encouraging the next generation of leaders in the global red meat industry.
2025 Howard Yelland Award winner – Bruce Milne
The same evening, the 2025 Howard Yelland Award was presented to Bruce Milne, recognising his outstanding contribution to the beef industry.
“Bruce Milne isn’t just a successful breeder of Hereford cattle – he is an innovator,” his citation said.
Bruce Milne receives the 2025 Howard Yelland Award from John Gunthorpe, chair of ABIF and Sam Inglis, Director, ABIF Education Fund. Click on image fort a larger view
Passionate about maintaining a healthy and diverse environment for his cattle operation, Bruce and the Milne family were leaders in the Potter Farmland Plan which changed the farm landscape in Western Victoria through tree planting and pasture management. For his work with the Potter foundation and as a leader in promoting on farm conservation, Bruce was awarded the OAM in 1993.
“To match the improved production environment, Bruce then needed improved livestock performance for his Helm View Stud. A close associate of John and Howard Yelland, he adopted their genetics to meet his breeding objectives, and became one of the first herds to adopt and validate Hereford Group Breedplan.”
Not content with improved production through improved genetics Bruce now sought an improved method to market his genetics. In 1990 he developed and promoted the Helmsman auctioning system. The design of the bull and ram buying system arose out of concerns that the traditional systems served the needs of the agents and vendors but neglected the needs of the “customer” – the bull and ram buyers.
The Helmsman system allowed a buyer to bid on multiple lots at one time without the pressure of the auction environment, to select traits that suited individual breeding objectives and to better manage the buying budget.
“Helmsman, and the subsequent development of AuctionsPlus, has produced not only benefits for bull buyers in identifying future market trends, but also has introduced significant benefits in animal welfare – less stress on animals, better meat quality and better eating standards for consumers,” his citation said.
In presenting the award ABIF chair John Gunthorpe cited his leadership in on-farm conservation as a basis for a healthy and diversified production environment, his passion for promoting genetic improvement through objective measurement and his innovation in developing the Helmsman buying system.
Cattle Australia board elections
Nominations are also open for the upcoming Cattle Australia board elections, with three board directors and seven regional consultative committee (RCC) positions to be contested.
Cattle Australia CEO Will Evans encouraged participation, saying: “I urge people to put forward nominations for people in their communities with the ideas and leadership skills to take the industry forward.”
Nominations close Monday, September 29, with more details available on the CA website.
New chairman for Elders
During its recent annual results briefing, diversified listed agency business Elders Limited announced that board chairman Ian Wilton will step down on 31 October and will retire as a director at this year’s AGM.
In his place the board has appointed Glenn Davis as chair-elect.
Mr Wilton was appointed to the Elders board in 2014, a time when Elders was moving to a pure play agribusiness. His leadership has been central to the business’s success, providing a strong focus on operational performance and effective capital management.
As non-executive director, he led the business through multiple divestments and acquisitions and in 2017, the resumption of dividends after an eight-year hiatus. Since his appointment as chair in 2019, Mr Wilton has presided over multiple successful acquisitions, including Australian Independent Rural Retailers; steered the company through COVID; embarked upon the systems modernisation program; and guided the single largest investment in Australian wool handling this century, through the establishment of Elders Wool.
Mr Wilton said, over the past 18 months, the Elders board had undergone significant change, with succession planning a central consideration. “I am delighted that Glenn has agreed to succeed me as Chair of the Board. I have no doubt that under his leadership Elders will continue to thrive,” he said.
On behalf of the Elders Board and management, Elders managing director and chief executive Mark Allison thanked Mr Wilton for his many years of dedicated service.
Chairman elect Glenn Davis joined the Elders board in September 2024 as an independent, Non-Executive Director. He brings strong leadership to the Board, having held chair roles in ASX listed companies for more than a decade.
Vale processing equipment innovator, Warren Farr
Well known red meat processing industry service provider Warren Farr passed away last month, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Based out of his Brisbane headquarters, Mr Farr was the senior vice president of Kentmaster, a major manufacturer and supplier of advanced meat processing equipment used on the kill-floor and boning room. He managed all the company’s sites around the world, except for the US, successfully working with red meat processors large and small in improving their operating efficiency, safety and business productivity.
His friendly, easy-going and supportive manner brought him many friends across the industry. Under his management Kentmaster sponsored many initiatives across the red meat sector and won a number of important design and innovation awards.
“His enthusiasm for the industry and his products was incredible,” work colleague Glen Eckhardt said. “Warren was a great leader and a bloody nice bloke.”
Kentmaster was a regular and committed advertiser on Beef Central. Mr Farr saw merit in the germ of the idea that became the Beef Central and Sheep Central websites, and in no small way his deep and sustained advertising support helped lay the platform for the business that exists today. For that, we at Beef Central remain truly grateful.
