Kaitie Nash, First Time Farmer - YBPF 2025 MC
The YBPF committee is thrilled to welcome Kaitie Nash to the stage for the second time, this year as our MC for the 2025 Young Beef Producers Forum!
We were fortunate to hear from Kaitie last year when she spoke candidly about her story as a city girl turned First Time Farmer - navigating the challenges of rural life with humour and humility. Since joining her husbands family farm in 2018, Kaitie has faced numerous challenges that tested her resilience and determination.
In November 2023, she chose to share her journey online, connecting with people worldwide and showcasing the realities of farm life. Through her authentic storytelling, Kaitie aims to inspire others as they embark on their first time farmer journeys, by providing a sense of belonging and raising awareness about the importance of Agriculture in our lives.
We cannot wait to have Kaitie on stage throughout the two days, keeping us on track, and everyone in check!
Tim Lee
Regeneration of soil and self
Tim is a fourth-generation farmer on his family property “Beulah” near Gunnedah NSW. He returned to the farm in 2014 after 14 yrs in the Australian Army with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Committed to making change on his property, he is transferring from a traditional Industrial Ag cropping and cattle operation to a Regenerative approach of grass-fed beef.
Tim discovered Regenerative agriculture while healing himself from the unseen mental scars of War. He is passionate about veterans and farmers mental health, speaking out in the belief that one day his story, will be someone else’s survival guide. He has found his people and purpose in the Regen Ag community with the help of the Lachlan Hughes Foundation.
Tim's story is one of strength and resilience, learning to overcome life’s toughest challenges with a mindset of looking forward, not back.
Teek Carmichael
Matika Carmichael, also known as Teek, has had a multifaceted career working in fitness, finance, agriculture & recently dabbling in the social media space. Over the past 5 years, she has spent business hours managing the finances for the non-for-profit organisation, Business & Rural Solutions Ltd.
Alongside this, she runs group fitness sessions & is a trainer for Kate Ivey Fitness.
Living on a property at Condamine, she spends her remaining time assisting in a family feed lotting and backgrounding enterprise.
Matika is a dynamic young professional with a passion for agriculture, community & bringing exercise to the bush.
Peter McGilchrist
Dr Peter McGilchrist, B. Rur. Sci. Hons (UNE), PhD (Murdoch)
Professor in Meat Science
School of Environmental and Rural Sciences
University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
Peter is a Professor of meat science at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW and his research revolves around ensuring global consumer satisfaction of Australian red meat. This research covers all aspects of beef, sheep and goat supply-chains focusing on critical control points which affect the eating quality of meat from genetics, to on-farm management, processing through to the consumer. Peter is president of the Australian ICMJ Association and a member of the Meat Standards Australia beef and sheepmeat scientific pathways committees. Peter grew up on a beef cattle property in North-West NSW and is a passionate educator. Peter teaches undergraduate rural science, agriculture and agribusiness students at UNE and is very passionate about everything from soil to scotch fillets!
Sophie Cooper
Sophie Cooper grew up on a sheep & cattle grazing property near Tamworth, NSW where a love for the land, livestock & people of the rural community was ignited at a very young age. Throughout high school a new passion for breeding & showing cattle was facilitated along with a keen interest in agricultural science which led to her graduating from a Bachelor of Rural Science, Hons (UNE) degree in 2020.
Sophie’s further exposure to the red meat industry through studying meat science, competing in ICMJ and her honours project at UNE allowed for a unique opportunity in experiencing multiple areas of the beef supply chain. Sophie’s time as a Feedlot Operations Trainee and Domestic Sales Officer at Mort & Co. through to her current position as Export Sales Officer for Kilcoy Global Foods has allowed for an invaluable experience of the supply chain from producer to the end consumer.
In her current role, Sophie manages the sales & business development of Australian grain & grass-fed beef to Japan & South Korea and throughout her journey has gained a true appreciation for the many hardworking and talented hands that contribute to Australian beef making their way onto international tables. Bearing witness to the plates on which Australian beef lands is a true privilege and one that brings Sophie great joy and wishes to share with the Australian producer. The importance of education beyond the farm gate for people of all ages along all areas of the supply chain is something Sophie believes an integral part of progression and sustainability of the Australian beef industry.
Jimmy Bellingham
Jimmy Bellingham is the owner and director of Bellingham Contract Mustering, a labour hire business he began four years ago in Northern Australia. It services primarily large corporate and private beef companies. Operating up to 30 staff members or at times four stock camps, the focus is on building a culture that delivers quality, pride of work, and welfare commitments to clients and their animals. From working on numerous properties of different scales and practices, he has developed an unbiased insight into their operations and management of both cattle and people.
