AUSTRALIAN Survivor winner Mark Wales heads up a strong list of industry speakers at the 2023 BestWool BestLamb Conference in Bendigo next month.

The former SAS special operations commander will be the pre-conference dinner speaker at the All Seasons Resort Hotel on Monday 19 June before the conference on Tuesday at the Bendigo Exhibition Centre.

Agriculture Victoria said as a former special operations commander, Mark is used to operating in dynamic, high stress situations where personal and team performance means the difference between life and death.

Agriculture Victoria senior technical specialist Lyndon Kubeil said the pre-conference dinner will be a chance to hear how Mark was able to use his experience leading an elite special forces team in combat to drive decision making and personal performance.

Mr Kubeil said the line-up of speakers the next day at the conference will inform, challenge and excite participants with the most up to date sheep industry research and information, as well as provide a great opportunity for networking.

‘The format is a one-day event featuring concurrent sessions so participants can attend sessions that are relevant and of interest to them, plus trade displays and the Australian Wool Innovation shearing race delivery demonstration,” Mr Kubeil said.

Patricipants will be celebrating 25 years of the BestWool/BestLamb program. Conference presentations will include Dr Alex Ball, who will take a look back at the last 25 years of the sheep industry and provide his insights going forward for the next 25 years.

Gundagai Meats chief executive officer Will Barton will challenge those attending with lamb production of the future and Chris Howie will make them think about the agent of the future and the producer/agent relationship, ensuring it adds value to your business.

Adelaide University’s Prof. Phil Hynd will give an update on the latest developments with the wool bio-harvesting project.

MSD technical advisor Jim Walsh will give the latest on the company’s oral lice control product.

Mr Kubeil said traditionally, the annual Bendigo conference attracts well over 300 participants, so he recommended booking early.

Early bird registrations are on sale until 31 May.

Click here to register and book for the conference.

Source: Agriculture Victoria.