Meat Business Women Australia Conference I The Power of You
- Conference program: 9:00am to 4pm AEDT
- Networking reception: 4pm to 6:00pm AEDT
The Conference
Join us this March at our Australian national conference for an empowering day that represents our commitment to creating an empowered and inclusive future in the meat industry. And this year, we're igniting a movement with our theme #ThePowerOfYou as well as launching the One to Watch Award.
Our theme #ThePowerOfYou will focus on empowering you, ensuring you have the tools you need to recognise your strengths, step up, speak out and and drive positive change in the meat industry. There will also be the opportunity to connect with other incredible women in the Australian meat industry as well as learning key insights from industry leadeing speakers.
Secure your early bird ticket by Friday, 16 February 5pm AEDT to save 20%!
We can't wait to see you there!
#ThePowerOfYou: Our Theme
Our latest campaign, #ThePowerOfYou, builds on the insights from our 2023 Global Gender Representation report. The report found that there has been an increase in women at board level, director and CEO level roles however, the number of women in the total global meat workforce has dropped overall, and progress is stagnant at more junior levels. Although the industry is making progress, there is still more to be done.
This initiative aims to:
Recognise: Your unique strengths and understand the value you bring.
Respond: Leverage your newfound confidence to take action and make your voice heard.
Reciprocate: Share your knowledge, empower your peers, and inspire others.
Tickets
Save up to 20% by purchasing an early bird ticket*
- Early bird member: $212^
- Early bird non-member: $256^
- Early bird group discount (min 6 tickets): $243.20^
*early bird tickets close Friday, 16 February 5pm AEDT
^excluding GST and booking fee
Meat Business Women members can find their member discount code on the MBW members portal – login to your account here.
Our speakers
Alison Meagher
Hailing from Victoria, Butcher Girl Alison is a certified butcher with extensive experience in meat craftsmanship gained from working in London, as well as training on and promoting Australian produce in China and Southeast Asia.
She is now a well-known consultant, helping butcheries and food brands grow their businesses and improve their skills to better suit today's consumers. Alongside her passion for bringing the craft of butchery into the modern world, Alison is a strong advocate of equality and diversity in the workplace and emphasises nose-to-tail sustainability practices. In addition, she enjoys mentoring new apprentices and strives to make the craft more exciting and accessible to them.
Amy Brooks
Currently Manger, Marketing, Community Engagement and Group Safety at Stockyard Beef, a leading exporter of high quality grain fed beef from Australia to markets around the world.
With over 20 years agribusiness experience. My contributions to the Australian agriculture and food industry stretches beyond the marketing of a niche, high quality beef brand. I am committed to enhancing the profile, reputation and experience of women, as a committee member of the Australian chapter of Meat Business Women, the global professional networking movement for progressive women working across the meat industry.
I am an Indigenous woman and proud descendant of the Wulli Wulli people. I sit on the OBE Organic Reconciliation Action Plan committee, Telstra Regional Advisory Council, Australian Beef Sustainability Frameworks Sustainability Steering Group (SSG) and am a Non-Executive Director of the Woorabinda Pastoral Company. These roles provide an opportunity to influence positive change at both a grassroots and global level for women and Indigenous people.
I regularly provide perspectives at speaking engagements, where I share my personal journey, as well as my professional perspective as a woman in agriculture with a lived experience of diversity and inclusion.
Bonnie Skinner
Bonnie joined the Sheep Producers Australia team in 2018, she previously held the roles of Product Integrity Policy Manager and Deputy Chief Executive Officer before being appointed as Chief Executive Officer in March 2022.
Prior to joining Sheep Producers Australia Bonnie worked in agriculture and animal health sectors in the non-for-profit and private sector. Bonnie has a background in sales and marketing and is known for her collaborative approach and stakeholder engagement.
Bonnie has a Bachelor of Equine Science, Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons 1), a Graduate Certificate in Agriculture majoring in agricultural consulting and has extensive networks across primary industries and throughout regional Australia.
Deanna Lush
Deanna Lush is a strategic communication specialist focused on primary production, natural resources and agri politics. As a journalist, editor and media adviser by trade, she is now Managing Director of AgCommunicators, a consulting company helping organisations dedicated to rural and regional Australia achieve their goals and reach their potential.
The company offers expertise in communication and marketing, education and training and a range of specialist project skills. In addition, Deanna and her husband Steen Paech, operate Hillydale Farms, a 4500ha property about 80km east of Adelaide.
Kate Dillon
Kate Dillon is the award-winning founder of She Lion Group and Walk Fearlessly Pty Ltd, and the Director of Employee Strategy + Experience at Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers. Kate is an experienced and commercially focused executive with 16 years of professional services experience: 8 years of top-tier legal practice, and 8 years of solution design, strategy and innovation consultancy experience.
