FOURTH generation South Australian sheep meat and wool producer Andrew Michael is one of three nominations to fill three vacant Meat & Livestock Australia board posts, to be voted on by members at November’s annual general meeting.

Mr Michael works his 1500ha family farm at Snowtown, and over the last 15 years has purchased additional grazing land in South Australia’s north east pastoral area and in the south east of SA.

South Australian sheepmeat and wool producer Andrew Michael

Over the last 45 years he has built and operated a large-scale sheep meat and wool business that includes both terminal and maternal sheep. He has extensive experience in the use of breeding technologies in both the sheep and cattle industries, and over the last 35 years has incorporated latest leading edge animal breeding technologies available.

He has been a great supporter and user of all the sheep industry groups, including the Sheep CRC, Sheep Genetics, Information Nucleus Flock and many more.  Using these technologies and working with industry groups has assisted him to develop a highly productive business, by breeding some of the top performing sheep for quality red meat production, along with combining high value skins and wools on animals that do not require mulesing. Mr Michael’s business ceased mulesing in 2004.

For many years he has had a close association with commercial producers round Australia, New Zealand and South America, holding presentation and educational field days, along with helping with their marketing and genetic selection programs.

Joining Mr Michael as nominees put forward by the board selection committee are existing MLA director Alan Beckett, a Victorian livestock producer with specialist expertise in financial, audit and risk framework oversight, and North Queensland beef producer Russell Lethbridge.

Each year, directors are elected by MLA members at the AGM, with the nominees for election put forward by a nine-member selection committee. Members have the right to accept, or reject those nominees, but have no direct impact on the nominee selection process.

The selection committee is made up of four independent producer representatives; three industry peak council representatives; and two MLA board members, with no voting rights. The committee interviewed a shortlist of candidates from a pool of 85 applicants who nominated for a seat this year.

As a skills-based board and in line with current specific requirements, candidates with extensive skills and experience in at least one of the following areas were encouraged to apply this year:

• Australian sheep meat production systems including demonstrated knowledge and/or experience in diverse production systems and knowledge and experience in pasture management, genetics and nutrition; an understanding of RD&E; emerging technologies and their application
• Australian beef production – including demonstrated knowledge and/or experience of northern production systems and knowledge and experience in some of the following: pasture management, genetics and nutrition; an understanding of RD&E; emerging technologies and their application
• Financial, audit and risk framework oversight with demonstrated knowledge and experience in and an understanding of issues relevant to Australian and global operations, compliance with statutory obligations.

The three chosen candidates were assessed based on their skills and broad understanding of the Australian red meat and livestock industry, having strong business acumen, financial literacy, an understanding of corporate governance and a collaborative approach in making an active contribution to strategic and board discussion, a selection committee statement said.

MLA chair Dr Michele Allan thanked outgoing board directors Chris Mirams and Geoff Maynard for their service to the MLA Board over six and three years respectively.  Their terms will end in November.

“Mr Mirams and Mr Maynard have each made a strong contribution to the strategic direction and performance of MLA during their terms as MLA directors and the company thanks them for their commitment to the industry and for the role they have played,” Dr Allan said.

Australian red meat producers and stakeholders interested in attending Red Meat 2017 on November 21-22 2017 in Alice Springs are encouraged to register.

The event is open to all local and interstate producers and industry stakeholders, with the bumper program to showcase Australian beef, lamb and goatmeat and the very best of Central Australia.

The Red Meat 2017 program includes a producer tour, the latest innovation and marketing insights, a trade show and technology demonstrations, business breakfast, outstanding networking opportunities, industry and producer forums and the MLA Annual General Meeting.

To register and read more about the program please visit the Red Meat 2017 event page www.redmeat.mla.com.au