Jimmy's passion for the beef industry stems from growing up on his parent’s cattle operation in North West Queensland. The business extends from breeding to backgrounding, supplying cattle for the feedlot sector. The contract mustering business allows him to assist and contribute to his parents enterprise through labour supply, whilst forging his own pathway building a career and contributing to the beef industry.
Caitlyn Barton
Caitlyn is the Livestock Supply Chain Manager for the JBS Northern division, encompassing Dinmore, Rockhampton and Townsville processing facilities and the five JBS feedlots, spanning from the Riverina to the Darling Downs with over 160,000hd on feed at any one time.
With prior experience in seedstock operations, lotfeeding, cattle procurement and logistics, Caitlyn’s current role in the JBS Northern Livestock team is spilt between developing on-farm management practices with producers, data analytics, feedlot performance and benchmarking, as well as achieving compliance in branded beef programs, R&D and sustainability initiatives.
Carl & Judi Bain
Carl and Judi Bain own Lantana Station, a 38,000 ha property west of Charleville, and are also founding members of PastYour Lips, which is a paddock-to-plate business.
This is a small part of a bigger operation that is run along with their children (three boys and their families), who own two properties (Blackall and Moonie) and lease three more properties close to the home block. Working together enables them to run a breeding, growing, and fattening operation on a viable scale. Their focus currently is, along with their youngest daughter, eldest son, and daughter-in-law, to get the meat business up and running. However, Carl is still found on a bike in the paddock helping to muster, and Judi is often cooking for mustering teams.
The breeding herd is the result of Carl's invested interest in genetics and breeding for adaptability and fertility, which has resulted in a favourable and desirable outcome meeting many different markets and providing consistent PastYour Lips Cattle.
Don't be fenced in; never stop seeking opportunities.
Will Jones
Will Jones is part of the Jones family team behind Outback Poly Products, Samios Trading Post, and Nutri-Lick, based in Mitchell, Queensland.
Growing up in a family deeply connected to rural life, Will developed a strong appreciation for hard work, community, and Australian manufacturing. After gaining experience across both rural and industrial industries, he returned to Mitchell to take on a leadership role in the family’s expanding group of businesses.
Outback Poly Products, owned and operated by the Jones family, has been proudly supplying durable, Australian-made products to customers across Queensland and the Northern Territory for more than 20 years. Under Will’s direction, the business continues to focus on innovation, quality, and supporting regional communities through practical solutions that stand the test of time.
Peta Carige
Peta graduated from a dual degree in a Bachelor of Science (Exercise Physiology) and a Bachelor of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) in 2006, after which she gained a Tertiary Hospital Position. She maintained part-time clinical work while starting her Sports Nutrition career with Brisbane Broncos, where she remained for seven years.
Her Sports nutrition work has included several elite teams across both Queensland and New South Wales, including the Australian Rugby Sevens Men’s and Women’s team for seven years where she supported the Women’s 2016 Olympic gold medal performance. She’s also worked within Rugby League for over 15 years.
Peta is currently the Nutrition Lead for Paddle Australia in the lead up to Tokyo, while still consulting to NSW Rugby League and the Jillaroos. She manages these roles alongside her private practice and provides regular corporate presentations whenever she can.
Peta’s personal background is in team sport, and is a mother to two young boys, so she understands the importance of juggling work, training goals, family and a love of good food. Her varied, yet heavily ‘practical’ work experience enables her to give relevant, realistic, and practical nutrition messages to her patients. This is what makes her stand out against other Dietitians.
Richard Rains
Richard Rains began his career with a cadetship at Dalgety. In 1976, he joined Sanger Australia, a meat export marketing company, and by 2000 had become its CEO and majority shareholder. He led the business until 2013, when he sold his equity via a management buy-out.
Richard sold the first imported meat to South Korea in 1975. In the 1990s, he persuaded McDonald’s North America to use Australian beef, opening a major export pathway for the industry.
Richard was founding director of The Arcadian Organic & Natural Meat Co., a leading processor and marketer of certified organic beef and lamb…. since acquired by Hewitts.
Throughout his career, Richard contributed to numerous industry bodies and initiatives:
- Sanger Australia – 1976~2013. CEO and majority shareholder (2000–2013)
- The Arcadian Organic & Natural Meat Co. – Founding Director (2005–2015)
- Australian Export Council – Advisory Board Member (2013–2015)
- Cattle Council of Australia – Marketing Committee Member (2013–2015)
- Beef CRC – Director (2008–2012)
- Certified Angus Group – Director (2013–2017)
- Australian Beef Industry Sustainability Framework 2016
- Paraway Pastoral Company – Director 2014~ 2020
- Country Education Foundation – Board (2016–2021)
He also gave back to the next generation of agricultural leaders through mentoring programs, including:
- Graeme Acton Mentoring Program (2018 & 2024)
- Advancing Beef Leaders (ABL) Mentoring Program (2020)
He served as Chairman of The Zanda McDonald Award (2015–2023), supporting young leaders in agriculture, and continues to contribute as a judge for the Tim Fischer Foundation Awards (2025–present).
