AGRIBUSINESS identity John McKillop has been appointed as the new independent chairman of the Red Meat Advisory Council.

Mr McKillop has extensive agribusiness experience, having served on the boards of Meat & Livestock Australia, Dairy Australia, Cubbie Cotton, Dairy Farmers Milk Cooperative and Hassad Australia.

Mr McKillop will assume the RMAC chairmanship on 1 October. He has most recently served as chair of LAWD Pty Ltd, a valuation and transaction service in the Australian agribusiness sector and recently as chair of CBRE Agribusiness overseeing the development of strategy and staff development. Earlier in his career he had senior positions with Stanbroke Pastoral Co, Swire group’s Clyde Agriculture and Elders Meat trading division.

John McKillop

He takes over the RMAC chairmanship from Don Mackay, who has led and supported RMAC for the past four years.

RMAC board selection committee chair Chris Mirams said there was a number of candidates with strong credentials and experience for the job, and congratulated Mr McKillop on his appointment.

“John McKillop has a diverse background across many aspects of the red meat supply chain,” Mr Mirams said.

“He brings considerable experience in agriculture, global marketing, financial management, strategic planning and corporate governance.

“We have every confidence he has the ability to build on his already strong, industry-wide networks to ensure the role of RMAC remains relevant to the needs of its stakeholders.”

Mr Mirams said the independent chair would continue to develop RMAC as the strategic leader of the red meat industry, ensuring the best outcomes for the whole red meat sector.

“Mr McKillop’s appointment reflects RMAC’s commitment to delivering on our shared industry vision and direction in Red Meat 2030, to double the value of Australian red meat sales as the trusted source of the highest quality protein,” Mr Mirams said.

Mr Mirams also extended his congratulations to outgoing chair Mr Don Mackay for his key role in driving the sector’s strategy and growth, and guiding RMAC through the development of Red Meat 2030 and the MoU review.

About the Red Meat Advisory Council

RMAC has a unique role in the Australian red meat industry, as the only policy leadership group of its kind representing the entire supply chain from paddock to plate. It is a policy leadership and advisory forum made up of beef and sheep meat producers, lot feeders, processors,  retailers and livestock exporters representing 80,000 Australian beef, goat and sheep meat businesses, and their interests to the community, industry and government.

The role of RMAC as a coordinating forum is:

• ‘Paddock to Plate’ policy leadership on shared issues and opportunities for Australia’s 80,000 red meat businesses
• A formal advisory council to the Australian Government
• Setting the industry’s shared vision and direction, through a 10-partner strategic plan (from July 1 2020: Red Meat 2030)
• Manage the Red Meat Industry Fund
• Coordinate joint projects across the supply chain, including the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework and
• Industry Corporate Affairs Project
• Custodians of the Red Meat Memorandum of Understanding