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.
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.
Pollyana Saraiva
"Beyond Borders - Building the Next Generation of Beef Leaders"