MPEC SPEAKERS

Meet our Speakers

MPEC25 is bringing together an impressive lineup of speakers with expertise that goes well beyond meat processing and exports. These leaders in trade, policy, animal welfare, and business innovation will delve into the big issues shaping industries across agriculture, logistics, and beyond. Expect sharp insights and practical solutions on global trade, sustainability, and resilience—topics that matter to anyone navigating today’s complex supply chains. Whether you’re here to connect, learn, or gain a fresh perspective, these speakers will leave you with actionable ideas and a clearer vision of the road ahead.

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Registration Information

INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION
GROUP REGISTRATION
VIEW PROGRAM
Q

The Hon. Julie Collins

 Julie Collins was elected as the first female representative for Franklin in 2007.

Julie entered politics because she deeply believes quality education, decent health services and fairness in the workplace should be available to everyone.

Throughout her career in politics, Julie has worked tirelessly to help improve the lives of others.

Julie has held numerous portfolios in both Government and Opposition.

Julie is the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Small Business. 

Since taking over the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Portfolio in 2024, Julie has been delivering for Australian farmers and producers by strengthening biosecurity, boosting the ag workforce, opening up new trade opportunities and supporting improvements to farm sustainability.    

Julie lives on Hobart’s Eastern Shore with her husband Ian and has three children.

Q
The Hon. Joe Hockey is a global authority on commerce and politics, with nearly 20 years in the Australian Parliament, including as Treasurer overseeing a record economic run. He chaired the G20 Finance Ministers in 2014 and later served as Australia’s Ambassador to the U.S., negotiating key wins under Presidents Obama and Trump. Now, he advises on business strategy, infrastructure, and global politics, drawing from his deep expertise in diplomacy and economic leadership.
Q
Master of Ceremonies – Leigh Sales AM is one of Australia’s most recognised journalists, known for her 12 years anchoring the ABC’s flagship program 7.30. A three-time Walkley Award winner and Order of Australia recipient, Leigh has covered politics, national security, and major global events as a journalist and foreign correspondent. She is the presenter of Australian Story, a bestselling author, and co-host of the podcast Chat 10, Looks 3. Leigh brings exceptional depth and insight to every conversation.
Q
Stephen Olson

Stephen Olson is a recognized expert on international trade, economic, and business issues. Over the course of his more than 30-year international career, Stephen Olson has lived and worked in Asia, the Middle East, and the United States, holding senior executive positions in the private sector, government, research institutions, and academia.

Stephen is a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies – Yusof Ishak Institute. He is also a visiting lecturer and non-resident fellow at the Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance. Olson was a research fellow at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore from 2014 to 2024. Stephen is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council (GFC) on Trade, and he co-leads a joint workstream with the WEF GFC on Geopolitics. Olson is an adjunct professor at the George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government and lectures in Beijing at the Capital University of Economics and Business as part of a joint program.

His career began in Washington DC as an international trade negotiator. He was a member of the U.S. negotiating team for both the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations. Olson worked in the Executive Office of the President, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the U.S. Department of Commerce

He is a regular commentator on network television outlets such as the BBC, Bloomberg and CNBC and is frequently quoted in international media, including the NY Times and Wall Street Journal and has authored numerous articles in prominent publications such as Nikkei Asia, the International Herald Tribune, the South China Morning Post, the Bangkok Post, Forbes, American Prospect, the Diplomat, and East Asia Forum.

Stephen has a Masters Degree in international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He has also studied at McGill University in Montreal and has a B.A. from the State University of New York.

He is a frequent public speaker at conferences, roundtables, and seminars throughout the region.

Q
PETER DRAPER

Peter is Professor and Executive Director of the Institute for International Trade in the School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide, Australia. He holds a Jean Monnet Chair in Trade and Environment and directs the Jean Monnet Centre on Trade and Environment. He is a board member of the Australian Services Roundtable. He is also a Director of the Board of Trustees of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Research Foundation; non-resident senior fellow of the Brussels-based European Centre for International Political Economy; and Associated Researcher at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability.
Peter has extensive international trade and investment policy research experience, traversing a wide variety of global, regional, and national contexts from the WTO, through various regional economic integration groupings, to country-focused projects. He has also worked on many different aspects of global supply chains, particularly their governance and immersion in trade cooperation arrangements, including the political economy of evolving governance arrangements. He has consulted to many international organizations, including the OECD, the World Bank, the WTO; the United Nations including UNESCAP; the EU, the African Union, and the Southern African Development Community. He has also worked for G7 governments on a bilateral basis, and key developing countries, notably the BRICS, in the G20 context. For ten years he was closely involved in the World Economic Forum’s Global Trade and Investment Council, including as Chair, Co-Chair, and Vice-Chair. He has published widely on trade policy, arrangements, and negotiations, and has extensive experience in the think tank world. His expertise lies in international political economy, or the practical study of why states pursue particular forms of integration into the global economy and their approaches to negotiating their terms of engagement (or trade policy settings). He has led and participated in many consulting projects related to these themes.

