Meet the industry leaders behind the 2026 Meat Business Women Australia Awards
When the winners of the 2026 Meat Business Women Australia Awards are announced on 28 July, they will have earned recognition through a robust assessment process led by respected leaders from across Australia's meat and food supply chain.
The Meat Business Women Australia Woman of the Year Award, proudly supported by Bott Insurance Group, and the One to Watch Award, proudly supported by HR Legal, celebrate the women helping drive the positive transformation of Australia's meat and food supply chain.
By recognising outstanding leadership, emerging talent and meaningful industry impact, the awards support Meat Business Women's mission to Inspire, Network and Grow. They recognise today's leaders while helping build the diverse, capable workforce that will strengthen our industry for generations to come.
"Our awards are about more than recognising individual achievement," said Stacey McKenna, Chair of Meat Business Women Australia.
"Every finalist is helping shape a stronger future for Australia's meat and food supply chain. By celebrating their achievements, we inspire others to see the opportunities our industry offers, strengthen our professional community and encourage more women to build long and rewarding careers across the sector.
"That reflects exactly what Meat Business Women exists to do—to inspire, connect and develop people while helping our industry attract and retain the very best talent."
A judging process built on integrity
Recognising excellence carries an important responsibility. The credibility of the awards depends not only on the calibre of the finalists, but also on the integrity of the judging process and the expertise of those entrusted to assess them.
This year's judging panel represents a broad cross-section of expertise spanning agribusiness, workforce development, sustainability, policy, stakeholder engagement, insurance and commercial leadership.
Each application and finalist interview is assessed against a consistent scoring framework aligned to the award criteria.
To protect the integrity of the awards, all judges are required to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest before judging commences. Each declaration is reviewed, with appropriate safeguards applied where required. Depending on the nature of the conflict, this may include disclosure to the panel or the judge abstaining from assessing and discussing the relevant finalist.
This approach ensures every finalist is assessed fairly, consistently and on merit.
Meet the industry leaders recognising excellence
Alexandra Harvey, Community Engagement Manager, Meat Business Women
Alexandra is an accomplished professional with deep experience in the red meat industry. Known for her commercial focus and commitment to client service, she has built a strong reputation for delivering results and cultivating lasting industry relationships.
She began her career in media and advertising, managing campaigns for global brands before transitioning into business development and operations roles within the red meat industry. Over the past decade, her work has focused on building capability, strengthening partnerships and earning client trust.
As Community Engagement Manager at Meat Business Women, Alexandra continues to foster meaningful connections with members and industry partners, helping create pathways and opportunities for the next generation of female leaders in the meat industry.
Alexandra brings extensive industry knowledge, strong stakeholder relationships and a deep understanding of the sector to the judging panel.
Cate McMahon, General Manager – Industry, Government and Corporate Affairs, Australian Meat Processor Corporation
Cate is an experienced industry, government and corporate affairs executive with a strong track record in policy, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships across the agriculture, government, manufacturing, infrastructure and resources sectors. She is recognised for building trusted relationships across industry, government and community, influencing policy outcomes and delivering strategic solutions to complex challenges.
Her background in Agricultural Science, majoring in Beef Cattle Production, is complemented by qualifications in social impact assessment, mediation and project management, bringing together technical expertise with strategic leadership across a broad range of industries.
Cate contributes extensive expertise in policy, stakeholder engagement and strategic leadership, providing valuable insight when assessing industry impact and leadership.
Amy Brooks, Group Safety, Training and Development Manager, Stockyard Beef
Amy is a passionate advocate for sustainability, inclusivity and community empowerment in the agribusiness sector. As Group Safety, Training and Development Manager at Stockyard Beef, one of Australia's leading exporters of premium grain-fed beef, Amy brings more than 18 years of experience to her role. She oversees workplace health and safety programs, community sponsorships, talent development, training and wellbeing initiatives designed to strengthen organisational capability and align with Stockyard's strategic goals. Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Amy fosters a safe, skilled and high-performing team.
Deeply connected to her heritage, Amy was born on the lands of the Bundjalung people in New South Wales and is linked to the Wulli Wulli people of Central Queensland through her mother's clan. This cultural foundation inspires her commitment to advancing sustainability and inclusivity, particularly for women and Indigenous communities in agriculture. As a member of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework's Sustainability Steering Group, she champions resilient, diverse and prosperous communities while advocating for workplace safety and equity.
Amy brings extensive expertise in workforce development, safety, sustainability and creating opportunities that strengthen the future of Australia's meat and food supply chain.
Cameron Bott, Managing Director, Bott Insurance Group
Cameron is the Founder and Managing Director of Bott Insurance Group and brings more than 30 years of experience in the Australian insurance industry. Throughout his career, Cameron has built and led highly successful insurance businesses, driving growth through strategic acquisitions, partnerships and a strong focus on specialist industry expertise. He has also played an active role in the development of the insurance industry through his involvement with Steadfast Group, including participation in its public listing and serving as a Board Member.
Cameron has extensive experience working with businesses across agribusiness, food production, food and beverage, meat processing, livestock, dairy, manufacturing, transport and logistics, professional risks, financial services and other specialist sectors. Over several decades, he has advised organisations ranging from family-owned businesses to large national enterprises, helping them navigate complex risk, insurance and business continuity challenges.
Today, Cameron continues to lead Bott Insurance Group's national growth strategy while maintaining a hands-on, client-focused approach. He believes that strong relationships and a deep understanding of a client's business are fundamental to delivering effective risk and insurance solutions.
Cameron contributes a strong commercial perspective and extensive experience supporting organisations across diverse industries, bringing valuable insight to the judging panel.
Join us as we celebrate industry excellence
The winners of the 2026 Meat Business Women Australia Woman of the Year Award and One to Watch Award will be announced at the Gender Representation Report Insights & Awards Evening on Tuesday 28 July at the RACV City Club, Melbourne.
The evening reflects Meat Business Women's commitment to Inspire, Network and Grow, bringing together leaders from across the meat and food supply chain to share insights, celebrate achievement and strengthen the connections that help our industry thrive.
Guests will hear the latest Australian Gender Representation Report findings, explore what they mean for the future workforce, connect with industry peers and celebrate the women whose leadership is driving positive change across our sector.
Join us in Melbourne as we recognise this year's outstanding finalists and celebrate the women helping shape the future of Australia's meat and food supply chain.
