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Cattle Australia announces 2026-27 National Beef Leaders

Cattle Australia announces 2026-27 National Beef Leaders.

Cattle Australia has today announced the eight young producers and industry professionals selected for its 2026-27 National Beef Leaders program.

The 2026-27 cohort was announced at Cattle Connect in Wagga Wagga, NSW, giving participants an early chance to meet producers, industry leaders and decision makers from across the grassfed beef sector.

Drawn from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, the cohort spans commercial cattle operations, seedstock genetics, university research, animal health, livestock technology, agricultural media and public policy, bringing first-hand experience from right across the grassfed beef supply chain.

The National Beef Leaders program is Cattle Australia’s flagship leadership initiative for people aged 21 to 35. Over the coming year, participants will build skills in governance, policy, media engagement and industry representation, and gain direct access to decision-makers across government, industry and agriculture.

Cattle Australia Chair Garry Edwards said the strength of this year’s group showed the industry’s next generation was ready to step up.

“Nobody hands the grassfed industry its future. We have to earn it, and that means building people who can stand up and make our case in Canberra, in the media and in the paddock,” Mr Edwards said.

“This group already has runs on the board. Between them they are managing 1,100 Angus cows, measuring genetic progress at Palgrove, researching precision livestock technology and reaching 32,000 people online about how we produce beef.

“Some grew up on country their families have worked for generations. Others found agriculture at a city high school or through the agriculture show circuit. That is exactly the mix we want. The people leading this industry should reflect where it is going, not just where it has been.

“Producers fund this organisation, and they deserve representatives who understand the business from the ground up. This cohort does.”

The 2026-27 National Beef Leaders

•       Lauren Galloway, public policy, Commonwealth agency, based on a cattle and crop station near Dingo (Qld)

•       Mitchell Portbury, Livestock Feeding Solutions, DOM Distribution (Qld)

•       Adrianna Pott, South West Queensland Representative, Zoetis, Mundubbera (Qld)

•       Sammy Mitton, Office Manager, Gibson Livestock (Qld)

•       Alex McLaughlin, Social and Content Marketing Coordinator, AuctionsPlus (NSW)

•       Jack Mayhew, PhD candidate and research assistant, University of Sydney (NSW)

•       Ella Barney, Business and Genetics Analyst, Palgrove (NSW)

•       Will Sullivan, Manager, Millwood Pastoral Group, Western Victoria (Vic)

Meet the leaders

Lauren Galloway (Qld) works remotely in public policy for a Commonwealth agency while living on a commercial cattle and crop station north of Dingo with her husband. Her family recently celebrated 50 years of Braford breeding. Lauren brings a legal, economic and policy background and is keen to learn more about industry affairs and representation.

Mitchell Portbury (Qld) works in Livestock Feeding Solutions at DOM Distribution, where he helped build the automated livestock feeding division from its early days. Working closely with producers across Queensland has given him practical insight into technology adoption, on-farm efficiency and the challenges facing the grassfed sector.

Adrianna Pott (Qld) is the South West Queensland representative for Zoetis, based in Mundubbera. Raised on her family’s grassfed beef property, she remains actively involved in breeding cattle for the heavy feeder market. She is a member of the AgForce Young Producer Council and is committed to keeping producers productive and profitable.

Sammy Mitton (Qld) is Office Manager at Gibson Livestock, an organic beef operation in Queensland. Her career spans livestock agencies, saleyards and agricultural technology. She is passionate about strengthening the connection between grassroots producers and the organisations that represent them.

Alex McLaughlin (NSW) is Social and Content Marketing Coordinator at AuctionsPlus, after more than two years as a journalist with the platform. A fifth-generation member of the grassfed cattle industry, she grew up on a mixed farming operation in Western NSW and has worked as a stationhand in North West Queensland. She is committed to encouraging young people and women into the sector.