Q
Andrew McCallum – Global Lead, Trade & Market Access, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA)
Andrew McCallum is the Global Lead for Trade & Market Access at Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), where he leverages his extensive experience in global agribusiness to enhance market opportunities for Australian red meat. His role involves policy development, project management, and strategic initiatives aimed at improving economic resilience and market access for the industry. Andrew has also been involved in projects like “Global Economic Access FY24,” focusing on reducing economic barriers and supporting trade negotiations to benefit Australia’s red meat trade. He holds an educational background that includes studies at Harvard Business School.
Q
Dr Michael Patching is the CEO of Impetus Animal Welfare, an organization dedicated to making livestock welfare easy through cultural and outcome-driven change, especially in high-risk or contentious areas.
A veterinarian with a Master’s in Animal Welfare Ethics and Law, Michael has spent his professional life working with the livestock industry globally, with extensive recent experience in Southeast Asia. Michael’s passion for animal welfare is grounded in helping solve the real challenges of our production systems, considering the values of animals, individuals, and businesses.
He leverages technology, training, and cultural context to drive meaningful change. This includes the use of AI in abattoirs to produce all-the-time objective data and mitigate risks associated with animal and human interactions.
Q
Richard Mussell
CEO, RSPCA

Richard Mussell has been an animal welfare advocate and leader in the sector for almost a decade. Prior to commencing as CEO of RSPCA Australia in January 2020, he led AWL South Australia for six years. Previously, he spent almost 30 years in the travel and tourism industry, including leadership roles with both commercial and not-for-profit organisations such as YHA South Australia, Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific Airways internationally.
Currently a Board Member with the Community Council for Australia, Richard has also served as a member of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia and the South Australian Government Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. He was also Chair of the Companion Animal Network Australia and Tourism Industry Council SA. Richard’s formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Business from Edith Cowan University, an MBA from the University of South Australia and graduate membership of the Australian institute of Company Directors.

Q
Sarah is a veterinarian and animal welfare scientist who has held roles in private and government veterinary practice and has previous experience in dairy farm management and calf rearing. More recently, she has worked in animal welfare management roles in both the dairy industry and commercial beef processing. She holds a PhD in Veterinary Science (Animal Welfare) and completed a Nuffield Scholarship on surplus dairy calf welfare and cow-calf contact. Sarah’s research has focused on the welfare of surplus dairy calves and approaches to complex challenges in food production. This work has included the use of participatory methods to identify and integrate the needs of a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, the public, and the animals themselves. She is passionate about working towards food production systems that are simultaneously environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.
Sarah has recently stepped down from her position as Dairy Beef and Animal Welfare Manager at Greenham after accepting a Research Fellowship at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver as part of their Animal Welfare Program. She will commence her new role in late March 2025.
Q
Terry Nolan – Director, Nolan Meats

Terry Nolan is a respected leader in Australia’s beef industry and a director of Nolan Meats, a family-owned business that has been pioneering innovation in beef processing since 1958. With expertise in vertical integration, from production and lot feeding to export, he is committed to quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. As Gympie’s largest private employer, Nolan Meats fosters a diverse, self-managed workforce. Terry will bring his insights on animal welfare and industry leadership to the MPEC25 Animal Welfare Panel.

Q

Air Vice-Marshal John Blackburn AO (Retd) MDefStud, MStratStud

John Blackburn is the Chair of the Institute for Integrated Economic Research – Australia.

He retired from the Royal Australian Air Force in 2008 as the Deputy Chief of the Air Force, following a career as an F/A-18 fighter pilot, test pilot and strategic planner.    Since 2008, John has consulted to Industry and Government Agencies and has undertaken a range of National Security and Resilience related studies, as a Reservist until 2019 , and also with the Institute for Integrated Economic Research – Australia, the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group, the Kokoda Foundation, and the Sir Richard Williams Foundation.   

For the past four years he has led a National Resilience Project that has highlighted a lack of resilience in Australia in addressing the pandemic, climate change impacts, the ongoing energy transition, and growing regional security threats.

Q
Tim was appointed CEO for AMIC in February 2025. Tim joined AMIC in 2023 and was previously General Manager – Industry Affairs, overseeing AMIC advocacy and engagement across animal welfare, biosecurity, traceability, sustainability, industry standards and competition policy.

Tim has over a decade experience in the Australian red meat industry, with roles spanning market research, economic services, business development, and trade and market access. Prior to joining AMIC, Tim worked at Meat & Livestock Australia for over eight years, with positions in the Market Information Team and International Markets Team, including a three-year posting to Singapore. Tim worked across an array of program areas, including industry forecasting, supply-chain and market analysis, and non-tariff barrier alleviation.

Tim has prior experience in livestock processing and meat wholesaling, and grew up on a sheep property in central Victoria. Tim was a committee member of the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association for seven years, with stints as treasurer and national team coach, where he developed a passion for supporting young people entering the meat industry. Tim has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours in Economics) and a Graduate Diploma in International Trade and Development.

Q
Dr Hermione Parsons CEO & Managing Director ALC

Hermione is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Australian Logistics Council and a supply chain and freight logistics specialist with executive management experience in public and private sector organisations. Hermione’s career has focussed on end-to-end supply chain systems, strategy and problem-solving in metropolitan, regional and international markets.

Hermione founded and led an acclaimed university research and development Centre across two universities working to solve the systemic and emerging challenges facing industry. During this time, as the creator of applied research she led many national, ASEAN and APEC programs and was also the co-founder of theWayfinder: Supply Chain Careers for Women initiative.

Currently, is a member of the NSW Freight Reform Panel, the National Fuel Council and the NSW, Qld and NT Ministerial Freight Councils – with significant non-executive director board experience.

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