QUEENSLAND’S Emily Pullen may not be in the business of running cattle but she certainly has beef running through her veins.
The 2019 NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion heads up her family’s successful business Jim’s Jerky, near Toowoomba, and has enormous faith in the future of the beef industry – for all of those along the supply chain.
An initiative of Cattle Council of Australia, the prestigious event targets the next generation of advocates for the cattle industry whose talent and vision can be harnessed to enable the sector to respond to future market and consumers trends.
At a gala dinner in Canberra tonight attended by the who’s who of the Australian beef industry, the young executive picked up the title ahead of an extremely high-calibre field of state finalists.
Queensland’s Emily Pullen the cattle industry’s 2019 Rising Champion
Faye Tuchtan, Victorian Farmers Federation, with Victoria's state finalist James Campkin-Smith.
Michael McCormick, "The Cascade" at Tallangatta Valley and Jenny O'Sullivan, "Malabar Farm" at Walkerville.
Cattle Council of Australia board member Amanda Giles, South Australia, with Steven Pocock "Newcastle Waters" in the Northern Territory.
Northern Territory Rising Champions finalist Roley James and Angus breeder Brian Stewart "Dunlop Park" in Tasmania.
Renata Berglas and Bim Struss, Agforce Queensland, with the 2019 Rising Champion Emily Pullen.
Australian Livestock Exporters Council chief executive officer Simon Westaway and Tahlia Robertson, from McDonald's.
Tina Allais and Hani Sidaros, represented sponsors McDonald's.
Chris Pollard and Bonnie Birch, from the Department of Agriculture and Water in Canberra.
Beef producers Kirsten Tasker, Burra, Laura Soane, Guning, John Rowley, Urila and Andrew Robertson, Guning.
Wendy Hick "Thorntonia" at Camooweal, Queensland with the 2018 Rising Champion Kylie Stretton and Shaun Byrnes, Western Australia.
Cattle Council's Verity Price and director David Hill with Ella Anderson, Tasmania's state finalist Rising Champion.
Brendan and Lisa Cockerill, Canberra Business Lawyers.
Meat and Livestock Australia's Johann Schroder and Sue Dillon, acting chief executive officer of Sheep Producers.
Sam Brown, LiveCorp with Rob Baines, Coopers Animal Health.
NAB managing partner Sanja Slatter, Canberra.
Cattle Council's chief executive officer Margo Andrae with the outgoing Rising Champion Kylie Stretton.
Last year's Rising Champion Kylie Stretton hands the title over to the 2019 winner Emily Pullen.
The fact Ms Pullen was not a producer spoke volumes about the industry’s modern day determination to work together to meet consumer demands and realise the potential of Australian beef, many of those at the event agreed.
A trained agronomist who has also traveled overseas to further her education in food production, Ms Pullen said the direct relationship her business had with consumers provided a very good opportunity to deliver feedback and information in both directions.
The 2019 NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion Emily Pullen with the state finalists and CCA president Howard Smith.
Representing the other states as 2019 finalists were Lucy Morris, Western Australian; Tracey Gowen, NSW; Ella Anderson, Tasmania; James Campkin-Smith, Victoria; Roley James, Northern Territory and Kate Fairlie, South Australia.