12 Apr Industry Professionals shine at ICMJ Northern Conference in Rockhampton
Australia’s young beef professionals shone at the ICMJ Northern Conference and Beef Judging Competition in Rockhampton last week.
Bringing together 139 delegates from across five states and territories, this year’s conference saw a strong blend of 54% industry and 46% university participants, demonstrating a growing level of support from Australia’s leading beef supply chain companies.
One of the key components of the event was the ICMJ Northern Beef Judging Competition, held at Teys Australia’s Lakes Creek facility on Saturday, with the winners announced at the Teys Australia Gala Awards Dinner at the Great Western Hotel on Saturday night.
The night’s most prestigious title, 2026 Northern Champion Meat Judging Individual, was awarded to Charlie Lawler from the University of Queensland, who narrowly edged out Andrew Thomson from Australian Country Choice by a single point.
In the team categories, the University of Queensland took home the Champion University Team trophy for the fifth year in a row, ahead of University of New England, while Australian Country Choice (ACC) claimed the title of Champion Industry Team and Signature OnFarm claiming Runners Up.
Other major highlights included Austin Smith from AACo winning Alumni Individual Champion and his AACo colleage, Max Spooner named Most Outstanding Industry Individual, as selected by the committee.
The University of New England took out the Hoof and Hook class which included a live animal assessment at CQLX on Thursday followed by the carcase assessment on Saturday.
The Northern ICMJ Conference is designed to empower the next generation of industry professionals by focusing on the specific demands of northern beef production. Throughout the week, participants engaged with industry leaders on topics ranging from innovation and sustainability to consumer trends and meat science.
“This year’s committee has worked tirelessly to build this into a premier training and development program for those who are yet to begin careers in the meat industry or who are just starting out,” ICMJ President Peter McGilchrist said.
“With a sold-out event and representation from 16 companies and five universities, it is clear that the desire to promote industry innovation and extend the latest knowledge in meat science has never been stronger.
“This not only helps build the red meat workforce into the future, but also helps the industry retain the talent we have, by inspiring and developing them further”
For the first time ever, the Australian Beef Leaders Foundation funded a group of teachers to attend the ICMJ Northern Conference, an initiative designed to strengthen the connection between the red meat industry and primary and secondary school classrooms.
ICMJ Northern Conference Co‑Chairs James Carter (AACo) and Laura Bignell (Teys Australia) thanked the many industry sponsors who made the event possible.
The conference is supported by founding partners Meat & Livestock Australia and AMPC as well as principal partner Teys Australia, major partners CQUniversity, JBS Australia and NH Foods, supporting partners Beef Australia, AACo, Advance Rockhampton, Mort & Co and Bindaree Food Group, associate partners Signature Beef, AAM, Australian Brahman Breeders Association and Greenleaf and ribbon partners Regional Livestock Exchanges, Allflex and Beef Central.
