Meet the Southern Queensland Alumni

Ashleigh is a wife and mother of three. She is a grazier as well as the CFO for her family business. Ashleigh has an extensive background in business administration, health, safety and environment management. Growing up in the small, country town of Wallumbilla has placed a strong importance on the support of local, community organisations whether it be holding committee positions, volunteer work or sponsorship of sporting uniforms or events. She has a great passion for the ag industry and believes that it is the most exciting and diverse of all. Her goal is to run a profitable and sustainable beef production enterprise.

OPERATIONS MANAGER, UNE

BSusAg

Casey leads a producer adoption project across Northern Australia, driving the widespread adoption of

deep-rooted legumes in broadacre grazing systems. With a passion for regenerative agriculture, Casey, co-founded Central Queensland Landscape Alliance, a producer-run non-profit organisation, that delivers regenerative agriculture education events. Casey is dedicated to successful project implementation, fostering stakeholder relationships, and promoting regenerative and sustainable grazing practices.

Beyond work, Casey enjoys sailing and recently competed in a Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht race and enjoys cooking up a storm for friends and family

CATTLE STATION COORDINATOR AND FIXED-WING PILOT, ARRABURY PASTORAL COMPANY

BSc, PPL(A), JP

Based in SW Qld, alongside my husband and two children, we manage a large-scale cattle property running a predominately Santa Gertrudis herd. After completing my degree in Animal Production, I headed to the Northern Territory where for 11 years had roles in Live Export, Stock and Station agency, Livestock Biosecurity and Cattle Station Management. Since the move back to QLD 3 years ago, I have gained my fixed-wing pilot licence to help facilitate my role as the cattle station coordinator. I am focused on creating networks, and expanding my skill set, especially within the beef industry and feel the need to attract and retain young people in the industry is a key area to focus on. Away from work, I am heavily involved in the local campdraft, rodeo, horse racing and ICPA committees and most recently, the Climate Mate program with USQ & MLA.

As a family, we thoroughly enjoy competing at the local campdrafts and rodeos, fishing and knee boarding with friends on the waterhole.

PRODUCER/CARPENTER

A beef producer in the Southwest Queensland region who is passionate about growing grass and cattle. I’m a qualified carpenter, who played competitive cricket overseas, before relocating two years ago to the family property south of Mitchell. I’m focused on making an already productive property into a bigger and better operation. I’m an avid golfer and have been the Vice Captain for the Dunkeld Memorial Golf Club for two years now. Most weekends you will find me swinging a club around somewhere. I’m also on the Southwest Golf Association board. In the future, I want to open our gate to the community and host educational activities so that local producers can experience the knowledge and products showcased by industry leaders.

PROPERTY MANAGER – “LYNDALE”

Hi I’m Lachy Jensen. I’m currently the station manager of our family-run cattle enterprise located 50km North of Roma. We have a mixed breeding herd of Simmental X and Angus X with 1000 acres of farming country, primarily used to grow Silk Sorghum for seed and improved pasture to fatten stock. I started my working career as a Boilermaker, mostly in Toowoomba for 10 years before returning to my childhood home of Roma in 2016 to help run the family farm. 7 years later I am still learning the ropes and thoroughly enjoying my time back on the land and being in a rural community. When I’m not working, I like to be playing golf, socialising with my beautiful wife or supporting the mighty Brisbane Broncos.

Hi, I’m Lucy Moore. I’m a seedstock beef producer living near Condamine on Queensland’s Western Downs. Alongside the Charbray stud, I started with my husband, I work as a freelance ag journalist specialising in all things beef. My work as a journalist has taken me to some exciting places within agriculture and I love that it has given me a platform to tell the stories of Aussie cattle producers and beef’s successes in our country. I’m passionate about spreading positive stories about beef to ensure our industry is as exciting for future generations as it has been for me!