Aline Teixeira, CEO Wise Repro
Aline Teixeira has held leadership positions for the past 20 years primarily in food and agribusiness industry around Australia and overseas. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Wise Repro Group, which provides end-to-end reproductive solutions for cattle producers across every stage of the breeding process all over Australia.
Since joining Wise Repro, Aline led the business strategic growth, operational reform, and integration of the businesses within the group, positioning Wise Repro as an industry leader in bovine reproductive biotechnology. She is accountable for corporate governance, financial sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and execution of long-term strategic plans.
Prior to joining Wise Repro, Aline spent most of her time working in a global consulting firm, leading the execution of multiple transformational projects across Australia and international markets, delivering measurable business growth, operational efficiencies, and long-term strategic impact.
Sam Parish
Sam Parish is a passionate agribusiness professional based in Forbes, NSW.
As Project Support Officer with Wise Repro, Sam brings a strong background in cattle genetics, reproduction, and rural enterprise development. He plays a key role in advancing innovative agricultural services across Australia and connecting producers with practical solutions and emerging technologies.
Through podcasting and a wide range of media, Sam actively promotes the value and diversity of agriculture globally. Deeply involved in local initiatives such as Forbes Rugby, agricultural shows, and charity events, he strives to strengthen the link between the general population and the people, places, and possibilities of agriculture.
We are so fortunate to have Sam up on stage alongside Aline, as interviewer, and look forward to their conversation.
Harry Evans, Agribusiness Consultant, Bush Agribusiness
Agribusiness consultant Harry, joined the team in 2025 bringing his experience from both corporate and private extensive beef businesses.
Growing up in the Maranoa region gave Harry an appreciation for the people who work in agriculture. He carried this with him through various roles in business and finance before being drawn back to agriculture in 2018.
Harry is grateful to be able to assist people to optimise business efficiencies which can lead to improved lifestyle and opportunities for their families.
In his role, he works with leading producers in the northern pastoral industry to derive maximum value from business analyses.
Alongside his work, Harry values time with his immediate and extended family and loves to find the positives in every situation.
David Cornish
B.Ag.Ec, B.B.M. (Acct), Dip.F.P. Director, Centre for Professional Development
David Cornish has over 30 years’ experience in agricultural finance and business management. His career has included roles as Agricultural Economist, Agribusiness Marketing Manager, and senior banking positions across regional New South Wales and Victoria with the National Australia Bank. He was the inaugural CEO of Rabo Financial Advisors and later worked as a Farm Consultant with Mike Stephens & Associates, advising on agricultural investment opportunities for wholesale investment funds.
Since 2018, David has been a full-time lecturer at Marcus Oldham College, where he teaches Marketing, Strategic Management, Leadership, and Business Planning. He also leads the Centre for Professional Development (CPD), which delivers short courses and postgraduate programs to the agribusiness sector across Australia. The highly regarded Marcus Oldham Leadership Course—now in its fourth decade—is one of the flagship programs under his direction.
Alongside his academic and professional work, David remains actively involved in his family’s farming operation based at Casterton in Western Victoria.
Rhonda Toms-Morgan
Rhonda, founder of ConnectAg, is based in Queensland’s Maranoa region and for over 20 years has been supporting grazing and broadacre producers access research, tools and information to improve their business and communities.
She provides guidance on business, production, grazing land management, environmental practices, carbon, and sustainability. She played a key role in creating the Carbon EDGE workshop and now leads its delivery for Meat & Livestock Australia in Queensland.
Rhonda is passionate about helping producers access independent and science backed information and gain confidence and capacity to make objective decisions for their business navigating risks such as sustainability reporting, succession planning, seasonal variability and viability.
She’s also committed to closing knowledge gaps in the industry, helping producers confidently engage with supply chains, consumers, and policymakers on carbon and the future of food production for the benefit of industry and the communities they support.
Rob McGavin
Rob McGavin is co-founder of Cobram Estate Olives Limited, Australia’s largest vertically integrated extra virgin olive oil company, and a recognised leader in quality agribusiness.
He grew up on a grazing property near Barcaldine in western Queensland, where early-life farm and station work instilled a strong work ethic and problem-solving mindset.
After studying agribusiness at college, Rob pivoted into olives, scaling Cobram Estate from a startup to producing around 70% of Australia’s extra virgin olive oil. He attributes this success to embracing adversity, investing in process and quality, and applying the same resilience that drives the beef industry into sustainable growth.
