Presidents Report

Erica Halliday, Angus Australia

What a period it has been in the Angus calendar with record sales, publishing our new Strategic Plan, the return of the Angus National Conference, the announcement of the World Angus Forum in Australia and most recently the GenAngus Future Leaders Program.

The best feedback for us of the positive steps we are making at Angus Australia was the ’Beyond the Beef’ Zoetis Angus National Conference. The event had such a good feel about it with some exciting new developments in research, market opportunities and technical know-how, but for most people it was the other people in the room.

Our new Strategic Plan doesn’t focus on telling members what to do, but accepts that every system is different.

We understand the excellence that Angus can achieve in every system and are hell bent on providing the best tools, services and education to help our breeders achieve what is right for them.

This celebration of diversity was reflected in some of the vibrant panel discussions at the conference. Both commercial and seedstock breeders from all sorts of systems in both Australia and New Zealand spoke about what challenges and opportunities were unique to them and how they were excelling. It’s not like we all have to breed Angus that are as sure footed as mountain goats, so they don’t die by rolling from the top to the bottom of the hill, but it was highly entertaining and inspiring to hear what these guys had to say.

Another highlight was the panel of young people, most of who have been through Angus Youth scholarships, awards, and bursaries programs. They absolutely blew our socks off with their ideas and inspiration for the beef industry of tomorrow.

The dinner that evening and subsequent frivolity and dancing just made me so proud of the inclusiveness of the event, and many people commented on how they felt a part of a greater family. For that I am very proud of the team at Angus Australia and especially the hard work of Scott Wright in developing a Strategic Plan for the members, as well as the extraordinary efforts of Di Wood and her Marketing and Communications team to organise such a professional event.

I was fortunate enough to also attend the GenAngus Future Leaders Program in Adelaide, SA. On the back of feeling a bit sorry for myself after another El Nino forecast for our area, I fortuitously found myself around a table with 12 young brains talking about how to achieve a positive mindset. We followed with an explosive global market insight that will see our brand and our cattle going from strength to strength to be a hotly sought after commodity from 2024 on. Especially the formidable Angus cow! I left with a positive attitude and a mind overflowing with opportunities. I just didn’t want to leave this courageous and inspiring group of young people - we are in good hands.

The World Angus Forum has been announced to take placein Brisbane in 2025. More in this space will be coming to you soon as the World Angus Forum Committee is hard at work. What has been exciting is the expression of interest in Australian genetics from our overseas counterparts and the opportunities that may arise out of this forum for more global trade.

I want to pay special mention to Brad Gilmour who finished his eight year tenure on the Board of Angus Australia at the conference and Annual General Meeting. One of the reasons that we have such a good Board today is as a result of Brad’s exceptional service. Brad was always seeking different ideas and opinions to his own and sought to understand rather than to judge. As a Board we benefitted greatly from this attitude and were able to make better decisions. Brad is one of the most accomplished and yet humble people that I have met in the breed.

As a commercial member he is one of a handful ever to give their time to the Board and is the first commercial breeder ever to stand as president. Brad’s guidance, wisdom and sense of humour were his trademarks and on behalf of the members, staff and Board we thank him for his dedication and service.

Wishing all our members a cosy winter, Erica Halliday, President Angus Australia