Showcase Career Diversity
Showcase the amazing career pathways available in the red meat industry.

Inspiring and developing future professionals in the global red meat industry
June 30, 2026
Wagga Wagga, NSW
Join us for a multi-day program of learning, networking, and professional development across the red meat and livestock industry.
On behalf of the 2026 ICMJ Committee, I would like to welcome each of you to the 2026 Australian ICMJ conference, workshop and competition. This year marks the 36th anniversary since the establishment of the Australian ICMJ program in 1990. We welcome students and coaches from Australian, USA and Japanese tertiary institutions. This year’s program will:
Showcase the amazing career pathways available in the red meat industry.
Provide personal and professional development opportunities.
Encourage you to build links with industry companies.
With friends and future colleagues from across Australia and the world.
This conference would not be possible without the generous support from all our partners, helpers and the tireless work and enthusiasm for the program from the current committee Macky Lawrence, Stuart Bisley, Gabi Ryan, Molly Greentree, Claire Marriott, Nick van den Berg, Melanie Smith, Jake Bourlet, James Carter, Laura Bignell, Aimee Bolton, Lauren Smith, Kieran Smith, bookkeeper – Ellie Hays, ICMJ media co-ordinator Megan Hendry plus ICMJ co-ordinator Maria Thompson and Annie Pumpa. The ICMJ committee would also like to thank founding partners AMPC and MLA, Charles Sturt University and Teys for hosting the ICMJ conference in Wagga and all industry sponsors for supporting the event. We are excited to see the ICMJ program go from strength to strength on an annual basis.
“Inspiring and developing future professionals in the global red meat industry”
Dr Peter McGilchrist,
Australian ICMJ President
June 30, 2026
93 Hammond Ave, Wagga Wagga
Check in BIG4 Ingenia Holiday Park
Stewards Hall Cnr. Bribbaree Place & Valder Way, Charles Sturt University
Check in Charles Sturt University Residences, Stewards Hall
Wagga RSL Corner Kincaid & Dobbs Street
Wagga RSL Corner Kincaid & Dobbs Street
ICMJ Committee
Wagga RSL Corner Kincaid & Dobbs Street
Welcome drinks
Wagga RSL Corner Kincaid & Dobbs Street
July 1, 2026
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
Peter McGilchrist
National President
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
The Fletcher Family Legacy in Lamb & Mutton
Melissa Fletcher
CEO
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
Market Trends Shaping the Future of Beef, Sheep and Goat
Ripley Atkinson
Manager – Aust Meats & Livestock
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
The Science Behind Eating Quality
Ben Holman
Meat Scientist
Crowbar, Building 20, CSU
Sponsored by AUS-MEAT (Associate Partner)
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
The power of genetics
Clara Bradford
Program Manager – Livestock Genetics
Connecting consumer expectations to carcase outcomes
Stuart Bisley
National Treasurer
Innovations and Predictions Q&A Panel
Marquee on lawn area at Building 400, Food Pilot Plant
Sponsored by Fletcher International (Supporting Partner)
Location: Meet at Marquee on lawn area at Building 400 Speakers: ICMJ Committee
Students split into groups A, B or C as allocated on name tags for workshops. 55-minute sessions + 5 mins for transit between rotations
Sponsor address from Oliver Stankovski from AMIC
Luke Leyson
Butcher
Adding Value Through Smart Beef Utilisation
Brett Laws
Butcher Lawsy
Explore how packaging plays a key role in protecting meat quality, preserving freshness, and supporting better product outcomes.
Ben Holman
Meat Scientist
Sponsored by WagStaff
Wagga RSL Corner Kincaid & Dobbs Street
Sponsored by NH Foods (Major Partner)
July 2, 2026
Marquee on lawn area at Building 400, Food Technologies Laboratory
Sponsored by Bindaree Food Group
Building 400, CSU
Building 400, Food Technologies Laboratory, Rooms 102 & 116
LLS Building 412
Dr Mark Miller — From Burgers to Global Growth: Why the US Relies on Australian Beef, Lamb & Goat? Tatsuki Kamata and Professor Atsushi Tajima – From Vision to Value: An overview of the Japanese beef industry and grading system Kieran Smith & Lauren Smith, Tour Leads — Alumni in Action: Future Leaders Exploring Global Markets on the ICMJ South East Asia 2026 Tour Brett Laws & Luke Leyson — Where Craft Meets Competition: Australia’s Finest on the Global Stage at World Butchers’ Challenge (30 mins each)
Marquee on lawn area at Building 400, Food Pilot Plant
Sponsored by Australian Country Choice (Supporting Partner)
Marquee on lawn area at Building 400, Food Pilot Plant
Sponsored by Australian Country Choice (Supporting Partner)
Marquee on lawn area at Building 400
Megan Hendry
Media Coordinator
Building 400, Food Technologies Laboratory, Rooms 102 & 116
LLS Building 412
Dr Mark Miller — From Burgers to Global Growth: Why the US Relies on Australian Beef, Lamb & Goat? Tatsuki Kamata — From Vision to Value: An overview of the Japanese Beef industry Kieran Smith & Lauren Smith, Tour Leads — Alumni in Action: Future Leaders Exploring Global Markets on the ICMJ South East Asia 2026 Tour Brett Laws & Luke Leyson — Where Craft Meets Competition: Australia’s Finest on the Global Stage at World Butchers’ Challenge (30 mins each)
Wal Fife
Effective leadership styles
Marquee on Lawn area at Building 400, Food Technologies Laboratory
Sponsored by Australian Meat Group (Supporting Partner)
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
Students and Coaches
Group A. Sponsored by Rimfire Resources
David Jackson, Rimfire Resources
Group B. Sponsored by Stockyard
Jodi Brown
10 min break between rotations
Group A. Sponsored by Stockyard
Jodi Brown
Group B. Sponsored by Rimfire Resources
David Jackson, Rimfire Resources
The Range Function Centre
The Range Function Centre 308 Copland St, East Wagga Wagga
Sponsored by Rimfire Resources
The Range Function Centre 308 Copland St, East Wagga Wagga
Sponsored by Australian Poll Dorset Association. Professional photography booth: Complimentary professional headshots for each attendee.
