Kaitie Nash, First Time Farmer - YBPF 2026 MC
The YBPF committee is thrilled to welcome Kaitie Nash back to the stage this year as our MC for the 2026 Young Beef Producers Forum!
We were fortunate to hear from Kaitie as a speaker in 2024 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!
Ben Dwyer, Harvest Road COO
“Why people, strategy and culture, not just cattle, build resilient beef businesses”
Ben Dwyer is Chief Operating Officer, Agribusiness & Livestock Procurement at Harvest Road Group, one of Australia's leading integrated beef businesses. With almost 40 years of experience across the cattle and beef supply chain, Ben has built a career spanning station operations, pastoral management, feedlots, livestock procurement and executive leadership across Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and New South Wales.
Prior to joining Harvest Road, Ben was Chief Executive Officer of Australian Cattle & Beef Holdings (ACBH), where he played a key role in the development of large-scale cattle and supply chain operations. Today, he helps lead Harvest Road's vertically integrated supply chain, overseeing livestock procurement, production systems and supply chain performance with a focus on sustainability, animal welfare and long-term industry resilience. Ben's journey began in the cattle yards, progressing from station hand to executive leadership. In interviews, he reflects on the importance of embracing challenges, learning from failure and continually investing in personal development. A self-described introvert, he credits much of his success to understanding people, building strong team cultures and maintaining a lifelong commitment to learning.
Passionate about developing the next generation of agricultural leaders, Ben is a strong advocate for genetics, animal welfare, biodiversity and human capital within northern Australia's beef industry. He currently serves on the Board of the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority and represents Western Australia on the Cattle Australia Board, contributing to the future direction of Australia's beef sector.
Brendan Cullen, The Desert Swimmer
Brendan Cullen doesn't have a speaking coach, a script or a slide deck. He's got red dirt, a hell of a story and a way of telling it that makes strangers feel like mates.
He spent his life on sheep stations around Broken Hill - working harder, saying "nah, I'm fine," and quietly falling apart. In 2015 he walked into Broken Hill Hospital and asked for help. What came next, nobody saw coming: the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, a book.
These days Brendan speaks full-time. He's a Lifeline Regional SA & Farwest NSW Ambassador, a Royal Flying Doctor Service We've Got Your Back Champion, and author of The Desert Swimmer.
Kristie Lisle, Queensland Biosecurity Ambassador
"Why Every Young Producer Needs to Know Biosecurity"
Kristie Lisle is a Central Queensland grazier, businesswoman and passionate advocate for agriculture and regional communities.
Together with her husband Matt and their two children, Kristie operates a cattle trading and backgrounding business across multiple Queensland properties, with their home property, Moonkan Park, located west of Rockhampton. Their business has grown significantly over recent years, trading cattle across regions and continually investing in infrastructure — including a full rebuild of water, fencing and yards — alongside stronger grazing systems and a more resilient operation overall.
Kristie brings a strong business background to agriculture, with more than 12 years' experience across finance and bookkeeping and a Diploma in Agribusiness. She is a graduate of the Advancing Beef Leaders Program and has continued her involvement as a mentor and Finance Coordinator.
In 2026, Kristie was selected as a Queensland Biosecurity Ambassador, an opportunity that complements her growing interest in the practical biosecurity risks that come with changing land use, and in strengthening awareness across agriculture and the broader community.
Away from the business, Kristie is a rural mum, school bus operator and active member of her local community who believes some of agriculture's best conversations happen when we are willing to share the lessons we've learnt along the way.
Georgie Coombe & Jack Caskey, Lachlan Hughes Foundation
"Regeneration - Questioning the Narrative"
Jack and Georgie’s connection to the beef industry began from an early age, both growing up in family beef breeding operations. Jack’s early years were spent in Morven, where his parents established their commercial cattle business. Following the expansion of the operation into the Begonia district, Jack moved into a management role which he has held for the past five years. Georgie grew up in Central Queensland where her parents operated a brahman seedstock business focused on producing low input, adapted genetics. The family is now based in the Western Downs and Georgie has completed a Bachelor of Agribusiness with the University of New England.
Today, Georgie works alongside Jack managing 30,000 hectares of backgrounding country as part of the family operation. Their shared interest in regenerative agriculture is centred around working with the landscape and understanding how cattle, country and people can work together. They are continually looking for ways to improve their grazing and livestock management, with adapted genetics, good stockmanship and capable working dogs all playing a part in the way they run their operation.