Lydia Burton
Lydia has a deep connection to rural Australia, having grown up on her family’s beef cattle property on the Darling Downs and later in western Queensland.
In 2013 Lydia began her career as a Rural Reporter with the ABC in Longreach and later went on to become the Northern Territory Country Hour presenter followed by the NT Country Hour Executive Producer.
Lydia has reported across radio, digital platforms and television including the ABC’s flagship rural affairs program Landline. Her career has taken her across Australia, Indonesia, the United States and Europe.
In 2025 Lydia joined Beef Central to become one of the hosts of The Week in Beef, a dedicated weekly news podcast to help keep Australian beef industry stakeholders informed, connected and up-to-date.
Darcy McKenzie
GRAZIER - PEARL CREEK, DUARINGA - QLD
Darcy works within his family’s Droughtmaster stud operation and lives on their breeder block outside Duaringa. Being a 4th generation producer, Darcy understands the importance of efficient and productive breeding and grazing systems.
Working 3 years in the Northern Territory on remote cattle stations and finishing a bachelor of agribusiness at Marcus Oldham, Darcy has understood the variety of skills and knowledge needed to become successful producer. Darcy enjoys listening to agricultural producers that have had to explore outside their own communities for success within their own business.
Darcy hopes to use this knowledge to bring the regenerative and stud stock industry together, for his family and other family’s success.
Nick Henderson
FEEDLOT MANAGER - ROMA - QLD
I am Nick Henderson - a fella passionate about the beef industry and about living in the bush.
My journey has taken me across all areas of agriculture and across Australia, from Victoria to The Gulf and I am now based in Roma as a Feedlot Manager.
I am passionate about profitable beef production, incorporating good management practices and technology to improve efficiency of our industry. I enjoy working within a team and getting good outcomes for all. I hope to create lasting change and improve lifetstyle and business outcomes for anyone I deal with.
Eric Barker
Eric is an experienced rural journalist, who writes for Beef Central, is the editor of AgCarbon Central and co-host of The Week in Beef podcast.
After a brief stint at ACM newspapers in Beaudesert and Katherine, Eric took a job as a rural reporter for the ABC in Mount Isa – spending the next five years with the national broadcaster.
Eric joined Beef Central in 2021, moving down to Tamworth before heading back to Toowoomba where he is now based.
Eric’s interest in agriculture was first nurtured on his grandparents’ cattle property near Wyandra, which is still part of his family and owned by his uncle and aunty.
Roger Hill
For Roger Hill, at the age of 20, the idea of being a flying rural property valuer to generate off farm component for buying a property arose while working on stations and having just bought a half share in an 8,600 acre paddock with 300 odd cows near Charters Towers.
Roger had already been to Emerald Ag College, so he started studying to become a Valuer while working for Stanbroke at Peakvale near Clermont.
In the drought of 1996, he shifted to the mines and closer to the property to get it through the drought.
Business partner decided to sell out during the drought and Roger could not raise the funds to buy him out, the property was sold.
With the dream ditched, Roger parked the valuation study aside, bought a new Holden ute, rolled his swag, his saddle, esky, went ringing and fixed wing mustering in Western Australia.
After flying for a few years as a mustering pilot, the idea of moving back to the east, studying valuation arose again.
Fast forward twenty one years, Roger has:
- 21 years experience in rural property valuation with particular expertise in litigation, compensation, bank, family scale and corporate agricultural valuations;
- is a co owner of a specialist rural property valuation business, Preston Rowe Paterson Regional North Queensland with Brennan Leggett;
- Has a humble number of cattle on agistment;
- Has diversified investments in residential property and shares;
- Paid his plane off, but sadly sold the ute;
- Has three beautiful children;
- and the fire in the belly has returned to purchase a property again.
Grace Griffiths, Pathways in Ag101
Grace Griffiths is the founder of 101 Ag Pathways, an initiative dedicated to showcasing the diverse and rewarding career opportunities across Australia’s agricultural sector. Based in Goondiwindi, Grace is also an agronomist and cotton grower, combining her technical expertise with a genuine passion for helping others find their place in the industry.
Through 101 Ag Pathways, she’s helping bridge the gap between education and employment, inspiring young people to explore the full spectrum of pathways and possibilities in agriculture, from on-farm production to research, agribusiness, and agtech, and the thousands of supporting roles that keep agriculture afloat.
As MC of the Pathways in Ag101 Panel at the Young Beef Producers Forum, Grace brings her energy, insight, and down-to-earth approach to the stage, guiding conversations about the people, pathways, and passion that keep Australian agriculture thriving.