Driving Value through Supply Chain Innovation

Michael Finucan has extensive experience across the meat and livestock supply chain covering livestock production, logistics and marketing of red meat into international markets. He has lived and worked in Australia, Korea, China and Singapore, and has an in depth knowledge of international markets and the needs of global red meat customers. After completing a Bachelor in Agricultural Science, Michael worked with companies involved in the export of agricultural commodities and live cattle.

Michael worked for MLA for 12 years, progressing from manager livestock exports to Regional Manager, Korea and then to General Manager, International Markets based in Singapore where he was responsible for MLA’s investment in the positioning of Australia as leading global exporter of red meat. Michael Joined JBS Australia in 2020. JBS is the largest meat processing company in Australia and Michael’s role involves engaging with stakeholders across the JBS supply chain and driving productivity improvements and innovation across the business from sourcing of livestock, feedlotting, business operations and the marketing JBS brands across the world.

Nick has an extensive background in meat and livestock production, processing and total supply chain management with his red meat career starting at the Australian Agricultural Company working in livestock production, followed by attaining a Bachelor of Business in Agribusiness. 

From 2004 Nick worked for OSI International Foods where he was involved in the supply of value added meat protein products to major Japanese food corporations and McDonalds Australia. From this role Nick took on the position of General Manager of Asian Pacific Exports, a Queensland-based domestic meat processor. More recently Nick spent considerable time in the Middle East employed as MLA Regional Manager working across market access, trade awareness and facilitation, value chain solutions and brand building to further increase the presence and market share of Australian red meat in that market. While overseas Nick consulted to the Abu Dhabi Government in the commercial utilisation of meat and livestock production. Nick joined NH Foods Australia as the General Manager of the Thomas Borthwick and Sons facility in January 2021.

Graham is a Professor in Biochemistry, Nutrition, and Toxicology in the College of Science, Health, Education and Engineering at Murdoch University. Graham’s research is predominantly focused on the impact of selection for growth, leanness and eating quality within the sheep, pork, and cattle industries, looking at aspects of carbohydrate and intermediary metabolism, stress sensitivity, and growth and maturity, as well as the metabolic changes that take place in muscle. He is also heavily involved in the development of measurement technologies for determining lean meat yield and eating quality.

He supervises PhD students and post-doctoral fellows working in these areas, and his work is predominantly funded by the Dept. of Agriculture and Water Resources, the Sheep CRC, Australian Meat Processor Corporation, and Meat and Livestock Australia. Graham is the Chief Investigator for the federally-funded Advanced Livestock Measurement Technologies project.

Darryl has a 30-year career in food robotic automation systems development and integration. Since 2012 Darryl has held the position as Program Manager with MLA’s automation and objective measurement program featuring significant R&D investments in lamb and beef automation and associated advanced measurement systems utilising x-ray, CT and machine vision technologies.

His career mission has been advancing Australian manufacturing through technology and innovation. Prior to MLA Darryl was Science & Technology Manager within CSIRO’s Food Science Australia Division. This role involved the strategic development of R&D initiatives in the broader food industry along with the management and coordination of research projects with a specific focus on addressing processing efficiencies and optimisation and productivity improvements. Later roles also included the implementation of CSIRO’s business development initiatives in the specific area of food processing technology to maintain the substantial growth in the industry-funded R&D partnership projects.

Dr Weatherley took on the role of Chief Executive Officer of Integrity Systems Company (ISC) in 2016 which encompasses responsibility for all traceability, biosecurity and initiation of the industry data platform across the MLA group.

Prior to this role she was General Manager Livestock Productivity, managing MLA’s Meat Standards Australia program, livestock genetics and sheep productivity RD&E. Dr Weatherley has also held positions spanning red meat extension, farming systems research and development, and evaluation. She maintains an active role in her family beef operation on Bruny Island, Tasmania.