Cumbrian shepherd James Rebanks.

A MODERN-DAY English shepherd with more than 100,000 Twitter followers features in the Lambex 2018 program released this week.

Chair of the conference to be held in Perth on August 5-7, Bindi Murray said organisers were excited to welcome James Rebanks from the Lake District of the United Kingdom.

Cumbrian shepherd and author James Rebanks has gained a flock of more than 108,000 followers on Twitter by chronicling his daily shepherding activities.

He is an Oxford University graduate and author of the book ‘The Shepherd’s Life’, written about his time as a Herdwick and Swaledale shepherd in the United Kingdom’s Lakes District.

Lambex 2018 chair Bindi Murray

LambEx 2018 will be held from August 5-7 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and Mrs Murray said the conference was shaping up to be the biggest and best yet.

“We have a fantastic program and an amazing line-up of speakers from across the globe who will provide a thought-provoking and insightful look at the lamb and sheep industry in Australia and internationally.

“LambEx 2018 keynote speakers are internationally recognised including CEO for The Center for Food Integrity Charlie Arnot and Beef and Lamb New Zealand Independent Director Melissa Clark-Reynolds,” she said.

Other experts to speak include:

 AuctionsPlus CEO Anna Speer will answer the question whether farmers can expect ‘amazon-style’ disruption in livestock marketing in years to come and how the company has spent 30 years trying to evolve the way farmers trade livestock.

 Duxton Capital chairman Ed Peter will debate if corporate investment will disrupt the way we do business in the sheep industry.

 Consultant Jason Trompf will navigate potentially the best opening session at LambEx yet with a look at the achievements and leakages of the sheep supply chain … and what can be done about it.

 Meat & Livestock Australia’s chief marketing and communications officer Australia’s Lisa Sharp will discuss the new generation consumer through the lens of making sure we produce what they want.

The LambEx program also features a number of social events including the Fletcher International Exports Welcome Function, breakfasts hosted by Sheep CRC, AusWest Seeds, Boehringer Ingelheim and Gallagher. The highlight of the program will be the Virbac International Pre-Dinner Drinks followed by AWI’s GrandsLamb Dinner with a delicious array of melt-in- your-mouth food, fun, entertainment and networking.

Early-bird registrations are open and rates are $500 for farmers, $400 for students and $625 for service providers and industry representatives. There are further savings for producers who book in groups of 10.

Associate Professor Graham Gardner from Murdoch University will be LambEx 2018’s master of ceremonies.

Mrs Murray said all sectors of the lamb industry have come together to build on LambEx’s previous success and ensure the Australian sheep and lamb industry continues its proud tradition of showcasing its industry.

LambEx 2018 major event partners are the WA Government Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, MLA, and WAMMCO International. Other major sponsors include Fairfax Agricultural Media, Fletcher International Exports, Australian Wool Innovation, Virbac Australia, Rabobank and Boehringer Ingelheim.

There has already been strong interest in the LambEx 2018 Young Guns Competition with $13,000 worth of prizes being offered.

Mrs Murray said it’s never been a more profitable time to be a lamb producer.

“In the past 12 months sheep, lamb and wool prices have risen to some of the highest levels they’ve ever been.

“LambEx 2018 will continue to highlight how our industry has grown, and what steps producers and industry stakeholders can continue to take to ensure a lift in production and subsequent profits.”

To register now for early bird rates and to view the full program visit www.lambex.com.au