Queensland cattle producer and advocate Elisha Parker was named as the 2020 NAB Agribusiness Cattle Council Rising Champion at a gala dinner in Canberra.
The presentation also marked the 10th anniversary of the Rising Champion initiative.
Ms Parker is a co-founder and director of Cattlesales.com.au.
Based in her home town of Clermont the business is a national, online cattle sales platform that provides marketing tools and technology to livestock agents, producers and buyers.
Ms Parker said it encompasses cattle sold at all sale points.
"We provide a whole bunch of tools that have never been available before to [the] industry, for livestock agents, but also for buyers. We have an alert system which alerts them when cattle matching their specifications are listed online" she said.
Ms Parker said while there are plenty of options for how you sell livestock, including online markets, they was a need for way of further promoting what a seller was offering.
"There was no way you could advertise cattle to say that they were coming up at auction, Auctions Plus or in the paddock," she said.
"Now with more accreditation like the EU people are willing to truck cattle further. So now people can go to an online platform and see cattle being sold by any sale point which might match what they are looking for.
Read more:
Cattle Council President Tony Hegarty congratulated Ms Parker on the award.
"Elisha has the attitude, motivation and leadership skills that will position our industry well into the future and I warmly congratulate her on the achievement," Mr Hegarty said.
Ms Parker's mum, Vikki Seekamp, was watching as the award was presented.
"Elisha has been a high achiever since high school," she said.
"She's always been looking for something different and how to bring it to the market."
NAB Agribusiness Customer Executive Neil Findlay said the calibre of candidates in the 2019 program was high and congratulated all finalists on their participation.
"This year's cohort of finalists was very strong, and it's exciting to see such depth of talent amongst the next generation of beef industry leaders," Mr Findlay said.
"I congratulate Elisha on the award and look forward to seeing the outstanding contribution she goes on to make as the 2020 NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion."
Ms Parker intends to use the opportunity to learn more about the issues affecting the industry and to contribute to a solution.
"We get the opportunity to be part of the consultative committees down the track. [That's] pretty exciting," she said.
The Gala Dinner for the award presentation also marked the 10th anniversary of the Rising Champions initiative, with many who have taken part there to celebrate.
In 2011 Alison Hamilton from Wagga Wagga, was the first ever Rising Champion.
Ms Hamilton said winning the award helped her develop her leadership skills.
"I felt at the time that leadership was an area that I would like to be part of," she said.
"The program really suited me, and helped get my foot in the door of achieving that - having a say in the direction of the industry and learning about leadership at that Cattle Council and government type level.
"I chose to sit on the industry systems committee of Cattle Council. I sat on that committee for the following three years, basically until children came along. I really enjoyed that role and it was a really great learning experience."
Ms Hamilton is still using the skills and experience she gained as a Rising Champion in her own consultation business, assisting producers to implement data recording systems, which will allow them with decision making and market access.
She is also keen to play a role in the industry's future.
"I have stayed involved in the industry through my business," she said.
"I'm also a small farmer and our family are beef cattle operators. So I haven't lost touch."
The other state finalists in the 2020 NAB Agribusiness Rising Champions were:
- John Cunnington, Perth, Western Australia
- Bianca Tarrant, Casino, New South Wales
- Chelsea Rayner, Sheffield, Tasmania
- Elle Moyle, Hamilton, Victoria
- Grayson Webster, Darwin, Northern Territory
- Emily Buddle, Eudunda, South Australia
Australian Community Media's Agricultural Publishing is the Rising Champion major media sponsor.
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture! Click here to sign up to receive our daily Farmonline newsletter.