Australian Beef Sustainability Steering Group appointment

QUEENSLAND beef producer and food manufacturer Mark Davie has been appointed to the Australian Beef Sustainability Steering Group, replacing a seat vacated by retiring group member Greg Campbell, the former CEO of Kidman & Co.

Mr Davie said the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework provides the industry with the opportunity to measure and tell its sustainable production story to the world.

“I’m in the fortunate position of waking every morning in an Australian beef sustainability story and seeing the beauty of our biodiverse production system every day,” he said.

The Australian Beef Sustainability Framework defines sustainable beef production and tracks performance over a series of indicators each year.

It is used by industry to strengthen its social licence and access to markets and capital.

It does this by defining sustainable production under the themes of animal welfare, economic resilience, environmental stewardship and people and the community.

After an extensive selection process, Mark was chosen by the Red Meat Advisory Council to join the Framework’s independent and representative Sustainability Steering Group.

This group progresses the Framework on behalf of industry. It includes representatives from across the Australian beef value chain. Mark is excited to represent producers and help tell the industry’s story.

“As a producer, I believe we have to tell our story to make sure our customers cherish the environmental dividends that come free with every kilogram of Aussie beef, and most importantly feel good about eating beef,” Mark said.

“I am passionate about developing environmental measures that recognise our diverse production environment and are not solely focussed on single metrics.

“I hope to work towards achieving recognition of the ecosystem services provided by the Australian beef industry.”

Mark lives and works on a family cattle breeding property, Greenlake Station, north of Yeppoon, where they crossbreed Brahman cows and sell weaners for backgrounding into both northern live export and southern feedlot markets.

He also runs Keppel Brand, a food manufacturing business in Yeppoon that sells value added meat products to the food service market nationally.

“Through my work and family, I am passionate about family business, Australian manufacturing, regional Australia and most of all Australian beef,” Mark said.

Mark was selected to join the Framework’s Sustainability Steering Group after the position was vacated by former Chief Executive Officer of S. Kidman & Co, Greg Campbell.

Sustainability Steering Group Chair Tess Herbert thanked Mr Campbell for his contribution to the Framework and welcomed Mr Davie to the group.

“Greg has been a key figure of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework since it was launched in 2017. Greg brought key skills to the Steering Group in pastoral and natural resource management,” Ms Herbert said.

“While we are sad to see him go, we are excited to have Mark join the team and I’m looking forward to working with him to progress the Framework.”