Kate is a dual-qualified lawyer (admitted in Australia and the State of New York, USA), holding an LLB (Hons) / BA (Distinction), and an MLM Commercial Law (IP). She is a graduate of the AICD and a certified Agile Practitioner (DSDM). Kate holds an Executive Certificate in Strategy + Innovation from MIT Sloan School of Management in Boston, (2019), and was selected to complete the Executive Program in Women’s Leadership at Stanford GSB in California (2019). Kate has additionally trained with Stanford d.school, IDEO, Inventium Pty Ltd (AFR's most innovative company list analysts), and Echos School of Design.
Michelle Redfern
Michelle owns Advancing Women in Business & Sport, an enterprise providing consulting and advisory services on workplace gender quality, diversity, equity and inclusion, and Lead to Soar, a multi-platform resource for ambitious women leaders. She is the producer and host of The Advancing Women in Sport podcast and the author of The Leadership Compass: The ultimate guide for women leaders to reach their full potential.
Michelle is an accomplished and experienced executive and NonExecutive Director. She is currently serving on the advisory boards for Family Friendly Workplaces, Chief Meta Chicks and Wayfinder: Supply Chain Careers for Women. She has previously held board and advisory roles in various sectors, including finance, sports, for purpose, and supply chain. Additionally, Michelle is a proud Ambassador for Honour a Woman, Flexible Working Day, and Girls Uniform Agenda.
Throughout her long corporate career, she has held executive leadership roles at ASX & FTSE listed companies such as NAB, Telstra, and Serco. Michelle is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds an Executive MBA (Distinction), and holds various organisational DEI and coaching accreditations. Michelle is an in-demand speaker and is a regular contributor to the discussion about equality and inclusion in sport and business workplaces.
Samantha Jamieson
Sam has had over 30 years of experience working in the Australian meat industry in various roles - from market insights and analysis to managing marketing and communications programs. Sam is currently the Group Manager for Community and Events with Meat and Livestock Australia, based in Sydney. In this role, Sam manages a small team that implements the Australian Good Meat community communications program, the Red Meat Ambassadors program, and MLA hosted and sponsored events.
Originally from a farming family in central west NSW, Sam has a Masters of Commerce (Marketing) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) from the University of New South Wales, and has lived at total of approximately 11 years in Japan, first as a language student, and later as the Regional Manager for MLA in Japan 2001-2009.
Stacey McKenna
Stacey McKenna serves as the Australian Chair of Meat Business Women, having recently signed on as the Australian Territory partner, Stacey is excited to grow the Meat Business Women initiative in the Australian market.
With extensive experience in the meat industry, she brings valuable knowledge and leadership to elevate women's roles and foster inclusivity.
In addition to this pivotal role Stacey also serves as the Industry Affairs Manager for The Midfield Group, a prominent meat Australian meat processor and holds board positions with both the Australian Meat Industry Council and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation.
Stacey is passionate about industry development and actively contributes to the development of the meat industry via these positions. Her dedication to industry engagement and diverse skill set position her as a strong advocate for the red meat sector.
Stacey's academic credentials include a Graduate Certificate in Agribusiness, a Diploma in Meat Technology, and graduation from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Su McCluskey
Su McCluskey is the Special Representative for Australian Agriculture and a Director of Australian Unity, LiveCorp, Australasian Pork Research Institute and AWN Rural. She was previously a Commissioner for International Agricultural Research and a Commissioner on the National COVID-19 Advisory Board, and a member of the Charities Review and the Small Business Digital Taskforce. She was also a member of the Independent Review Panel for CPA Australia, the Harper Review of Competition Policy and the NSW Review of the Regulatory Framework.
Su has been the CEO of the Regional Australia Institute and the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations and the Executive Director of the Office of Best Practice Regulation. She has held senior positions with the Business Council of Australia, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Taxation Office. She is also a beef cattle farmer at Yass, NSW and was named the Westpac/Australian Financial Review Regional Women of Influence in 2013 and received the Women in Agribusiness award in 2014 for outstanding contribution to policy development.
The One to Watch Award
It's time to recognise the outstanding women in our industry! The 'One to Watch Award' acknowledges and celebrates a woman who is making significant contributions to our sector. The winner will receive a prize fund of $5,000 AUD that can be used for their further growth and personal development.
The winner will be revealed at our conference.
Sponsorship
Interested in sponsoring the Power of You Conference or partnering with Meat Business Women Australia? Download our brochure here and contact [email protected]
Not yet a member? Join the MBW community to unlock exclusive access to mentoring, masterclasses, resources and connections. Your support network is ready and waiting!