Jack and Georgie are participants in the 2026 Lachlan Hughes Foundation Program. The program has provided opportunities for them to extend their Regenerative Agriculture knowledge, learn from others and broaden their perspective. They believe progress comes from staying curious, being open to different ideas and having the willingness to give new things a go.
Clancy Mackay, Founder of Dust Devil Stock Handling
"Livestock handling that is going to elevate the cattle industry’s profitability"
Clancy Mackay is the founder of Dust Devil Stockhandling, a practical livestock-handling training business working across Australian cattle stations and feedlots.
Raised in the cattle industry in the NT, Clancy developed his stockmanship skills working cattle from horseback. He later spent approximately seven years mustering professionally as a helicopter pilot throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory. This experience gave him a practical understanding of cattle behaviour and how it affects safety, productivity and livestock performance.
Through Dust Devil Stockhandling, Clancy and his team work with some of Australia’s leading cattle businesses, including JBS, AACo and NAPCo. Their training is delivered while normal production continues, allowing staff to immediately apply the principles to the cattle and challenges in front of them.
Clancy & business partner Peter Lord’s goal is to build staff confidence and reduce risk to people, livestock and equipment. The results can include calmer cattle, safer workplaces, fewer injuries, reduced bruising and dark cutters, and more efficient processing. Which can save large operations thousands of dollars each year.
Clancy is passionate about making good stockmanship practical and useful across every part of the beef industry—from northern cattle stations to large commercial feedlots.
Peter Lord, Partner in Dust Devil Stock Handling
"Sharing practical techniques for safer, more cost-effective cattle handling and better stockmanship"
Peter “Skinny Pete” Lord is a cattleman, businessman and partner in Dust Devil Stockhandling, with extensive practical experience working cattle across a wide range of Australian beef operations.
Pete has spent much of his working life around cattle, including significant experience with feral cattle, mustering with horses and motorbikes, and working alongside helicopters. He has also done extensive day work across all types of cattle properties, from large company-owned operations to smaller family businesses. His experience includes working in large and small teams and completely on his own.
These experiences have given Pete a strong understanding of cattle, the people who work with them and the different challenges faced across the industry. He has a genuine passion for cattle and believes that working cattle kindly, calmly and intelligently is not only better for the animals, but can also be one of the most effective ways to reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase the profitability of a cattle business.
Through Dust Devil Stockhandling, Pete delivers practical stock-handling schools for cattle stations and feedlots, helping businesses develop better stockmanship while identifying ways to work cattle more safely and efficiently.
Pete strongly believes that good stockmanship isn’t something you simply have to be a “natural” at. It is a skill that can be learnt, developed and passed on.
Tahlia Paull, Compton Kelpies & Contracting
"Working dog demonstration with Tahlia Paull"
Tahlia Paull owner and operator of Compton Kelpies & Contracting first got into working dogs 7 years ago. Since then, she has built an accomplished team of dogs that contribute to the everyday running of a property and play a vital role in her contracting business, educating weaners and contract mustering throughout Queensland.
Specialising in weaner education she finds the role extremely rewarding and has found working dogs to be a wonderful tool that allow the process to happen with less labour and an accelerated learning process through the dogs ability to read stock and be in the right position at the right time. Creating calm, cooperative livestock that are safe to handle. She promotes practical training skills that relate to real work and shows that with discipline, care and trust how you can shape a reliable workmate.
Lewis Jarden, YOWY Co-Founder
"From Beef to a Bottle Business"
Lewis Co-Founded YOWY alongside Rick Morrison. They've designed and manufactured the only square 6L stainless steel water bottle, specifically for ringers. Founded in 2024 it's now grown to 270+ retail stores across Australia.
Lewis & Rick have proudly partnered with countless charities and non for profits, aiming to give back and support those in the bush where they need it most.
They've donated over $80,000 in the last 2 years to various organisations and hope to keep increasing this into the future.
Helen Ruddy, BMO Business Centre, Partner
Jobs Panellist
Helen Ruddy has spent more than two decades working alongside regional businesses, primary producers and families, helping them navigate everything from business growth to succession planning. She's passionate about building strong relationships and helping clients plan confidently for the future. Helen joined the BMO team in April 2013 with a background in accounting and agribusiness-banking roles based at Miles and St George.
With a Bachelor of Commerce under her belt and qualified CPA status, Helen brings with her strong qualifications in accounting and taxation. In 2023, Helen become an associate at BMO, joining the management team, as we begin succession planning and growing her client base. In October 2025 Helen became a Partner, purchasing into the business and joining our existing Partners group to represent the next generation of BMO's leadership. Helen was drawn to BMO from not only a personal reference but also the flexible working arrangements and supportive team environment. Having grown up at Drillham, Helen has a synergy with farming enterprises and enjoys helping them to achieve results for their business.