2026 ICMJ Northern Beef Judging Competition Results
2026 Northern Champion Meat Judging Individual
Sponsored by Teys Australia Presented by Stephen Thomson, GM Rockhampton
Champion individual
Runner up – Andrew Thomson, Australian Country Choice 682/745
Winner – Charlie Lawler, University of Queensland, 683/745
2026 Northern Champion Meat Judging Team
Sponsored by AMPC Presented by Amanda Carter and Holly Speers
Champion team (university)
Runner up – University of New England 2489 (Sarah Bradfield, Emma Wilkinson, Lylah Weismantel, Emily Mailler)
Winner – University of Queensland on 2548 (Charlie Lawler, Montana Sandersan, Paige Edwards, Ella Watkins)
Champion team – (industry)
Runner up – Signature Onfarm (Joe Kermode, Phoebe Robinson, Natanya Kay, Georgia KcKeown)
Winner – Australian Country Choice (Andrew Thomson, Angus Bartter, Sophie Inder, Chrissy McCarthy)
Classes
1 – Retail Cuts and Saleable Items ID
Sponsored by CQUniversity. Presented by Kim Harrington, Associate Vice-President for the Rockhampton and Central Highlands Regions at CQUniversity
Individual Awards – University
Runner Up – Ella Watkins, University of Queensland, 196/200
Winner – Charlie Lawler, University of Queensland, 200/200
Tiebreaker: 683/745
Individual Awards – Industry
Runner Up – Alicia Nixon, Bindaree Food Group, 200/200
Tiebreaker: 658/745
Winner – Andrew Thomson, Australian Country Choice, 200/200
Tiebreaker: 682/745
Team Awards
Runner Up – University of Queensland 768/800 (Paige Edwards, Charlie Lawler, Montana Sandersan, Ella Watkins)
Winner – Signature OnFarm 770/800 (Natanya Kay, Joe Kermode, Georgia McKeown, Phoebe Robinson)
2 – Overall Questions
Sponsored by Rockhampton Regional Council Presented by Deputy Mayor Drew Wickerson
Individual Awards – University
Runner Up – Angus Langsmith, University of New England, 155/200
Winner – Charlie Lawler, University of Queensland, 165/200
Individual Awards – Industry
Runner Up – Andrew Thomson, Australian Country Choice, 155/200
Winner – Sophie Inder, Australian Country Choice, 160/200
Team Awards
Runner Up – University of New England 595/780 (Sarah Bradfield, Emma Wilkinson, Lylah Weismantel, Emily Mailler)
Winner – Australian Country Choice 605/780 (Andrew Thomson, Angus Bartter, Sophie Inder, Chrissy McCarthy)
3 – Overall Placings
Sponsored by Beef Australia Presented by Jacqueline Miles
Individual Awards – University
Runner Up – Georgina Russ, Marcus Oldham College, 233/250
Winner – Eliza Mactaggart, Marcus Oldham College, 235/250
Individual Awards – Industry
Runner Up – Andrew Thomson, Australian Country Choice, 239/250
Winner – Monique Amadoro, Carcase Crew SG, 244/250
Team Awards
Runner Up – University of Queensland 883/1000 (Charlie Lawler, Montana Sandersan, Paige Edwards, Ella Watkins)
Winner – Marcus Oldham College 913/1000 (Frank Bundock, Eliza Mactaggart, Abbey Staines, Georgie Gough)
4 – Commercial Evaluation
Sponsored by JBS
Individual Awards – University
Runner Up – Charlie Lawler, University of Queensland, 142/150
Winner – Cameron Stewart, University of Adelaide, 140/150
Individual Awards – Industry
Runner Up – Andrew Thomson, Australian Country Choice, 137/150
Winner – Joseph Lawrence, Thomas Foods International, 138/150
Team Awards
Runner Up – Australian Country Choice 507/600 (Angus Bartter, Sophie Inder, Chrissy McCarthy, Andrew Thomson)
Winner – University of Queensland 525/600 (Paige Edwards, Charlie Lawler, Montana Sandersan, Ella Watkins)
5 – Beef Judging
Sponsored by NH Foods Presented by Nick Meara
Individual Awards – University
Runner Up – Georgina Russ, Marcus Oldham, 334/395
Winner – Charlie Lawler, University of Queensland, 343/395
Individual Awards – Industry
Runner Up – Alicia Nixon, Bindaree Food Group, 325/395
Winner – Andrew Thomson, Australian Country Choice, 345/395
Team Awards
Runner Up – Australian Country Choice 1277/1580 (Angus Bartter, Sophie Inder, Chrissy McCarthy, Andrew Thomson)
Winner – Marcus Oldham College 1280/1580 (Frank Bundock, Georgie Gough, Eliza Mactaggart, Abbey Staines)
6 – Hoof and Hook
Sponsored by Signature OnFarm. Presented by Lauren Angus
Hoof & Hook Individual Champion
Winner – Emily Mailler, University of New England, 182/200
Team Awards
Runner Up – Marcus Oldham – 688/800
Winner – University of New England – 695/800 (Emily Mailler, Sarah Bradfield, Lylah Weismantel, Riley Mitchell)