MBW Committee
Meat Business Women (MBW) is a women’s advocacy networking group founded in the United Kingdom by Laura Ryan – former Strategy Director at AHDB Beef & Lamb, and Pam Brook – former meat press editor. The success of MBW led to an international partnership signing with AMIC in September 2018 to bring together women from across the meat supply chain, including processors, wholesalers, retailers and smallgoods manufacturers to future proof our industry.
The role of the Committee is to provide strategic direction and help shape the future of MBW Australia through the development and implementation of regular events.
Catharine Heffernan
AMIC – General Manager Communications
Chair
Catharine heads up Communications and Media at the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC), working across all member sectors which includes..
Catharine heads up Communications and Media at the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC), working across all member sectors which includes processors, smallgoods manufacturers and independent retail butchers.
Catharine has over 30 years’ experience in corporate communications and joined AMIC in July 2020, being responsible for the communications strategy, member communications, project management, media relations, brand, PR, marketing, social and digital media, publications and national events, including Meat Business Women Territory Partner activities.
Catharine is Chair of Meat Business Women – Australia Committee.
Connect with Catharine here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/catharineheffernan/
Amy Brooks
Stockyard
Beef
Marketing Manager (QLD)
Amy Brooks is Marketing Manager at Stockyard Beef, a leading exporter of high quality grain fed beef from Australia to markets around the world. Amy manages..
Amy Brooks is Marketing Manager at Stockyard Beef, a leading exporter of high quality grain fed beef from Australia to markets around the world. Amy manages and coordinates all marketing, advertising, promotional activities and brand positioning for Stockyard Beef.
Amy has over 15 years agribusiness experience. Her contribution to the Australian agriculture and food industry stretches beyond the marketing of a niche, high quality beef brand. Amy is committed to enhancing the profile, reputation and experience of women, as a committee member of the Australian chapter of Meat Business Women.
Amy is an Indigenous woman and proud descendant of the Wulli Wulli people. Her connection to country and perspective as a woman of colour and traditional owner is valued by many. She sits on the OBE Organic Reconciliation Action Plan committee and is a Non-Executive Director of the Woorabinda Pastoral Company. These roles provide Amy an opportunity to influence positive change at both a grassroots and global level for women and Indigenous people.
Amy regularly provides her perspective at speaking engagements, where she shares her personal journey, as well as her professional perspective as a woman in agriculture with a lived experience of diversity and inclusion.
Melissa Fletcher
Fletcher International
Exports
Chief Executive Officer (NSW)
At the tender age of 22, Melissa was sent to WA in 1998 to commission and manage Fletcher International’s new Albany sheep meat processing business ..
At the tender age of 22, Melissa was sent to WA in 1998 to commission and manage Fletcher International’s new Albany sheep meat processing business. Despite the size of that task, she had three children and managed to lead a reasonably normal family life along the way. She left to run her own business for a number of years, before rejoining the family’s Dubbo operations in 2015.
Since then she has been the key driver of major changes in the Fletchers’ business, and is passionate about both diversity and the need for support networks for young women entering the industry.
Nadine Giusti
NH Foods
Brand Manager (NSW)
Nadine Giusti is the brand manager for NH Foods Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of NH Foods Ltd (Japan). In her role at NH Foods Australia, Nadine..
Nadine Giusti is the brand manager for NH Foods Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of NH Foods Ltd (Japan). In her role at NH Foods Australia, Nadine oversees the brand development and marketing of their award-winning beef range that includes Wagyu, black angus and grassfed programmes. She is also responsible for handling the branding and marketing requirements of the Australian Group’s 5 subsidiaries including one of the largest and state-of-the-art feedlot operations in the southern hemisphere (Whyalla Beef), three processing plants and the domestic sales division, Beef Producers Australia.
Nadine joined the company mid-2018 in this newly created role and has since enjoyed working with the diverse mix of colleagues across all divisions. Having attended the MBW launch event in April 2019 with herself and 2 co-workers, Nadine championed internally for a greater attendance at the next event which saw representatives from each subsidiary come together for it in Brisbane.
Having joined the red meat industry following a long and diverse career in the automotive industry, Nadine is excited to be a part of the MBW committee and work towards more opportunities to build the profile of women in the red meat industry.
Stacey McKenna
AMIC
GM, Workforce Services (VIC)
Stacey has made a career in the Australian red meat industry, from her first job packing beef during school holidays through to her current role with the..
Stacey has made a career in the Australian red meat industry, from her first job packing beef during school holidays through to her current role with the Australia’s Peak Industry Association for the red meat industry Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC).
Having worked in the industry for close to 20 years across processing, retail and smallgoods Stacey is passionate about encouraging opportunities for women in industry through training and personal development.
Clare Ross
Paradigm Foods
Marketing Manager (QLD)
Clare Ross is Marketing Manager for niche, Brisbane-based international meat exporter Paradigm Foods. With 15 years experience in food and..
Clare Ross is Marketing Manager for niche, Brisbane-based international meat exporter Paradigm Foods.
With 15 years experience in food & beverage marketing domestically & abroad Clare is new to the meat world, bringing a great love all things cooking, eating and celebrating good food.
After working in international brand roles with McDonald’s and leading Victoria Bitter beer in Melbourne, Clare brings big brand thinking to the meat industry to really understand and deliver to the ever-changing needs of consumers around the world.
Having married a fourth-generation beef producer, Clare keeps connected to the Queensland country and has developed a great passion for creating premium Australian beef & pork brands that pay respect to the land and celebrate the amazing stories of local producers.
With a passion for creating powerful brands and for seeing women thrive in their chosen careers, Clare is thrilled to be part of the Meat Business Women Australian division.
Connect with Clare here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-ross-73174425
Blair Stubna
Harvey Beef
Master Planner (WA)
Blair Stubna, is the Master Planner for Harvey Beef, which is part of Western Australia’s Harvest Road Group, and commenced her career in the Australian..
Blair Stubna, is the Master Planner for Harvey Beef, which is part of Western Australia’s Harvest Road Group, and commenced her career in the Australian red meat industry at the age of 20, seeking a change from the hospitality industry. Blair has worked within many roles of the industry from packing meat, supply chain management and customer support before finding her interest within Planning.
As an Indigenous woman, Blair is passionate about cultural and gender diversity within the workplace and is excited to share with women, the opportunities within the Australian red meat industry.
Connect with Blair here http://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-stubna