Herefords Australia are currently recruiting for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead a dedicated team of skilled staff and continue to drive business growth in collaboration with a young and progressive board of directors.

Herefords Australia is a not-for-profit member owned business that delivers genetic evaluation services, undertakes marketing, communications, research and development, and business development activities aligned directly with its 5-year strategic plan.

As one of Australia’s largest beef breed organisations Herefords Australia strives to produce and promote high quality beef for the Australian beef industry sourced from Hereford based cattle.

The opportunity for someone new to step into the role of Herefords Australia CEO arises following former CEO Michael Crowley’s appointment as Managing Director of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

The CEO position at Herefords Australia offers an exciting opportunity for career advancement in the Australian beef industry and agribusiness as a whole.

“This is a significant opportunity for the right candidate to advance their career through all aspects of a CEO position.

“This is a proper CEO role which involves managing an investment portfolio, developing and delivering a strategic plan that delivers tangible results to members while working in close collaboration with the board of directors,” Mr Crowley said.

Newly elected chairman of the Herefords Australia board Marc Greening is also pleased with the opportunity presented by the exciting and rewarding position on offer.

“The CEO position at Herefords Australia has been a great industry stepping stone with our past two CEOs (Lisa Sharp and Michael Crowley) both moving into senior management positions in big beef industry businesses,” Mr Greening (left) said.

Lisa Sharp is currently CEO of Brisbane-based grain fed beef company, Stockyard Beef.

The progressive nature of the Herefords Australia company and board has also seen staff (including CEOs) recruited from “outside the square” of traditional breed society roles.

“Our previous two CEOs have been people from agribusiness that have been commercially involved and not your traditional breed society CEO candidates.

“We’re now looking for the next person to fill this role; someone with exceptional people skills who is also highly competent in one of three pillars which are: the commercial beef industry, marketing, and technical development.” Mr Greening said.

While the prospect of career advancement is a significant drawcard to the role, the opportunity to grow and benefit the Herefords Australia business is also wide open.

Recent development and execution of the company’s strategic plan has seen the promotion of Hereford genetics across numerous sectors of the Australian commercial beef industry.

“The business is well set up or the next person to come in and continue to execute the strategic plan.

“The opportunity is there for the next CEO to drive benefits to the breed through the commercial sector using Hereford genetics,” Mr Crowley said.

The drive and progress of the Hereford breed is occurring on a global scale, with American Hereford Association chief operating officer and director of breed improvement Shane Bedwell stating on a recent visit to Australia that the demand for Hereford genetics in the US is continuing to grow.

“In the past year we have sold more bulls in the US production sales for a higher average than last year, with the majority going over black cows and that’s a good sign. About 40 per cent of the bull clientele are new customers using a Hereford bull for the first time,” he said.

Recent heterosis analysis by the University of Tennessee has revealed Hereford bulls increase a commercial operation’s net worth per cow (on current input prices) by $90 per year and average income generated per cow over time.

“This is due to the direct weaning weight advantage with more pounds to sell, a healthier calf to take through the feed yard, longevity, and the maternal heterosis of the cow enabling a better body condition score, less feed and increased fertility” Mr Bedwell said.

The ability to drive the growth of the Hereford breed in Australia is backed by evidence and data that demonstrates the breed’s ability to deliver superior eating quality outcomes in a sustainable manner.

At the 2024 Herefords Australia AGM Michael Crowley reflected on his part in the development and execution of the breed’s strategic plan and focus on sustainability, productivity, and quality.

“We are one of the few breeds well positioned to capitalise on sustainability going forward – it won’t just happen; it will need to be driven by the membership, but HAL will create the networks and connections needed to make that happen,” Mr Crowley said.

During his time at Herefords Australia Mr Crowley set about collecting and collating MSA (Meat Standards Australia) carcase data on Hereford cattle from across eastern Australia to demonstrate the elite carcase results produced by Hereford cattle from a range of production systems.

Ultimately 35,000 carcase records were voluntarily submitted from central Queensland to Tasmania with the top performing grass-fed animal being a straightbred Hereford from a Tasmanian commercial operation with a marble score 6, or 870 on the MSA scale, ranking in the top 1 per cent of MSA outcomes.

The new CEO will be well supported by the Herefords Australia board of directors who collectively bring a range of relevant skills and experience in both the commercial and stud beef sectors to the table.

Led by chairman Marc Greening, the board support the CEO through a range of sub-committees and member liaison roles.

“We have the youngest and most progressive board in a long time, particularly in comparison to other breed societies,” Mr Greening said.

Mr Greening is principal of the southern NSW based Injemira Beef Genetics, one of the nation’s leading Hereford seedstock and commercial operations and has served on the Herefords Australia board as a director and deputy chairman for four years prior to his recent election as chairman.

The successful CEO candidate will report directly to the chairman of the Herefords Australia Limited board and will be accountable for all aspects of the day to day functioning of the company office, as well as company business decisions, in line with company policies, procedures, and regulatory and legislative requirements. They will also be expected to contribute to projects and teams, and ensure that they keep the Board, as well as relevant staff and stakeholders, briefed throughout.

Applications close 16th June 2024. For any enquiries, please contact chairman of the board, Marc Greening: 0411 043 039.