Chloe Wilson, PDS Regional Coordinator, ZNE-Ag CRC
"Producer Demonstration Site Network"
Chloe plays a key role in turning research into action. She works alongside producers and researchers to trial low-emissions farming practices in real commercial farming systems, helping prove what's practical, profitable and scalable across Australia's diverse farming landscapes.
Darren Hamblin, Strathdale Wagyu Owner
Understanding you profit drivers and the technologies to help achieve the outcome
Darren Hamblin is a first-generation wagyu producer who began in 2000 on Strathdale, a property in Central Queensland's Sarina Range area. Since then, the business has grown to encompass seven properties spanning Sarina, Middlemount and the Darling Downs. Today, Strathdale Wagyu is a vertically integrated operation, combining breeding and backgrounding with a fully shedded feedlot featuring robotic feeding technology and its own branded beef. Behind all of this, the Masterbeef system was created to collect and analyse data from the many data sources along the Strathdale Wagyu chain.
Emma Walters, Founder of The Middle Ground Project
Sharing a producer's perspective on how CERES TAG's direct-to-satellite technology is being used in the real world to improve cattle management, make more informed decisions and drive on-farm productivity.
Emma Walters is a beef producer, wildlife biologist and founder of The Middle Ground Project, a podcast and platform dedicated to bridging the gap between agriculture and conservation. Based in the Bundaberg region of Queensland, Emma and her partner operate NOTABLE T Droughtmasters, a Droughtmaster stud focused on breeding quality livestock and exploring how science, technology and good land management can strengthen agricultural businesses.
From the Great Barrier Reef to the Australian bush, Emma's career and studies in wildlife biology has shaped her understanding of how healthy ecosystems and productive agriculture go hand in hand.
Emma believes producers are among Australia's most important conservationists and is passionate about demonstrating that productive cattle country and healthy ecosystems can thrive together. Through The Middle Ground Project, Emma brings science and practical farming into the same conversation, sharing stories, challenging perspectives and connecting rural communities with a growing audience.
She encourages young producers to see science and environmental knowledge as opportunities rather than obstacles. Emma believes understanding the ecosystems we manage, alongside livestock biology and behaviour, makes us better producers, leading to more informed decisions, resilient landscapes and profitable agricultural businesses.
As a CERES TAG user, Emma uses the technology in her own operation to better understand livestock behaviour, sharing firsthand experience of how data can support practical, informed on-farm decision-making.
Aaron Tribuzio, Senior Talent Partner, Halter
Aaron is currently a Senior Talent Partner at Halter, leading Sales and Marketing Recruitment Australia-wide. Born and bred in Melbourne, he's thrown himself into all things agriculture since joining Halter and has loved being able to shape young people's careers within the industry.
With over nine years of experience in high-growth talent roles, Aaron prides himself on building genuine relationships with candidates, building high performing teams and identifying talent using a skills-based approach.
Justine Baillie, Program Director (Ag Tech), University of Southern Queensland
Training the next gen of Ag Tech professionals
Justine Baillie is an engineer with 30 years of experience working in the agricultural and environmental sectors across consulting, government and university roles.
Justine co-leads the University of Southern Queensland's Ag Tech Adoption Team, a multidisciplinary research team focused on deployment of commercial scale ag tech solutions and is lead investigator on industry funded projects in the areas of Digital Agriculture and Autonomy, Water Management Technologies and Ag Extension.
Justine is also Program Director for UniSQ's Bachelor of Agricultural Technology, Australia's only named undergraduate ag tech program and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship in ag tech, and field investigations.
Jim Gall, CEO, RB Sellars
Jim believes that Australia’s rural and regional ‘heartland’ is a critical driver of the national identity and economy.
From leading some of the worlds most celebrated creative companies both here and abroad with Clemenger BBDO, to growing fine wool and producing prime lambs through his family grazing enterprise, his career has been shaped by rural values and authentic principles.
Jim is a highly strategic business leader and marketing professional, leading business and cultural transformation across various industries. He founded the highly successful specialist rural and regional marketing Agency Redhanded Creative in 2001, which was eventually acquired by Clemenger Group in 2012.