The Range Function Centre 308 Copland St, East Wagga Wagga
Sponsored by Australian Pork Limited (Principal Partner)
July 3, 2026
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
Food Science, 5th-Quarter Innovation and the Future of Red Meat
Michael Lee
Group Manager – Value Chain Innovation
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
What meat science Is revealing across beef, lamb and pork
Robyn Warner
Professor
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
Addressing the Need for Repro and Farm Management to Meet Global Sheepmeat Demand
Jason Trompf
Agricultural Consultant
Crowbar Building 20, CSU
Sponsored by Harvest Road (Associate Partner)
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
Building a Premium Pork Brand
Linton Batt
Managing Director
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
What meat science and genetics are revealing
Peter McGilchrist
National President
Building 14, Wal Fife, CSU
Q&A panel discussion
Marquee on lawn area at Building 400, Food Technologies Laboratory
Sponsored by Australian Pork Limited (Principal Partner)
Coach free time. Students split into groups 1–4 as allocated on name tags. 40-minute sessions + 20-minute transfer between rotations. Groups transfer across campus at 3:20 PM — you will need to drive, please carpool.
Group 1 (2.00-2.40pm)
Group 2 (2.40-3.20pm)
Break while groups transfer across campus (20mins)
Group 3 (3.40-4.20pm)
Group 4 (4.20-5.00pm)
Brett Laws
Butcher Lawsy
Group 2 (2.00-2.40pm)
Group 1 (2.40-3.20pm)
Break while groups transfer across campus(20mins)
Group 4 (3.40-4.20pm)
Group 3 (4.20-5.00pm)
Luke Leyson
Butcher
Group 3 (2.00-2.40pm)
Group 4 (2.40-3.20pm)
Break while groups transfer across campus(20mins)
Group 1 (3.40-4.20pm)
Group 2 (4.20-5.00pm)
Isabele Roberts, Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets
Group 4 (2.00-2.40pm)
Group 3 (2.40-3.20pm)
Break while groups transfer across campus(20mins)
Group 2 (3.40-4.20pm)
Group 1 (4.20-5.00pm)
Jake Bourlet, Nick Van den Berg, Claire Marriott
Wagga RSL Corner Kincaid & Dobbs Street
Sponsored by JBS (Major Partner)
Wagga RSL Corner Kincaid & Dobbs Street
Survey Link https://domain.com/path/to/survey/link
July 4, 2026
1 Dampier Street, Bowman NSW
Entry for the contest will be via the main employee carpark off Dampier St and sign in through main gatehouse (Check requirements with your coaches)
Teys Australia
Teys ICMJ 2026 National Meat Judging Competition – Beef
Teys Australia Canteen
Sponsored by Teys Australia (Principal Partner)
RSL Hotel Apartment 1
Interviews conducted with selected Australian students for the ICMJ Industry Development Tour
Wagga RSL Corner Kincaid & Dobbs Street
Sponsored by Meat Business Women
Wagga RSL Corner Kincaid & Dobbs Street
Sponsored by TFI (Principal Partner) Dress code: Cocktail, coat and tie. Survey Link https://domain.com/path/to/survey/link
July 5, 2026
Student and coach check out of accommodation














































Meet our industry experts and thought leaders
Peter McGilchrist
ICMJ
National President
Melissa Fletcher
Fletcher International Exports
CEO
Ripley Atkinson
StoneAx
Manager – Aust Meats & Livestock
Ben Holman
Charles Sturt University
Meat Scientist
Clara Bradford
Meat and Livestock Australia
Program Manager – Livestock Genetics
Luke Leyson
Schlenk Smallgoods
Butcher
Brett Laws
Butcher Lawsy
Michael Lee
Meat and Livestock Australia
Group Manager – Value Chain Innovation
Robyn Warner
University of Melbourne
Professor
Jason Trompf
Lambs Alive
Agricultural Consultant
Linton Batt
Food Security Feed Co
Managing Director
Jodi Brown
LIVIN
Program Facilitator
Stuart Bisley
ICMJ
National Treasurer
Peter McGilchrist
ICMJ
National President
Macky Lawrence
ICMJ
National Vice-President & Australian Team Coach
Gabrielle Ryan
ICMJ
National ICMJ Secretary
Stuart Bisley
ICMJ
National Treasurer
Molly Greentree
ICMJ
Sponsorship Coordinator
Claire Marriott
ICMJ
National Conference Careers Expo Coordinator
Nick Vandenberg
ICMJ
Alumni and Schools Coordinator
Melanie Smith
ICMJ
National Conference Speaker Coordinator
Jake Bourlet
ICMJ
National Conference Venue and Product Coordinator
Laura Bignell
ICMJ
Northern Conference Co-chair
James Carter
ICMJ
Northern Conference Co-chair
Aimee Bolton
ICMJ
Australian Team Coach
Lauren Smith
ICMJ
Website & Comms Coordinator, Global Markets Tour Co-Coordinator
Kieran Smith
ICMJ
Global Markets Tour Coordinator
Maria Thompson
ICMJ
National Coordinator
Megan Hendry
ICMJ
Media Coordinator
Ellie Hays
ICMJ
Bookkeeper & Australian Team Coach
Annie Pumpa
ICMJ
Program Support
Highlight photos from our past conferences