Our Team
Meet the Committee
Peter McGilchrist
National ICMJ President
Peter is an Associate Professor of Meat Science at the University of New England. He grew up on a cattle property in NSW and has a Bachelor of Rural science from the University of New England (UNE). Peter was a member of the UNE meat judging team in 2002 and was on the 2003 Australian ICMJ team that competed in the USA. Following university Peter travelled and also worked at Elders Killara feedlot for a year before moving to Perth to complete a PhD at Murdoch University on ‘Selection for muscling affects carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism in beef cattle’ with the Beef CRC. Peter then held a postdoctoral research and lecturing positions at Murdoch University with Meat and Livestock Australia working on beef eating quality projects, MSA optimisation and the development of the MSA Index. Peter’s research focuses on factors along the supply chain which impact the eating quality of beef and lamb from conception to consumption. Peter is passionate about the future of the red meat industry for the next generation.
Macky Lawrence
National ICMJ Vice-President and 2024 Australian Team Coach
Macky grew up on a beef cattle property on the mid north coast and has always had a strong passion for Australian agriculture. He studied at Charles Sturt University graduating with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science in 2018. He competed at Wagga in 2016 and was fortunate enough to be part of the 2017 Australian national team. Following university, Macky spent 3 years with NH Foods in the feedlot industry as a livestock and supply chain co-ordinator before starting his current role with Growth Farms Australia.
Gabrielle Ryan
Secretary
Gabi grew up on a mixed farming property in Central West NSW. She completed a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience in 2016, during which she competed for the University of Sydney. Following this Gab travelled to the states with the national team in 2017. Upon returning she commenced an Agribusiness Cadetship at Fletcher International Exports before moving into her current role as the group’s North American Market Manager.
Stuart Bisley
Treasurer
Stuart grew up on a cattle property in South East Queensland and completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Queensland in 2013. After finishing his degree, he spent several years working on cattle stations across the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Stuart then relocated to Dalby, QLD where he pursued a management role in a lot feeding and mixed cropping operation. In 2019, Stuart joined Teys Australia as a Commercial Analyst before moving into his current role as part of the Operations team based at Beenleigh. Recently, Stuart completed his CPA and is passionate about engaging and inspiring the future workforce of the red meat industry.
Molly Greentree
Sponsorship Coordinator
Molly is the Account Manager at Gundagai Lamb, where she is involved in all things sales and marketing, focussing particularly on the premium GLQ5+ brand. She holds a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience with Honours in Animal Reproduction from the University of Sydney. Growing up in Sydney, her journey into the red meat industry began with the Sydney University ICMJ team, which opened the door to a graduate program with Teys Australia working across Operations, Quality Assurance, and Quality Control in Wagga Wagga, before relocating to Brisbane to work in Production Scheduling and later as a Commercial Analyst. In early 2024, she joined Gundagai Lamb and has since also joined the Sheep Sustainability Framework Steering Group. Molly is passionate about encouraging young people to get involved in agriculture, even if not originally off a property.
Claire Marriott
Careers Expo Coordinator
Claire grew up on a beef and sheep property in north east Victoria. She studied a Bachelor of Rural Science at the University of New England (UNE) and completed her Honours in Meat Science during her final year. Claire was a member of the UNE meat judging team in 2019 and was fortunate to be selected on the Australian national ICMJ team in 2020. Following university, Claire was an AACo graduate before commencing her current role as Supply Chain Coordinator at Gundagai Lamb.
Nick Vandenberg
Alumni and Schools Coordinator
Nick a lover of meat, livestock, perennial pasture systems and neat cool new things ( innovation) . Completing his Bachelor of Ag. Science at Adelaide University he discovered meat judging and was fortunate to be a part of the 2014 ICMJ national team. Nick went on to do his honors in “Understanding the causes of dark cutting on pasture-raised beef in southeast South Australia” also allowing Nick to coach Adelaide Uni for three years before going on to be one of the ICMJ’s National team coaches from 2018 to 2023. Nick has been fortunate to see a large cross-section of industry, working across abattoirs, live export depots even to full-time shearing.Nick is proud to have been a part of the founding team at MEQ Probe developing Agtech for chain speed eating quality assessment, before moving back home to SE SA where he now works as an independent Livestock agent with Platinum Livestock. He is very passionate about the Australian goat industry previously sitting on the Goat Industry Council of Australia and running a seed stock operation with his wife as first generation farmers.