Jack Mayhew (NSW) is a PhD candidate and research assistant at the University of Sydney, investigating how precision livestock technologies can improve decision-making and productivity in beef production. A suburban student who found agriculture through the show circuit, he is a Board Member of the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association, an MLA Red Meat Ambassador and coach of the University of Sydney Intercollegiate Meat Judging Team.

Ella Barney (NSW) is a Business and Genetics Analyst at Palgrove, evaluating herd productivity, growth and genetic progress. After discovering agriculture at high school in Sydney, she completed a Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Business at the University of New England and has worked across farm operations, livestock research and advisory roles.

Will Sullivan (Vic) manages 1,100 Angus cows across three properties in Western Victoria for Millwood Pastoral Group. Since 2024 he has introduced individual animal recording, genomic heifer selection and improved grazing management, lifting stocking rates. He holds a producer seat on the Southern Livestock Research Council, is a former MLA Red Meat Ambassador and reaches 32,000 people through his on-farm social media.

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Will Evans

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Will Evans brings extensive leadership, advocacy and policy experience to the role of Cattle Australia CEO. 

Prior to joining CA in July 2025, he held the role of CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association.

Prior to leading the NTCA, Will held industry positions in the areas of policy development with the former Cattle Council of Australia and for the Northern Territory Live Exporters Association.

Garry Edwards

Managing Director and CEO, Maureen Pastoral Company

Garry is the Chair of Cattle Australia, representing 52,000 beef producers and a $20+bn industry, an industry that is Australia’s largest land manager.

He was born and raised on a commercial beef cattle property near Stroud, south of Gloucester in New South Wales.

Garry has personal cattle production interests in this region today as well as his corporate role as the Managing Director and CEO of AAM, a business that has a significant focus in continuing to expand beyond our cattle production interests in Central West NSW, near Forbes and Bective Station near Tamworth, NSW.

With over 30 years’ experience in large scale livestock production management within the Australian agribusiness sector. His experience spans across a vast array of areas of the agricultural supply chain and includes managing businesses involved in livestock breeding, growing and finishing, financing of agricultural projects, implementation of precision agriculture practices, investigation and implementation of sustainability and innovation initiatives and developing and operating integrated agricultural businesses.

In 2007, Garry founded the company that today is AAM, commencing the development, operation and management of a portfolio of agricultural assets valued at ~$1 billion and he and his wife remain the major shareholders of AAM.

Garry has a unique skill set across multiple facets of the livestock supply chain, from production through to finishing, and processing as well as a unique perspective of the challenges facing all livestock producers within Australia.

George King

Managing Director, The Whitney Pastoral Co and Manager, "Coombing Park"
George is a seventh generation Australian farmer, currently managing his family property which they have held since 1880. George operates an Angus breeding and finishing operation joining 1,500 cows per year, with a low-cost model turning off steers at feeder weights and direct sales of females.

George has long been on a regenerative agriculture path as it was the only way he could see to renovate their property 25 years ago without employed equity or working capital, which at the time they didn’t have. He continues with this model as it provides outstanding cost containments, continued production and profitability.

George is married with four (4) children, Harry 24, Emma 22, Dave 15 and Tom 13. He also enjoys flying and has his pilot’s license.

George is also a Founding Director of The Wellness House and a Founding Director of ONFARM CO. He has a strong voluntary involvement with his community including as the NSW Rural Fire Services Senior Dept Capt. and Chairman of St Paul’s Carcoar.

Bryce Camm

Grazier, camm agricultual group

Bryce Camm hails from Dalby in Queensland’s Darling Downs region where he oversees his family’s company Camm Agricultural Group; an integrated beef and cropping enterprise with interests across Queensland.

Bryce has been CEO of the group for the past eight years. Prior to that he was the Manager of the group’s award winning Wonga Plains Feedlot for eight years where he oversaw the operation triple in size. Growing up on “Natal Downs” Station in north Queensland Bryce undertook a dual degree in Business Administration and Communications at Bond University and is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program as well as the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.

