A senior red meat industry leader has been appointed CEO of Herefords Australia Limited (HAL).
Alastair James will finish as chief executive officer of the Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC) on 2 August and assume his new position on 7 August.
Mr James has worked for RMAC since November 2021 after holding senior roles with the industry representative bodies Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council and CropLife Australia, as well as the former Federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
This followed a career as an agronomist and farmer.
He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science – Agriculture and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
With a family background in stud and commercial cattle breeding, Mr James will be based in Canberra for his new role and is looking to leverage his paddock-to-plate supply chain experience and industry connections.
“I am very excited about taking on the role and am looking forward to meeting the team and finding where we can focus to promote the Hereford breed and achieve results for our members,” he said.
Mr James said maintaining a harmonious membership base and collaboration between diverse sectors in the red meat supply chain was an achievement he was most proud of at RMAC and one he hoped to continue at Herefords Australia.
“Herefords play a critical role in the supply chain, particularly in the commercial sector with the reduced days to slaughter advantage compared to contemporaries, delivering better body condition scores on less feed and improved fertility …,” he said.
“A focus will be promoting these evidence-based genetic advantages through marketing to increase awareness, access and understanding.“
Mr James regards Hereford Youth as a rich resource and he is a strong believer in educating future decision-makers on the vital role the livestock industry plays.
“Ensuring a pathway so youth can broaden their horizons with knowledge, leadership skills and become the leaders we need in the future is important,” he said.
Herefords Australia chairman Marc Greening welcomed the appointment, saying securing such a high calibre executive from within the red meat supply chain was a “coup“ for the organisation in taking the breed forward.
“Herefords Australia has a young, vibrant and progressive Board that Alastair will complement perfectly,” Mr Greening said.
“We are tremendously proud of the fact the organisation can attract people of this calibre and his experience in the red meat industry through his role at RMAC will put us in good stead to have a CEO who, not only understands how a member-based organisation and a
business should be run, but also have the extensive knowledge and contacts through the red meat industry.
“Alastair will complement all the hard work achieved by the previous two CEOs to really drive the breed forward with a focus on sustainability and positioning Herefords in a changing modern market.
“This is our Angus moment of the 1980s.”
Mr Greening said Alastair’s key role in progressing major outcomes in RMACs strategic plan and delivery of assets would prove valuable in HAL continuing to secure the long-term future of the Hereford breed under its five-year strategic plan.