Melanie Smith
Presenter Co-Ordinator
Melanie enjoys being part of a dynamic industry and promoting the opportunities available across the red meat supply chain. She holds a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience (Hons), and PhD in Livestock Production and Meat Science from The University of Sydney. Currently, Melanie works with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), as the Program Manager for Sheep and Goat Productivity. Melanie has strong ties to ICMJ and has been involved at multiple levels since she participated in 2012, going on to successfully coach over 100 students through the program, assist with ICMJ schools competitions throughout NSW and coaching the Australian National ICMJ Team. Melanie enjoys being part of the ICMJ committee, where she can continue to showcase the vast array of opportunities available for enthusiastic talent within the red meat industry.
Laura Bignell
Northern Conference Co-chair
Laura’s passion for agriculture stems from her upbringing on her family’s beef cattle property in the Gloucester region of NSW. She earned a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of New England (UNE) in 2019, the same year she competed in the Northern ICMJ Conference. Through the connections she built at the 2019 conference, she was able to secure a role with Teys Australia Biloela as a Graduate Environmental Officer. Since then, Laura has advanced to her current role as Project and Sustainability Manager. In this position, she oversees the procurement and installation of new equipment and technology while driving the site’s sustainability initiatives.
Alongside her professional work, Laura is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Central Queensland University, further strengthening her expertise in equipment, optimisation & integration. Passionate about supporting rural communities, she is committed to creating opportunities for young people in agriculture and ensuring a sustainable future for the industry.
James Carter
Northern Conference Co-chair
James grew up on a beef cattle property near Crookwell NSW where his family run a Normande/Charolais crossbreed AI program, which his Grandfather John Carter was the first to bring this breed into Aus by introducing French Normande straws to improve overall production and quality. He is the 7th generation of the Carter family to grow up at Lake Edward which has the oldest registered fire brand in Australia. After moving to Brisbane to finish school he began and finished a Carpentry Apprenticeship whilst studying business as well as beginning his journey back into ag by starting at EC Rural. He worked in Sales and Production, which ranged from international sales to on the ground at the Casino abattoir. Post this he started at Australian Agricultural Company as a Livestock and Production Officer where he really started learning his craft in red meat processing for livestock movements/coordination, yield recovery, achieving customer specification, full carcass utilisation, quality assurance, revenue maximisation throughout production and maintaining strong collaborative relationships with strategic service kill partners. After less than 2 years in the role he was prompted to an Assistant Production Manager and 2 year after that to Processing Manager where he now manages a team, two service kills at JBS Beef City and Australian Country Choice, as well as ensuring all aspects of AACo’s premium branded beef program are met over the 1,000hd+ of Wagyu we process every week, which are exported to their customers around the world.
Aimee Bolton
2024 Australian Coach
Aimee is originally from Shepparton, Victoria, where her family run a small herd of Black and Red Angus cattle. Aimee completed her Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management at Charles Sturt University where she also took part in the 2019 ICMJ Conference. During her time at university, she was fortunate enough to travel and learn about the beef supply chain in a number of countries, including completing an exchange at Texas A & M focussing on meat science. Upon graduating Aimee joined the processing industry, gaining experience from an operational level with a strong emphasis on MSA grading, right through to livestock procurement and supply chain optimisation. Aimee is currently the Farm Assurance & Supply Chain Manager for JBS, with a focus on identifying new opportunities for the beef and lamb programs across compliance, performance, and sustainability. Growing up in the industry, Aimee is very passionate about fostering the next generation of industry enthusiasts.
