Young Beef Professionals Shine at ICMJ Northern Conference

Last week, Australia’s budding beef professionals showcased their skills at the ICMJ Northern Conference and Beef Judging Competition held in Rockhampton. This year’s event gathered 139 delegates representing five states and territories, revealing a mix of 54% industry participants and 46% university representatives. This growing interest from Australia’s leading beef supply chain companies highlights the strength and importance of the young talent in the sector.

Meat Judging Competition Highlights

A key highlight of the conference was the ICMJ Northern Beef Judging Competition, which took place at Teys Australia’s Lakes Creek facility on Saturday. The winners were announced during the Teys Australia Gala Awards Dinner at the Great Western Hotel later that evening.

The coveted title of 2026 Northern Champion Meat Judging Individual was awarded to Charlie Lawler from the University of Queensland, who narrowly defeated Andrew Thomson from Australian Country Choice by just a single point.

Team Championships and Awards

In the team categories, the University of Queensland triumphed, taking home the Champion University Team trophy for a remarkable fifth consecutive year, surpassing the University of New England. Meanwhile, Australian Country Choice (ACC) emerged victorious in the Champion Industry Team category, with Signature OnFarm securing the Runners Up position.

Among various other accolades, Austin Smith from AA Co was named Alumni Individual Champion, and his colleague, Max Spooner, earned recognition as the Most Outstanding Industry Individual, as selected by the committee.

The University of New England also excelled by winning the Hoof and Hook class, which included both live animal assessments at CQLX on Thursday and carcase evaluations on Saturday.

Empowerment Through Education

The Northern ICMJ Conference aims to empower the next generation of industry professionals by addressing the unique challenges of northern beef production. Throughout the event, participants engaged with industry leaders on pressing topics such as innovation, sustainability, consumer trends, and meat science.

“This year’s committee has worked tirelessly to enhance this program into a premier training and development opportunity for those new to the meat industry,” said ICMJ President Peter McGilchrist.

“With a sold-out event featuring representation from 16 companies and five universities, the enthusiasm for fostering industry innovation and sharing the latest meat science knowledge has never been more evident. This effort not only builds a robust red meat workforce for the future but also helps retain current talent by inspiring further development.”

Strengthening Educational Connections

In a new initiative, the Australian Beef Leaders Foundation sponsored a group of teachers to attend the ICMJ Northern Conference, aiming to strengthen the bond between the red meat industry and primary and secondary school classrooms.

Industry Support and Sponsorship

ICMJ Northern Conference Co-Chairs James Carter (AA Co) and Laura Bignell (Teys Australia) expressed gratitude to the numerous industry sponsors that made the event possible. The conference is supported by founding partners Meat & Livestock Australia and AMPC, with principal partner Teys Australia, alongside major partners such as CQUniversity, JBS Australia, and NH Foods. Other contributors include Beef Australia, AACo, Advance Rockhampton, Mort & Co, Bindaree Food Group, and numerous associate and ribbon partners.

With a strong network of support and an emphasis on education and engagement, the ICMJ Northern Conference continues to play a pivotal role in the future of the beef industry in Australia.