Meet our 2026 One to Watch Finalists
The future of Australia’s meat and food supply chain is in capable hands.
We are proud to introduce the finalists for the 2026 Meat Business Women Australia One to Watch Award, proudly supported by HR Legal.
Created to recognise, celebrate and nurture young women in their career advancement, the One to Watch Award reflects Meat Business Women’s commitment to supporting women from hire through to retire and strengthening the pipeline of future industry leaders. The award also invests directly in the winner, who will receive a $5,000 professional and personal development grant to support their growth.
This year’s finalists represent the breadth of emerging talent across the Australian meat and food supply chain, with experience spanning research, sustainability, international markets, operational excellence and business transformation.
This is the first instalment of our One to Watch Finalist Spotlight Series. Over the coming weeks, we’ll share the stories behind each finalist, exploring their career journeys, achievements, aspirations and the impact they are already making across the industry.
Meet the 2026 One to Watch Finalists
Kira Picknell
Number8Bio
Passionate about turning research into practical solutions, Kira is helping connect sustainability, productivity and innovation while championing science and technology across the red meat industry.
Coming soon: Discover how Kira is helping bridge the gap between research and industry and why she believes innovation will shape the future of Australian agriculture.
Breanna Harrigan
Andrews Meat Industries
Known for her broad industry experience and collaborative approach, Breanna is passionate about developing people, sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for others to grow.
Coming soon: Learn how Breanna's diverse career journey has shaped her leadership philosophy and commitment to empowering others.
Kalani Moss
Casino Food Company
Driving change through innovation and strategic thinking, Kalani is helping build stronger systems and fostering collaboration to create a more future-ready industry.
Coming soon: Explore Kalani's passion for innovation and the lessons she's learned leading change across the business.
Sophie Cooper
Kilcoy Global Foods
Passionate about promoting Australian beef on the global stage, Sophie is committed to inspiring the next generation and showcasing the diverse opportunities within the industry.
Coming soon: Meet Sophie and discover how her passion for people and global markets is helping create new opportunities for Australian beef.
Lisa Lopez
Harvest Road
Known for leading meaningful improvements in sustainability and operational performance, Lisa is equally passionate about nurturing emerging talent and building pathways for future leaders.
Coming soon: Discover how Lisa is driving positive change and why developing future talent sits at the heart of her leadership journey.
Supporting the progression of women remains one of Meat Business Women’s key priorities. The One to Watch Award plays an important role in this work by recognising emerging professionals who show passion, potential and a genuine commitment to shaping the future of the industry.
Each finalist is already making a meaningful contribution within their organisation while helping strengthen the broader industry through innovation, collaboration and a commitment to developing others.
We look forward to celebrating these remarkable women and announcing the recipient of the 2026 Meat Business Women Australia One to Watch Award in Melbourne this July.
Join us at the MBW Australia Gender Representation Report Insights & Awards Evening
The winner of the 2026 Meat Business Women Australia One to Watch Award will be announced at the MBW Gender Representation Report Insights & Awards Evening.
📍 RACV Club, Melbourne
📅 Tuesday, 28 July 2026
🕕 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Join us for an evening of industry insights, networking and celebration as we explore the latest findings from the 2026 Gender Representation Report, discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping our workforce, and recognise the achievements of women across the meat and food supply chain.
This is a cocktail-style event, with canapés and refreshments served throughout the evening, providing plenty of opportunities to connect with industry peers, meet the award finalists and celebrate together.
We will also announce the recipient of the 2026 Meat Business Women Australia One to Watch Award and present the $5,000 professional and personal development grant to support the winner's continued growth and leadership journey.
Tickets are on sale now and we would love you to join us in Melbourne to celebrate the future leaders of our industry.
One to Watch Award Proudly Supported by HR Legal
HR Legal is proud to support the Meat Business Women One to Watch Award, which recognises and invests in emerging female leaders across the Australian meat industry.
As a leading employment and safety law firm, the HR Legal team work closely with employers across manufacturing and operational environments to deliver practical, commercially focused solutions. A key part of this is helping organisations address workforce challenges, particularly attracting, retaining and developing talent in industries facing increasing skill shortages and evolving workforce expectations.
The 2026 MBW Gender Representation Report highlights both progress and ongoing challenges across the sector. Women make up 34% of the global food manufacturing workforce and just 32% in the meat and poultry industry, with even greater gaps at key leadership transition points. Critically, the report identifies that the biggest drop in female representation occurs at the first step into leadership, limiting the pipeline of future senior leaders.
For employers, this is not just a diversity issue. The research makes clear that organisations with stronger gender balance see improved performance across productivity, innovation and retention, and are better positioned to compete for talent in a tightening labour market.
The One to Watch Award plays an important role in addressing these challenges by recognising and investing in early-career women who demonstrate leadership potential. Supporting this initiative aligns with HR Legal’s commitment to helping clients build sustainable, high-performing workplaces where the next generation of leaders can develop and succeed.
