New SPA chair Bindi Murray.

WESTERN Australian sheep producer Bindi Murray has been announced as the new chair of peak industry body Sheep Producers Australia.

The announcement at SPA’s annual general meeting followed the previous announcement by outgoing chair Andrew Spencer that he would be stepping down from the role at the AGM.

Ms Murray has been an SPA director since its formation in 2017 and was also involved with its predecessor, the Sheepmeat Council of Australia. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Animal Science.

Ms Murray has served Sheep Producers Australia in various roles including as chair of the research, development and adoption committee, a member of the finance audit and risk committee, the Red Meat Panel, the Industry Corporate Affairs Unit as well as the Livestock Export Research and Development Advisory Committee.

“I am honoured to take on the role of Chair at Sheep Producers Australia and look forward to continuing to work with my fellow board members and the SPA team to uphold the professionalism that has been the foundation and legacy of Andrew’s term,” Ms Murray said.

“On behalf of SPA I thank Andrew for his contribution to the organisation and the broader Australian sheep industry at a very challenging time.”

In addition to Ms Murray’s appointment, Yass farmer and company director Allison Harker was elected as a director at the AGM. She is an AICD-certified company director and an Associate CPA (ASA), with a career that spans global financial services, primary industries, and government sectors.

As the statewide chair for Local Land Services and a board director with NRM Regions Australia and Prime Super, Mr Harker brought expertise in livestock biosecurity, emergency management, and government stakeholder engagement, the SPA said. She has also been a director at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in Hong Kong, and held senior leadership roles across financial services in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Asia, while chairing several audit, risk, finance, and economic development committees. She is an alumna of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and a long-time mentor with the Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program.

Incumbent directors Ben Thomas and Elizabeth Jackson were both re-elected for another term.