MLA Board Director Nominees announced

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) members will be asked to vote on the election of three nominees as Directors of MLA at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) – including one first-time nominee – as endorsed by the Board Selection Committee.

Each year, Directors are elected by MLA members at the AGM, with the nominees for election selected by a nine-person Selection Committee.

The Committee is made up of four independent producer representatives, three industry peak council representatives and two MLA Board Directors (with no voting rights).  The Committee interviewed a shortlist of candidates from a pool of 89 highly skilled applicants.

This year, applicants with extensive knowledge in strategic R&D and portfolio analysis in the food industry, Northern cattle production systems and Production and supply chain systems, including an understanding of key drivers of red meat customer demand, with proven financial acumen, were encouraged to apply.

As a result, the Selection Committee has endorsed three nominees for election as Directors of MLA:

• Food science and agribusiness specialist with extensive strategic research experience in both executive and non-executive levels in food and food related companies Dr Michele Allan (MLA Chair & Director)
• Northern Cattle Production Systems, including live export, sustainability, infrastructure, MSA and Genetics specialist George Scott (current Director of MLA)
• Specialist in production and supply chain systems and meat retailing in Australia and New Zealand Allister Watson (See extended profile below)

Current MLA Board Director Lucinda Corrigan did not re-nominate and after 9 years of dedicated service to the MLA Board, her term will end in November 2016.

The candidates were assessed based on their skills and broad understanding of the Australian red meat and livestock industry, having strong business acumen, financial literacy, an understanding of corporate governance and a collaborative approach in making an active contribution to strategic and Board discussion.

As a skills-based Board, their role is to ensure appropriate performance goals for the company are set and achieved, while taking into account the interests of the industry and other stakeholders.  This includes strategy development and review of governance, financial performance and risk management.

MLA 2016 AGM

MLA’s 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Thursday, 10 November in Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills.

The AGM will be accompanied by a producer forum, with speakers from MLA and across the red meat and livestock industry.  It is an opportunity for members to ask questions, meet the MLA Board, learn more about how their levies are being invested and hear about MLA programs and how MLA will contribute to the future prosperity of the red meat industry.

In recent weeks, MLA members will have received their Levies Notice pack by mail or email.  This contained a formal notice for members to advise MLA what levies they paid in 2015-16.

Members should return their Levies Notice or complete it online by 15 September 2016 to ensure they receive their full voting entitlement.

Members with any questions about their Levies Notice pack can call 1800 023 100 (Australia only) or email info@mla.com.au

ALLISTER WATSON – B Bus Studies, Dip Meat Technology (Massey University, NZ)

Mr Allister Watson has extensive experience in primary and secondary processing and in meat retailing in Australia and New Zealand.  He has held senior positions in Woolworths NZ and Coles and is a past executive of Coles Australia during which time he was integral in transforming the way Coles retailed meat, leading their fully integrated, whole of supply chain meat business including exporting. With over 30 years operational experience in the meat industry in Australia and New Zealand Mr Watson has an excellent understanding of lot feeding and backgrounding, processing, combined with value adding, yields and retail ready product offerings. Mr Watson has good understanding of how business works and runs, and understands the impact of markets, climate change, and the environment on the meat industry in Australia.  He is also a past Board member of the Retail Meat Association (NZ) and the Training Organisation. Mr Watson has consented to the nomination.