Lauren Smith
Website and Comms Coordinator
Lauren completed a Bachelor of Science (Animal Science & Animal Health) and First Class Honours (Meat Science Technology) at Murdoch University. During her studies Lauren worked alongside the Murdoch meat science research team, where she was first introduced to ICMJ. She competed with the Murdoch meat judging team in 2018, after which she was selected to be a member of the Australian National team, competing in the USA in 2019 and returning to coach the Murdoch 2019 team. After graduating Lauren took a role at Western Australia’s largest beef processor, within the technical department, overseeing quality assurance and compliance across the plant. Lauren now works as a Project Officer in Sustainability with Australian Meat Processing Corporation (AMPC), the research and development organisation for Australian red meat processors.
Kieran Smith
ICMJ Asian Tour Coordinator
Kieran developed his passion for agriculture, growing up on a family sheep and cattle property near Inverell, NSW. In 2019 whilst finishing studying a Bachelor of Rural Science at UNE, he competed in the ICMJ Wagga competition and was fortunate to be selected as part of the Australian national ICMJ team in 2020. Kieran then worked as a Beef Extension Officer for 2.5 years in north west QLD with Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and was also lucky enough to attend the ICMJ Northern conference and competition. After moving back to NSW he worked on mixed livestock properties for 14 months and is now currently working as a Livestock Advisor with Western Local Land Services.
Jake Bourlet
Venue and Product Coordinator
Jake Bourlet grew up on a mixed farming enterprise in the Riverina. Jake’s passion for agriculture was developed whilst working for his family’s livestock contracting business at Teys Jindalee Feedlot and Wagga Saleyards. Jake studied a Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management at Charles Sturt University (CSU) and completed an Honours project to investigate the optimum time on feed to recondition cull beef cows. He competed in ICMJ in 2017 and was fortunate enough to be a part of the 2018 Australian national team, going on to coach the CSU ICMJ team in 2018 and 2019. Following university, Jake headed north as an AACo graduate before returning south to a role at Gundagai Lamb (GL) as Supply Chain Coordinator – this involves coordinating the buy, make and sell steps for trade activities associated with GL.
Maria Thompson
ICMJ Coordinator
Maria has always had a strong appreciation for agriculture and rural life having grown up on her family’s beef cattle property in Tenterfield, NSW. Maria graduated with a Bachelor of Rural Science and a Master in Agriculture from UNE. In 2002, Maria was a member of the UNE Meat Judging Team. Since 2011, Maria has operated AgSTAR Projects, a project management consultancy firm and has successfully managed and delivered projects in strategic planning, facilitation, desktop research, policy review, evaluation, stakeholder consultation and engagement and event management. Previous roles include managing the animal health, welfare and biosecurity portfolio for Sheepmeat Council of Australia, working for a private agricultural PR & marketing company and being employed as a BREEDPLAN Consultant. Maria and her husband own and run a beef cattle property in Coonabarabran, NSW.
Megan Hendry
Media Coordinator
Megan Hendry is a communications specialist based in Rockhampton, central Queensland. Megan graduated from CQUniversity in 2006 with a Bachelor of Professional Communications. She spent 15 years working in the media before moving into agriculture research communication in 2021. During her time as a journalist for the ABC, Megan worked across a range of platforms including radio, television, online and social media. Her work featured in programs including ABC News, 7.30 QLD, Landline, the Country Hour, The World Today, AM, PM and regular ABC local radio news bulletins. Megan is now Communications Coordinator (Reputation and Impact) at CQUniversity and runs her own communications consultancy. Megan has been working with ICMJ since 2021.
Ellie Hays
ICMJ Bookkeeper and 2024 Australian Coach
Ellie Hays was born and bred in Queensland and ventured to Kununurra after school to work on a cattle station followed by contract mustering around the gulf of Queensland. Ellie’s passion for the agricultural industry continued to grow after being involved in her family cattle business and working on various properties. She completed a Bachelor of Agribusiness at Marcus Oldham and has been heavily involved with breeding livestock and the seed stock sector. She has previously worked at Holbrook Vet Centre overseeing the artificial breeding donor centre and working at Rennylea Angus. Ellie also spends her time working as an ag consultant and is responsible for the benchmarking database for Agrista.