With Clemenger, Jim spearheaded some of Australia and New Zealand’s most successful advertising campaigns including the launch of Australia’s favourite beer, Great Northern – ‘The Beer from up here’, along with a myriad of other memorable culture shaping campaigns for Mars, BMW, Ford, NAB, Airbnb, TAC, Spark Telecom (NZ) and Air New Zealand, to name just a few.
After more than two decades in various Chief Executive roles within the marketing, media and advertising industry, and as Chair of various Clemenger Group companies across Australia and New Zealand, Jim made the bold decision, with his young family, to return to where he grew up on a farm just outside Euroa in North-East Victoria in 2013.
Commuting from Euroa, to Melbourne, Sydney and abroad, Jim credits his rural foundations as having an important grounding influence on his leadership style, family values and creativity.
Jim joined the Board of Propel Group (Owners of RB Sellars, Equestrian Life, EquestPro, Goodwoods Saddlery, Driza-bone & Rossi Boots) in August 2023 and became its CEO in February 2024. The Group divested Rossi and Driza-bone soon after.
Jim champions the idea that the real craft of manufacturing lies in the hands of our farmers, and has spearheaded RB Sellars “Australian Grown” program, supporting Australian Cotton and Wool Producers by mandating the use of locally grown fibres to produce their legendary work shirts and apparel.
Pollyana Saraiva, State Manager Queensland, Country Banking, Rabobank
Beyond Borders - Building the Next Generation of Beef Leaders
Pollyana Saraiva is Rabobank’s State Manager for Queensland, leading the bank’s rural banking operations across one of Australia’s most significant agricultural regions. With nearly 30 years of experience in financial services and food and agribusiness, she brings deep expertise and a lifelong passion for supporting farming families and agricultural enterprises.
Since joining Rabobank in 2007, Pollyana has held a range of leadership and client-focused roles, including Regional Manager for Rabobank International Brazil, as well as branch manager and relationship manager positions. Before taking on her current role in Queensland, she spent six years in São Paulo as Head of Rural Banking for Rabobank’s Latin American business. In that role, she led rural banking operations across Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru, managing a team of more than 200 people and a substantial multi-billion-dollar client portfolio.
Pollyana’s connection to agriculture runs deep. The daughter of an agronomist, she grew up on her family’s farm, developing a strong understanding of the realities, challenges, and opportunities of primary production. Prior to joining Rabobank, she spent nine years in credit roles with a major agribusiness corporation, further strengthening her expertise in agricultural finance.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration/Management from the Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil. Passionate about supporting the ambitions of Rabobank’s clients, Pollyana is committed to helping Queensland farmers grow their businesses, invest in productivity, adopt sustainable practices, and build strong foundations for future generations.
Now based in Queensland, she brings extensive international experience and a genuine commitment to one of Australia’s agricultural powerhouses, approaching her work with authenticity, expertise and care.
Tim Emery, Senior Beef Extension Officer (DPI, Roma)
Bull Buying 101
Tim was appointed as a Beef Extension Officer with the Department of Primary Industries based at Roma in early 2009. For eight years he helped organise and deliver extension activities and was involved in projects/demos focused on genetics, NLIS as a management tool, next gen, high output forages and the economics of different finishing systems.
In 2017 he joined the Tropical Beef Technology Services (TBTS) team as a Technical Officer on a 4.5-year secondment from DPI. With TBTS, he was still based in Roma but travelled extensively across QLD/NT/WA working closely with both seedstock and commercial producers, with the goal of increasing the adoption of BREEDPLAN and associated genetic technologies.
Since returning to extension with DPI in July 2021, he has heavily supported producers with Farm Business Resilience Plans (>120 to date) and had some involvement in the Advancing Beef Leaders Program. He regularly gets asked to deliver breeding and genetics focused presentations across the state (ad hoc/Breeding EDGE/BredWell FedWell) and fields countless enquiries on the topic.
Tim is involved in his parents’ nearby beef business, owns a small breeding herd (40 females) and enjoys travelling the world learning about global agricultural production systems. He was a long-standing (13 years) organising committee member of YBPF and was named a Zanda McDonald Award Finalist in 2021.
Harrison Mavin, Queensland Business Development Manager at Farmbot Monitoring Solutions
AgTech Panellist
Harrison is Queensland’s Business Development Manager for Farmbot Australia Pty Ltd, an Australian-based agtech company specialising in remote water monitoring. He is responsible for nurturing existing client relationships, building Farmbot’s brand awareness and identifying new business opportunities to drive the adoption of technology across the agricultural sector.
