Participants this year’s ICMJ Rocky event this morning

NORTHERN Australia’s beef industry is taking centre stage this week as students, young professionals and industry leaders gather for the 2026 ICMJ Northern Conference in Rockhampton.

Hosted by Teys Australia and CQUniversity, the sold-out event runs across four days ending Saturday, bringing together participants from across Australia to build skills, networks and carve out career pathways in the red meat supply chain.

Now in its 36th year, the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association has a successful history of inspiring and developing graduates to pursue careers in the red meat industry, with many ICMJ alumni now in leadership positions across the industry.

One such example is Meat and Livestock Australia’s General Manager of Research, Development and Adoption, Sarah Strachan – a keynote speaker on the conference program.

The ICMJ Northern Conference is designed specifically to reflect the unique production systems, markets and workforce needs of northern Australia. It includes professional development, industry insights, technical workshops and live judging, with sessions covering leadership, genetics, sustainability, meat quality, processing innovation and global markets.

The event also features a Careers and Industry Expo and culminates in a beef judging competition at Teys Australia’s Lakes Creek processing plant.

While the competition is always a particular drawcard for participants, ICMJ Northern Conference co‑chair Laura Bignell said the event was about much more than meat judging.

“The conference is about developing the next generation of industry leaders with applied skills, strong networks and a deep understanding of northern beef production,” Ms Bignell said.

“Participants leave with knowledge and skills they can apply immediately, as well as connections that often shape their careers for years to come.”

ICMJ Northern Conference co‑chair James Carter said programs like ICMJ play a critical role in workforce development.

“The red meat industry relies on capable, motivated people right across the supply chain,” Mr Carter said.

“ICMJ helps develop those people by combining technical understanding with leadership, communication and industry awareness.”

Key program highlights include:

• Presentations from leading industry figures on global demand for Australian beef, genetics, sustainability and processing innovation
• A live animal assessment and Hoof & Hook judging competition at RLX Gracemere
• A Northern Industry and Careers Exhibition, connecting participants directly with employers
• Practical workshops ranging from carcass judging and retail identification to underutilised cuts and processing technology
• Teys Australia Beef Judging Competition
• Industry sponsored dinners showcasing high-quality Australian beef.

• The conference is supported by founding partners Meat & Livestock Australia and AMPC as well as along with a broad range of industry partners including Beef Central, Teys Australia, CQUniversity Australia, JBS Australia, NH Foods, Beef Australia, AA Co, Advance Rockhampton, Mort & Co, Signature Beef, Bindaree Food Group, AAM, Australian Brahman Breeders Association, Regional Livestock Exchanges, Allflex and Greenleaf.