27 February 2026

Work to progress the ‘once in a generation’ review of the Cattle Transaction Levy by Cattle Australia has reached its first milestone, with the appointment of the Committee overseeing the process.

Following an open call for nominations, five producers (two southern region, two northern region and one western region), along with two independent committee members, have been appointed. The Committee has been tasked with engaging with industry and collecting views on the current levy program.

The appointments are: Harry Youngman and Hugh Nivison (southern region); Julie McDonald and Rob Atkinson (northern region); Dean Ryan (western region); Colin Hunter (independent specialist government systems); and Jason Strong (independent specialist research and development corporations).

Over the course of the next eight months, the Committee will guide the review, with recommendations to be presented to levy payers for a vote at the Meat & Livestock Australia annual general meeting in November.

“We received a substantial amount of interest from producers to be involved in the Committee, which was followed by a thorough shortlisting and interview process to finalise the Committee membership,” CA Chair Garry Edwards said.

The review was initiated by CA to ensure the levy had the ongoing ability to support critical industry-good research, development, marketing and biosecurity initiatives.

“Given this year is the 20th anniversary since the last time a review was conducted, we have gone to great lengths to ensure that the Committee membership is filled with the right skills, experience and business knowledge required to look into how the industry can leverage the most value out of the levies that we pay,” Mr Edwards said.

The first task for the Committee will be an assessment of how well industry is capturing available value from the current levy system, and what opportunities have been missed due to structural failings.

“At the front of our minds is the need to investigate how the current system is operating and identifying factors preventing us from maximising the impact of levy funds,” Mr Edwards said.  

“Our end goal is to provide recommendations to ensure the levy system is able to invest in the initiatives the industry needs to prosper into the future.”

Cattle Transaction Levy Review Committee

Southern Region Representatives

Harry Youngman is an experienced agricultural producer and land manager with more than 30 years of involvement in livestock production, natural capital management and agricultural investment across southern Australia. His background spans grazing enterprises, soil and pasture improvement programs, forestry operations and biodiversity stewardship, giving him a strong practical grounding in the commercial and environmental realities facing cattle producers.

Harry serves as an executive director of the Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund, where he helps guide sustainable agricultural investment and develops on‑farm programs that enhance soil health, productivity and long‑term environmental resilience for producers.

Hugh Nivison is a highly experienced producer of grass-fed cattle and senior agribusiness leader with more than three decades of operational, strategic, and governance experience. As Managing Director of Mirani Pty Ltd, a long‑standing multi‑generational beef enterprise, he has led herd management, genetic improvement, productivity initiatives, and business transformation, giving him deep insight into the commercial and seasonal realities faced by levy‑paying producers.

With a background in veterinary science, strong governance credentials, and extensive producer engagement experience, Hugh brings a balanced, evidence‑based, and highly informed perspective to the Committee.

Northern Region Representatives

Julie McDonald is a northern Australian producer of grass-fed cattle and agribusiness executive with more than 25 years of hands‑on experience in large‑scale cattle operations. Based at Devoncourt Station, Cloncurry, she has built her career with MDH Pty Ltd, covering strategic planning, operational oversight, financial management, and regulatory compliance across extensive northern production systems.

Julie brings strong governance capability through her roles as a director of the Zanda McDonald Award Foundation, Marcus Oldham College, the RNA Foundation, and the Stockman’s Hall of Fame. 

Rob Atkinson is an experienced northern Australian grass-fed beef producer with more than 45 years of hands‑on management across family‑owned cattle properties in diverse production environments. His extensive practical background gives him a deep understanding of the commercial, environmental, and logistical realities faced by levy paying cattle producers, including market constraints, live export dynamics, climatic variability, and long-distance transport challenges.

Western Region Representative

Dean Ryan is an experienced producer of grass-fed cattle and long‑standing participant in the Australian red meat and live export industries, bringing more than three decades of operational, commercial, and industry leadership experience to the Committee. He has extensive knowledge of the levy system and the issues affecting producers across Western Australia.

He has founded and led multiple livestock and export‑focused enterprises, including Australian Livestock Holdings, Southeast Asian Livestock Services, and Central Stockcare Pty Ltd, through which he has built operations spanning pastoral breeding, backgrounding, feedlots, and live export logistics.

Independent specialist – government and government systems

Colin Hunter is an experienced public sector executive and independent specialist with extensive expertise in agriculture policy, biosecurity regulation, financial governance, and statutory assurance across Commonwealth, state, territory, and international government systems. He has a long history of working closely with northern Australian industries and communities, including direct engagement with producers from Townsville to Broome, giving him a practical understanding of on‑ground realities and the commercial environment in which levy payers operate.

Across various senior roles at the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, he has gained a substantial insight into the operation of agricultural levies, their administration and investment by Government and industry alike.

Independent specialist – research and development corporations

Jason Strong is a well-known senior executive, industry representative, and grass-fed cattle producer with a comprehensive understanding of the Australian cattle and beef supply chain. His career spans commercial cattle production, industry leadership, and executive roles across major agribusiness organisations, giving him profound insight into the challenges and opportunities facing levy paying producers.

As former Managing Director of Meat & Livestock Australia, Jason oversaw major national and global programs funded by producer levies, managed strategic research and development and marketing investments, and worked across 15 countries to strengthen industry outcomes. He has an exceptional understanding of levy collection, allocation, and accountability, supported by significant governance experience with AUS‑MEAT, Integrity Systems Company, MEQ Solutions, and other industry bodies.

ENDS

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Michael Thomson
michael.thomson@bluehillagency.com.au
0408 819 666