Red meat producers and industry representatives joined Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in-person in Sydney and virtually on 24 November 2022.
The hybrid meeting format has broadened the accessibility of the meeting among MLA’s membership.
The formal proceedings of the AGM included consideration of MLA’s accounts and the election of three directors to the board, including:
* Mr John Lloyd, re-elected to the MLA board, receiving 95.85 per cent votes in favour. Mr Lloyd has been on the board since 2019 and has a deep understanding of the red meat industry and the RDC sector. He is a former CEO of Horticulture Innovation Australia.
* Ms Tess Herbert, elected to the MLA board, receiving 97.76 per cent votes in favour. Ms Herbert runs a farming business in central west NSW and is a former president of the Australian Lot Feeders Association.
* Mr Jack Holden, elected to the MLA board, receiving 92.42 per cent votes in favour. Mr Holden is a sustainability practitioner with more than 25 years’ experience in agriculture and natural systems and is general manager – sustainability for the Asia Pacific Region of Fonterra Group.
The MLA board is a skills-based board. Directors and have complementary skills to make important decisions for the long-term benefit of the red meat and livestock industry.
MLA chair Alan Beckett provided the AGM with an overview of the industry over the last 12 months – a period with numerous challenges but also exceptional positivity.
“Our thoughts are with all producers who are affected by the devastating floods across the country.
“Cattle, sheep and goat producers are strong-willed and versatile, and we would like to thank their hard work over the next 12 months, they truly inspire the work we do at MLA,” said Mr Beckett.
MLA managing director Jason Strong said Australia’s red meat industry had experienced generally good conditions in 2022 and the outlook remained very positive.
“Seasonal conditions have vastly improved from recent years, and the flooding and record rainfall has created significant challenges for many producers,” he said.
“But overall, the conditions are vastly improved from recent years of drought and the herd and flock is rebuilding.
“Prices have been strong and there is a burgeoning demand for Australian red meat from around the world. Our industry has an incredible reputation for delivering on eating quality, traceability, sustainability, food safety and taste.”
Mr Strong said the industry was also on the front with biosecurity, which had been a major issue in the spotlight in 2022.
“Exotic disease incursions have always been a concern for our industry, but their proximity in Indonesia highlighted the risk this year,” Mr Strong said.
“MLA has been proactive in working with industry to communicate the issues with industry and the public.
“We are also working on a range of practical steps to ensure Australia is prepared and that we can assist Indonesia with the outbreak. The Australian Government has also ramped up the border control response.
“For these diseases, it is a case of being ‘alert, not alarmed’,” Mr Strong said.
Mr Beckett thanked the members for their participation in the 2022 AGM.