DIRECTOR- MORRISSEY AND FRIENDS LIVESTOCK SERVICES

Co-founder of Morrissey and Friends Livestock Services; a service-based agribusiness, offering tailored training and consultation to the red meat industry, specialising in stockmanship, horsemanship and team development. Lucy’s unwavering commitment to quality service operations, clients and livestock is founded on her quest to ensure she enjoys all facets of life and has her time in her own hands. Lucy believes it’s a privilege to continually gain more industry reach and learn from new people and animals every day, helping to ensure high performance, for businesses, safe practices for handlers and exceed expectations for animal wellbeing. Lucy’s ability to communicate and connect with people and animals is her most impactful offering; supported by authenticity, kindness and inclusivity.

TECHNICAL OFFICER – DAF BRIAN PASTURES, NORTH BURNETT GRAZIER

BAppSci

Passionate about improving productivity and grazing land conditions, Melissah’ s career involves facilitating and managing beef research projects and delivering extension. She also runs a grazing and contracting business alongside her husband out of Mundubbera. Melissah is focused on bridging the gap between science and industry, providing support and advice to producers about grazing land management, data collection and animal nutrition. Her strong connection to the local community saw her hold executive positions in the Mundubbera Show Society and Suicide Prevention Network.

Hi, I am Nathan Lister. I have been involved in and around the beef industry professionally for the last 15 years since graduating from the University of Qld, Gatton with a degree in Production Animal Science. For the last 5 years, I have worked for Lallemand Animal Nutrition as a Technical Services Manager. I am very fortunate to work with a vast range of clients within the beef industry from extensive grazing, seedstock operations and feedlots. On a personal level, I am also involved in our own agricultural business with my wife Alison and children Hugh (7) and Olivia (4) consisting of a mixed farming beef, sheep and grain business, located outside Pittsworth on the Darling Downs. I really enjoy sport, especially Rugby and cricket and a range of music.

In 2022, I moved home from Melbourne to step into our family business. Our operation comprises of two cattle properties, ‘Meeleebee Downs’ between Roma & Taroom and ‘Ballandean Station’ located in the Granite Belt. We run a cross breeding and fattening operation with a deep-rooted passion for Herefords.

My current focus and passion is learning the fundamentals of our operation from the ground up by working within our stock camp while simultaneously upskilling myself by attending seminars, training courses, community events, networking, in-field experience, listening to industry-related podcasts and reading. Prior to coming home, I was a cocktail bartender in Canada and Brisbane before transitioning into a career as a residential real estate agent for close to 8 years. I have always been passionate about people and service-based industries, so I found the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on people’s experiences deeply rewarding and developed great relationships with my clients over the years (not to mention selling some phenomenal homes along the way.) When I am not mustering, fixing fences or creating an excuse to get on the grader or dozer, you will either find me on my motocross bike, spending time with my family, or relishing in being an uncle to my nephews & nieces. I feel incredibly privileged to be embarking on this next chapter with my family, I am excited for the future and can’t wait to discover what is possible in this inspiring industry.

OWNER THOMAS HEAVY DIESEL

I am a passionate, independent person who divides my time between actively participating in our family cattle breeding business, managing our personal off-farm mechanical business and raising a young family, David (9), Max (7) and Georgie (6). Prior to having our family, I completed my Diploma of Agriculture (specialising in Beef Cattle and Sheep) and Diploma of Rural Business Management through Dalby Agricultural College. I have more than 18 years of experience within the Agricultural industry ranging from feedlot through to Merchandise managing. I am enthusiastic about the beef industry, its farmers, the direction it is heading and what that means for future generations on the land. I participate regularly where I can within community committees ranging from the local recreation society, vice president of our local Kindergarten, vice president of the P&C association, to sectary of the local swimming club. In the rarity that is my spare time you can usually find me catching up with friends, getting lost in a good book, tending to my roses and garden, or cooking up a storm, but most of all I enjoy making memories with my family and spending quality time with those who matter most to me.