Chairman - Geoff Murphy
Managing Director, JM Kelly Group of Companies

Geoff moved to Rockhampton from Toowoomba when he was 20 to start his own construction firm. His company JM Kelly (Project Builders) Pty Ltd is now 5th largest commercial builder in Queensland and the 17th largest privately owned company in Queensland. Geoff has been a director of Beef Australia since 2000 and the Chairman of Beef Australia for the period 2003-2006.

Geoff also operates two commercial beef cattle properties in Central Queensland - “Rivervale”, South Yaamba and “Durando” at St Lawrence. A total of 2,500 head Geoff breeds Brahman X cows over Santa Gertrudis bulls with background and fattening undertaken at “Durando”. A hands-on executive, Geoff continues to develop his cattle operations at every opportunity.

Geoff is recognised widely for his contributions to the expansion of Queensland’s economy and has been appointed to several building industry associations, government counselling bodies and advisory groups across the state. A strong believer in community involvement and service he has advised state and federal government officials on the needs of small business, large private-sector organisation and regional and rural providers.

Vice Chair - Blair Angus
“Kimberley”, Clermont. Qld

Blair owns and manages four beef cattle breeding and fattening properties running 30,000 head. He has gained a thorough knowledge all of facets of the beef industry, developing his own vertically integrated beef company retaining ownership of product through to the consumer under their brand name “Kimberly Red”. “Kimberley Red” is exported to customers in Japan, China and Europe. “Kimberley Red” supplies leading restaurants, business clubs and butchers along Australia’s eastern seaboard. Blair also has a close association with the Mackay Regional Show, being a member of the Beef Cattle Committee, carcass steward and exhibitor for many years.
Blair was Vice Chair of Beef Australia 2003-2006

Treasurer - John Croaker
Australian Brahman Breeders Assoc. Rockhampton, Qld

John Croaker has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Brahman Breeders Association for over 25 years. He has been involved in running two World Brahman Congresses – 1983 and 2002. In addition to being Treasurer of Beef Australia 2003-2006, John was also Secretary of the Committee which established the Beef Expos in 1988 and 1991 and has been a member of various sub-committees for the expos since that time. John is also Vice President of the Australian Registered Cattle Breeders Association.

Angus Adnam
Managing Director - AAA Livestock Services Pty Ltd

Angus Adnam is actively involved in the live export trade as a licensed exporter and has been closely associated with Beef Australia since the first event including being a director of Beef Australia since 2004. His other industry roles include Queensland Livestock Exporters Association President 2000-2006, Australian Livestock Export Council 2000-2006 and Royal National Association Council 2006.

Joy Deguara
"Simla"- Hamdenvale Brahmans

Joy Deguara is an active partner in the management of a family run commercial and stud cattle business in the Nebo district of Central Queensland where the family have had grazing interests for about 30 years. In recent times the focus on the stud business has changed to now being predominantly interested in using international genetics, providing the opportunity to develop experience in sourcing, and attempting to sell, genetics in overseas countries. Joy is also the business manager for the family's off farm business interests.

Joy runs a small rural community development consultancy working mainly with rural community groups, local government and industry groups. Current work includes a long term project with the sugar cane industry to increase the participation of women and young people in the governance of the industry.

Joy has been involved in previous Beef Expos in a small way through helping with the organisation of the Conferences and Seminars section for Beef 2000 and participation in the organisation of the women's conference on several occasions. Experience in the wider agricultural sphere has also been gained through spending 6 years (until 2005) on the board of Australian Women in Agriculture Ltd, the peak body for women in agriculture in Australia. Recent appointment to the Agforce State Council will also provide an opportunity to gain further experience in the agri-political area of our industry.

Carol Ellrott
“Big House” Morinish

Carol lives at ”Big House” Morinish, where she has been an active partner in their business. Becoming involved in Beef Australia with the inaugural Consumer Education Committee meeting in 1995. She has a driving force behind the growth of the Consumer Education programme helping to evolve the cooking competitions from the Shopping Fair to the Show grounds. She has coordinated chefs and helped extensively with the Kids in the Kitchen. In 2005 Carol traveled to Sydney to the Royal Show for a fact-finding mission to help enhance the consumer education component of Beef Australia.

Carol’s family is also committed to Beef Australia and the beef industry and has participated in Beef Australia, hosting two property tours and has participated in the stud and commercial cattle events.

jenny russell
“Swan Hill ” Blackall

Jenny is a partner in Swan Hill Cattle Co, a family cattle business comprising a Santa Gertrudis Stud and a commercial cattle business both based in central western Queensland.  A supporter of the Beef Expo since its inception, Jenny has participated in Beef Australia as a stud exhibitor and as a trade exhibitor.

Jenny is also a member of the Telstra Country Wide Advisory Board and was appointed Chair of the Board in February 2005.  She has been a strong advocate for regional Australia participating in the Regional Australia Summit in 1999 and was a member of the inaugral Regional Women's Advisory Council in 1999 - 2002.

Andrew MacTaggart
"Balcomba"  Marlborough, Queensland.

Andrew, a fourth generation Central Queensland cattle producer, is based at “Balcomba”  Duaringa, with his wife Claire and two children. Andrew operates family cattle properties producing grass fed beef.

Graduating from Marcus Oldham Farm Management College in 1993 with a Diploma in Farm Management, Andrew has worked in Victoria, NSW and Central and Northern QLD in various production systems.

Andrew has played a key role in the past two Beef Expos as the Chairman of the 2003 and 2006 Beef Australia Commercial Cattle Championships held at the Gracemere Saleyards.

With his future firmly in the Beef Industry, Andrew is passionate about Rural Australia and the many opportunities it offers.

Geoff Maynard
'Mt Eugene' Jambin

Geoff Maynard has been operating the family seed stock business at 'Mt Eugene' Jambin for the past 25 years. Geoff has grown up in the Central Qld area, schooling at St Brendan’s college and then obtaining a Bachelor of Business Marketing degree at USQ externally. For thirty years the Maynard’s operated a Belmont Red stud, and more recently have expanded their interests in senepols, conducting an annual 5 STAR SENEPOL sale at Gracemere in September.

Geoff has been involved with every Beef expo since 1988, whether it be displaying stud cattle, trade fair sites, or participation in the great debates.

Brett Prosser
Managing Director of Bengalla Pastoral Holdings

Brett has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in agribusiness banking in Queensland and New South Wales. Brett’s career encompasses a diverse cross section of industries and producers and this has enabled him to build strong relationships in industry and at a personal level. Brett is currently the Managing Director of Bengalla Pastoral Holdings, the owner and operator of “Bengalla Station” a beef back grounding and grain production property.

In addition to his managerial responsibilities with Bengalla Pastoral Holdings Brett is focused on research into Australian agriculture, its ownership structures and operating systems. This research is directed at continuing to expand premium beef and cereal grain production in a corporate environment that is both economically profitable and environmentally sustainable.

David Warriner
Managing Director of Capricorn RPM Pty Ltd

David is the Founder and Managing Director of Capricorn RPM Pty Ltd, a Rockhampton based rural advisory and business administration service. Until February 2006 David was the General Manager of Alice Springs Pastoral Company, a certified organic cattle producer based in Central Queensland with 20,000 cattle, and a cattle and sheep enterprise in the Snowy Mountains in NSW.

David has over 20 years of experience in the Beef Cattle industry working in both the processing and pastoral sectors marketing meat and managing some of Australia’s largest pastoral holdings.

He is founding partner and Chairman of Country Wide News Pty Ltd, the owner of the three major news agencies in Rockhampton. David is also on the Board of Directors of the Biological Farmers of Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.