New board for peak fodder body
A renewed focus on grassroots member involvement and supporter engagement has reinvigorated the Australian Fodder Industry Association, at a time when demands on meeting the nation’s hay and silage needs have never been more challenging.
The organisation’s 26th annual National Fodder Conference was recently held on the Gold Coast delivering an information-packed event for the nation’s hay and silage producers, attended by 180 delegates and sponsors from business leaders, researchers, producers, contractors, machinery and equipment dealers and end-users.
During the conference, a new Board was elected at the Annual General Meeting, with a record 11 nominations received for the director roles. There are plenty of new faces, with Rob Anspach (WA), Darryl Boyd (NSW), Harry Divall (NSW), Mark Green (NSW), Mark Harrison (QLD) and Gavin Schuster (SA) joining former chair Louis Kelly (NSW) on the board for the upcoming year.
“New leadership, strong sponsor support to shape mutual partnerships and member involvement to deliver a range of local and more personalised events across the country have increased the association’s energy and focus,” said Gavin Schuster, AFIA’s newly appointed chair.
“Producing fodder to feed the nation’s livestock has been very difficult this year with devastating weather conditions impacting production and the ability to meet the needs of customers, many long-term and loyal, across the country,” said Vanessa Curtis, AFIA Industry Marketing and Engagement Manager.
Search begins for new Hereford CEO
Alastair James
Alastair James has resigned as chief executive officer of Herefords Australia effectively immediately, with a recruitment process now underway.
“The challenges of being based remotely from the Armidale office, and the ongoing travel this requires, have proven increasingly difficult for the organisation, myself, and my family,” Mr James said.
During his term since joining HA in August last year, Mr James has been instrumental in governance improvements and new programs such as Future Leaders and Breeders.
Hamish Chandler will step in as Interim CEO.
Ag teacher in training crowned 2025 National Rural Ambassador
An up-and-coming young high school agricultural teacher has won the prestigious 2025 Agricultural Shows Australia National Rural Ambassador Award.
Grace Collins, 22, from Turramurra, NSW took out the national Rural Ambassador Award honour at a gala dinner on Friday in Adelaide. Runner-up was Thea Walker, 24, from Manjimup, Western Australia. The event was supported by RM Williams and Akubra, the official national uniform sponsor.
Hosted by South Australian Country Shows, this year’s finals capped off a journey for seven finalists from across Australia that started at local shows and worked its way through regional and state levels to the national stage. The competition is in its 24th year and celebrates young people passionate about championing their communities and regions.
Grace Collins, left, and Thea Walker
While she grew up on Sydney’s North Shore, Grace spent every school holiday soaking up life on her grandparents’ property in the Hunter Valley. She studied a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England in Armidale and showed Hereford cattle, mentoring young people through the show circuit and Hereford Youth programs.
Now back in Sydney, Grace is working towards becoming a high school ag teacher and already supports students in the classroom, boarding house, and show ring. She’s proof that opportunities in agriculture and the show community are limitless, regardless of your background.
“Each of the finalists are from different backgrounds and each have a unique perspective on the agricultural industry and rural communities, but we are united by a passion for opening doors and providing opportunities for younger generations and to encourage the continuation of volunteers to be a part of their local community,” Grace said.
“It’s been absolutely fantastic to travel around the Royal Adelaide Show and see some of the amazing food, fibre, produce and people that Adelaide has to share with us.”
Grace and Thea will spend the next 12 months maximising their exposure to agricultural shows around Australia, taking mentorship, leadership and career and community development opportunities along the way, and bringing their learnings back to their local communities.
“It is such a privilege to be able to travel around as the National Rural Ambassador for the next 12 months,” Grace said.
“It has been a pleasure to get to know the six finalists. The connections and networks you make through this program are invaluable. I am so proud to be the 2025 ASA National Rural Ambassador,”
Finalists are chosen for their commitment to agriculture, their local shows, and their communities. At the Nationals, they’re assessed on passion, knowledge, communication, and presentation. The final decision was no easy feat, according to National Farmers Federation president David Jochinke, member of the judging panel.
“The judges found it extremely difficult to split the participants. We met them not only in a social setting but also tested them on skills and knowledge around how they are involved not only in the community, but in their shows, their aspirations, goals, dreams and desires. The process is challenging and down to the finest points. Any of the seven participants could easily be the National Rural Ambassador,” he said.
“They are going to be future leaders in our industry. We do hope that the next crop of participants are as valuable to not only their community but as passionate about agriculture as they are.”
Jacqueline (Jac) Wilson-Smith, Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia – the peak body for 572 shows that draw six million visitors annually and inject nearly $1 billion into the national economy – described the award as an important platform for young people.
“This award gives young leaders the chance to share their perspectives, build knowledge and experience, and connect with like-minded peers across their state and the nation,” Jac said.