Bryce is currently the Chairman of Beef Australia Ltd and the Immediate Past President of the Australian Lot Feeders Council, as well as a previous Director of the Red Meat Advisory Council. 

Elke Cleverdon

FAICD, FCPA, MBA

Elke Cleverdon is an experienced non-executive director and long-term cattle producer from Harden in regional NSW. 

As Joint Owner & Director of Cleverdon Agriculture since 1993, she has managed a self-replacing Black Angus herd, raising and trading cattle with her family. Her deep connection to the land ensures she brings a genuine producer perspective to national industry leadership.

Elke has chaired Cattle Australia’s Audit & Risk Committee for the past three years, strengthening governance, financial accountability, and member confidence during a critical stage of the organisation’s development. She is passionate about ensuring producers have a strong, credible voice and that their interests are advanced in a fair, profitable, and sustainable supply chain.

Her professional background includes more than 16 years in executive leadership in customer-owned banking and eight years as a rural financial coach, supporting farming businesses across NSW. She has also been recognised nationally through the National Farmers’ Federation Diversity in Ag Leadership program.

Elke currently serves as a non-executive director with Horticulture Innovation Australia, Murrumbidgee Local Health District (NSW Health), and SWS Bank. She is a Fellow CPA, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Master of Business Administration.

Elke brings critical thinking, strong financial and risk management skills, and a passion for strategy and sustainability. She is committed to advancing the long-term interests of Australia’s cattle producers by ensuring Cattle Australia remains a trusted, effective, and transparent advocate for the industry.

David Foote

Director - Tandarra Partners

Nominated by: Peter Hall, Troy Setter, Bryce Camm, David Hill, Adam Coffey 

For the past 45 years, David has held rural property management, executive and senior management positions across all mainland states in areas of; beef cattle & sheep breeding, growing and lot feeding, meat retailing, small seed growing, irrigated fodder, and the further processing and exporting of primary products such as meat, grain and fodder.

His export experiences which started in 1989 included a role with Stanbroke Pastoral Company to help develop Stanbroke’ s Live cattle export program. Additionally, David managed the integration of Bottle Tree feedlot grain feeding in the production system while developing and launching their now globally recognised Diamantina beef brand.

David has been in a leadership role at the Lee Family’s, Australian Country Choice group of Companies since 1999 and progressed in that time from General Manager Properties & Livestock to Group Managing Director until stepping back in December 2020 from a full time role to a strategic advisory and board role.

Headquartered in Brisbane and employing over 1,400 staff across 42 operations, Australian Country Choice (ACC) operates Australia’s largest vertically integrated beef supply chain; encompassing cattle breeding, cattle growing and feedlotting to supply its integrated food processing facility in Brisbane that incorporates beef slaughter, beef boning, value-adding and case ready beef packing.

ACC’s cattle property portfolio of around 4 million acres in Queensland & NSW encompasses operations from the Barkly Tableland, CQ coalfields, Carnarvon ranges, Augathella, Blackall, Roma, and Moonie districts of Queensland, with a carrying capacity of 300,000 head. of cattle to support the Company’s 3 feedlots.

Additionally, David represents Agricultural & Cattle industry interests in his role as; Non-Government member Australia­ Indonesia Red Meat & Cattle Partnership, member SmartSat CRC, member Cattle Australia -Policy Council, member Australian Meat Industry Council -China & Halal Trade Groups, Chair Workplace Health & Safety Queensland -Rural Industry Sector Standing Committee, Deputy Chair Laguna Bay Pastoral investment committee and Board Member lnventia Genetic Technologies (IGT). 

Away from work David has a small cattle property in the Mt Kilcoy (Qld) district running Charolais & Charbray breeders to the delight of his four grandchildren.

David wishes to continue into a second term to help build a strong and successful Cattle Australia to represent the interest of all cattle producers