Cattle Australia is calling for nominations for two board director positions and eight Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) positions.
With nominations now open, CA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chris Parker, said those who see themselves as a leader, have big ideas on how to improve the grass-fed beef industry, or would like to be involved in rewarding advocacy and policy work that benefits their industry and region, should put their name forward.
“By joining the CA Board of Directors or the RCC, you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of the grass-fed beef industry, ensuring the voices of Australian cattle producers are heard during critical decision-making processes,” Dr Parker said.
“Successful candidates will be responsible for building on the work of previous leaders within CA, expanding beyond policy to develop strategy around advocacy, consultation of members at a grass-roots level, and engagement of broader society.
“Strong leadership and a strong connection to the grass-roots of the industry is critical to harnessing the opportunities before us, and addressing the challenges our industry faces.”
As the peak industry body for the grass-fed beef sector, CA has a legislated role to represent the more than 52,000 grass-fed cattle levy payers.
The CA Board consists of seven democratically elected Directors and two skills-based Directors. The RCC is comprised of 22 members – 15 who are elected by CA members on a regional basis and seven who are appointed by the State Farming Organisations – and is responsible for advising on issues affecting the grass-fed cattle industry via engagement and consultation with producers at a grass-roots level.
Dr Parker said through this structure, the organisation provides clear leadership and direction for the industry by developing and driving contemporary policy, guiding research, development and adoption, and marketing investment, and advocating on matters important to the sector.
“Through the democratic model, CA has provided a direct line of sight for levy payers and direct input into policy formulation, enabling producers to influence government policy and drive change in their industry,” Dr Parker said.
“In particular, the RCC has allowed CA to engage with producers at a grass-roots level to provide a united voice, in an effort to solve emerging industry issues and advocate with contemporary science and farming knowledge.
“To date, CA has made great strides for the industry, including developing the Land Management Commitment and advocating on the nature and implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR); taking a stand against the Biosecurity Protection Levy and pressing the Government to address the inadequacies of the tax; and working on market access, particularly around new market requirements and non-tariff trade barriers.
“We look forward to new ideas and fresh perspectives joining us as we continue this vital work, and strongly encourage producers to nominate for the two Board Director positions and eight RCC positions.”
Nominations close Monday, 30 September. More information about which Board Director positions and RCC positions are up for election, nomination and voting eligibility, and the election process can be found on the CA website.
-Cattle Australia