You’re invited!
As a valued Graeme Acton Beef Connections alumni and member of the extended Beef Australia leadership community, you are invited to join the 2023 2024 Beef Australia Graeme Acton Beef Connections cohort on October 12th, to take part in the inaugural Beef Connections Virtual Leadership Forum, ‘The Power of Collaboration’.
The Details
Date: Thursday, 12th October 2023
Time: 9.30am – 11.00am (Sydney time)
Cost: Free
2023 FORUM – “The Power of Collaboration”
On the 2023 forum, this years Mentees will be joined by Bryce Camm, Adam Coffey, Prue Bondfield and Richard Rains as their special guests.
Bryce Camm will welcome the attendees with a brief summary of the significance and impact of the Beef Australia Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program in fostering and developing leadership in the Beef Industry. Drawing on his extensive industry leadership experience he will also briefly share his three main learnings about harnessing the power of collaboration.
Adam Coffey in the keynote address will provide contemporary industry examples of collaborations he has been involved in, and some insights into what it takes to bring people together and amplify their outcomes. As only one of two people to experience Beef Connections both as a mentee and mentor, he also will share his insights into the significance of this program and the impact it has had for him personally, and the industry more broadly.
Prue Bondfield will provide an insight into how she has worked collaboratively across private and government sectors during the development of Palgrove, a large scale seedstock and commercial cattle operation, in readiness for sale to a NZ Superannuation Fund in 2022. She will share some insights into how she currently collaborates for impact on her variety of board roles, prior to answering questions in the Q&A hot seat.
Richard Rains will share how he has collaborated with stakeholders to achieve extraordinary outcomes for both organisations and industry more broadly. From exporting the first Australian beef into Korea, through to convincing McDonalds to use Aussie beef in their burgers in the US, he has some key pointers to share, prior to joining the discussion in the Q&A hot seat alongside Prue.
This engaging and insightful 1 ½ hour virtual forum will provide you with a variety of perspectives on the power of collaboration, an opportunity to join the conversation with other Beef Industry Leaders, and additionally you’ll receive a Beef Connections Collaboration Handbook (PDF) directly into your inbox following the forum. Topped off by a virtual networking session, where there will be the opportunity for discussion on leadership, industry and other key issues in small groups, this really is a ‘must do’ event.
The Speakers
Bryce Camm
Chair, Beef Australia
Bryce is the Chief Executive Officer of his family’s Camm Agricultural Group, an integrated beef enterprise with interests across Queensland. Previously, Bryce managed the group’s award-winning Wonga Plains Feedlot for ten years, overseeing the operation triple in size.
Growing up on “Natal Downs” in North Queensland, Bryce undertook a dual degree in Business Administration and Communications at Bond University before returning to the north. Bryce is the previous Chairman of the Australian Beef Sustainability Steering Group and of the Australian Lot Feeders Association.
Adam Coffey
Owner/Director, Coffey Cattle Co
Adam and his wife Jacynta own and operate a 2500 ha beef cattle enterprise in Central Queensland, with their two boys Will and Sam.
Adam grew up in Tasmania and has lived and worked in most states and territories in Australia, experiencing livestock positions throughout NSW, QLD, TAS and Southern WA. Following this, Adam spent some ten years in the NT and Kimberley regions working on and ultimately managing extensive beef cattle operations in the live export sector. Adam became a Nuffield Scholar in 2016, studying intensification and diversification of extensive Australian beef cattle operations. Following the completion of his scholarship, Adam served as Nuffield Qld State Treasurer for two years.
Adam has been keenly involved in industry representation as a former member of Cattle Council of Australia Research, Development and Adoption Consultative Committee and Environment Committee, and has recently spent two years as a Director on the Cattle Commodity Board with Agforce QLD. He is currently a Director on the inaugural Cattle Australia Board.
Prue Bondfield
Director, Bondfield Agriculture
Prue and her husband David owned the Palgrove seedstock business for 33 years before divesting to the NZ Superannuation Fund in 2022. She is currently a Non-Executive Director on the board of Regional Investment Corporation, Bush Heritage Australia, Black Box Co., Livecorp and is an advisory board member of Harvest Road Group P/L.
Prue is an experienced agribusiness manager with skills in board governance, financial management and strategic planning for government authorities, corporate agriculture, NFP and R & D organisations. She was appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Beef Sustainability Framework Committee tasked with establishing a baseline report for the industry.
Richard Rains
Director, Zanda McDonald Award
Richard has held Directorships or committee roles with Cattle Council of Australia, The Australia Export Council, Sanger Australia and the Arcadian Organic and Natural Meat Co.
Richard grew up on a mixed farm in the central west of NSW. He was educated in Sydney and went on to a cadetship with Dalgety Australia Ltd. Whilst there, in 1974, he sold the first beef to Korea that the country ever imported and it quickly grew to become Australia’s third largest export market for beef, which it remains today. Richard then joined Sanger Australia (a meat export marketing co) in 1976 and by 2000 he owned a majority stake in the business. He sold his equity in the company in 2013 in a management buy-out. In the late 1990’s he convinced McDonalds that they should use Aussie beef in their burgers in North America and was instrumental in establishing that trade for Australia.
Richard also helped establish the prominent processor/marketer of organic beef & lamb, The Arcadian Organic & Natural Meat Co. He is passionate about assisting the next generations in agriculture through mentoring with The Zanda McDonald Award, The Advancing Beef Leaders Programme & The Graeme Acton Beef Connections Mentoring Program.
About the Leadership Forums
Over the duration of the of their program, the 2023 2024 cohort will host two virtual forums. These exclusive online sessions are invitation only for Graeme Acton Beef Connections alumni to connect, learn, and share their practical perspectives, insights and knowledge.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn from the inspiring industry leaders and engage in a private conversation about leadership and other key industry topics during the Q&A hot seat. With your busy live, these sessions will provide the space to reflect on your own leadership practice and opportunities, and the platform for challenging and open conversations with other like minded peers.
These forums are also a critical element of the 2023 2024 Beef Connections program. As part of their learning journey, the Forums provide a safe platform for the mentees to appear on the national stage, and step up to practice their public speaking and facilitate key industry conversations. Additionally, the networking will give them practice introducing themselves, and sharing clear messages about themselves, their projects and their future aspirations.
Providing an exclusive group of Beef Industry leaders with the opportunity to learn from the exceptional guest speakers’ knowledge, insights and experiences, these Forums will also strengthen and broaden networks across the Beef Australia extended national leadership group, raise the profile and skills of the current 2023 2024 mentees and ultimately celebrate the success and impact of this incredible leadership program across the sector.