Having been with Farmbot for over two and a half years, Harrison is passionate about helping producers make informed decisions through accessible, practical and reliable technology. He works closely with livestock producers and industry stakeholders to demonstrate how remote monitoring and data-driven insights can improve visibility, support operational efficiency and ultimately deliver greater value to agricultural businesses.
Prior to joining Farmbot, Harrison studied Agribusiness at the University of New England (UNE) while working in project administration at Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). He subsequently gained hands-on experience working as a ringer on a cattle station in the Northern Territory. Combining practical on-property experience with formal education in agribusiness and farm management has given Harrison a well-rounded understanding of both the operational and commercial sides of agriculture, strengthening his commitment to connecting producers with innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of Australian agriculture.
Holly Turnbull, Territory Manager Halter
AgTech Panellist
Holly is the Territory Manager for Central West Queensland at Halter, working with beef producers across the region to explore how virtual fencing and livestock technology can support better grazing management.
Holly grew up on a mixed farming and grazing property in Western New South Wales, and agriculture has been part of her life ever since. While completing a Bachelor of Psychological Science at the University of New England, she kept working across a range of operations. Her hands-on experience includes large-scale cattle mustering, backgrounding, feedlot work and cropping, which gives her a practical understanding of the decisions and pressures producers face every day.
At Halter, Holly brings together her grounding in agriculture and her passion for people, helping producers find practical ways to lift productivity, improve pasture use and make day-to-day management easier.
Johno Mackay, Founder of Jobsafepro
Growing up in the bush, staying in the bush, and innovating along the way
Johno Mackay is a fifth-generation cattleman, beef producer and agtech entrepreneur who has built his career working in some of Australia's most remote cattle country.
Growing up on a remote cattle station in the Northern Territory, Johno developed a passion for the beef industry from an early age. He went on to spend several years working as a young ringer across North West Queensland's Gulf Country.
At just 22 years old, Johno established his own contract mustering and fencing business, working with pastoral operations across Queensland and the Northern Territory. Over time, his journey evolved from working on cattle stations to running his own business and eventually becoming a beef producer.
Following a serious workplace incident involving one of his employees, Johno recognised the need for a simpler, more practical way for agricultural businesses to manage workplace safety, compliance and their people in one of Australia's highest-risk industries. That experience led to the creation of Jobsafepro, an Australian agtech platform built to make workplace safety and compliance more practical, affordable and accessible for agricultural businesses.
Today, Johno continues to balance life on the land with growing Jobsafepro, bringing a producer's perspective to agricultural innovation. His journey reflects a belief that young people don't need to leave rural Australia to pursue opportunities, build successful businesses or create meaningful change within the industries they know best.
Jessica Paton, AGRISTA
Based in Mitchell, Queensland, Jess Paton brings a diverse mix of agricultural, business and technology experience to her role as an Agricultural Consultant with Agrista.
Growing up on her family’s beef cattle property at Tooma in South-East NSW, Jess developed a strong connection to agriculture from an early age. She holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Business from the University of New England.
Jess has worked across a range of roles within the agricultural industry. At Cibo Labs, she worked as a Customer Support Manager and Project Manager, helping producers use satellite technology to better understand their feed base and make more informed grazing decisions. Previously, as an Embryo Transfer Technician at Holbrook Vet Centre, she managed data, coordinated staff and supported clients through the ET process.
Her experience also includes working with Practical Systems, assisting producers with Stockbook and Cashbook software, an exchange program at the University of Wyoming and time spent as a governess on a remote cattle station in Western Australia.
Jess combines her practical livestock experience with strong business, data and client-support skills. At Agrista, she works closely with producers to understand their businesses, identify opportunities and use information and benchmarking to improve business performance and productivity.
Jess has been involved in industry initiatives including the Meat & Livestock Australia Internship Program and the Young Beef Producers Forum Committee. Her focus is helping producers better understand their businesses and make informed decisions that improve performance, productivity and profitability.
Tom Copley, BUSH AGRIBUSINESS
Tom joined the Bush AgriBusiness team in 2026. Growing up in a family cattle business in southern Queensland, Tom has a strong background in beef. He brings substantial experience in professional services, having practised law in Brisbane for eight years, including secondments to a major insurance company and the Australian division of a global technology & defence contractor.
Tom is committed to improving sustainability and profitability in the Australian beef industry. He likes seeing what makes things tick and thinking about ways in which beef businesses can improve their operations and herds to best align with the people who own and work in them. He maintains regular involvement in industry events, including as a past participant of the Advancing Beef Leaders Program, and as a current member of the Young Beef Producers' Forum Committee, with two years as committee chair.