LAE Northern Australia 2025 – about the workshop deliverers
Feedbase decision making
Dionne Walsh (RangeIQ) will be delivering the Feedbase and property planning two-day workshop in Townsville QLD, where participants will gain knowledge and confidence in the key aspects of grazing management to equip them to better support their producer clients.
Dionne has 30 years’ experience as a researcher and adviser in rangeland management. During that time, she has worked with extensive livestock producers across South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Dionne has 30 years’ experience as a researcher and adviser in rangeland management. During that time, she has worked with extensive livestock producers across South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.Her areas of expertise include carrying capacity assessment, infrastructure planning, grazing land management and industry skills training.
In 2021, Dionne started her own advisory company - Range IQ Pty Ltd – to provide services to the pastoral industry and natural resource managers (www.rangeiq.com.au). Dionne’s professional approach is best summarised by her favourite saying: “when the practical experience of land managers collides with good science - great things happen!”
Genetics and reproduction
Whitney Dollemore (Northern BreedAssist) and Dr Matthew Boon (Gener8 Reproduction) will deliver the Genetics and reproduction one-day workshop in Townsville QLD, where participants will be able to improve their knowledge of the key principles of reproduction and genetics relevant for northern livestock businesses. This workshop will include insights into how advisors can support producer clients to make important decisions about breeding objectives, sire selection, reproduction cycle management and joining.
Whitney is a consultant based in Katherine in the NT, focussing on assisting in the practical implementation of genetic technology on farm to maximise profitability.
Whitney is a consultant based in Katherine in the NT, focussing on assisting in the practical implementation of genetic technology on farm to maximise profitability.Whitney is the owner-manager of Northern BreedAssist, which assists the northern cattle industry with development of breeding objectives, genetic selection and research extension.
Prior to starting her own business, Whitney was a Pastoral Research Officer with the NT Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, where she undertook research programs for the department in the fields of cattle reproduction, genetics and nutrition.
Whitney has experience with a number of MLA genetics and reproduction related packages and projects, and is a trained deliverer of Breeding EDGE, running groups in the NT and WA.
Matt Boon is an experienced livestock veterinarian with over 10 years of industry expertise across northern and southern Australia.
Matt Boon is an experienced livestock veterinarian with over 10 years of industry expertise across northern and southern Australia.As the Senior Coordinator for Gener8 Reproduction, Queensland’s most northern bull semen collection centre, Matt plays a key role in advancing cattle genetics. With extensive experience in artificial insemination (AI), embryo transfer (ET), and in vitro fertilization (IVF) technologies, he is dedicated to improving reproductive outcomes for producers.
Matt is also accredited in BullCHECK, PregCHECK, and BREEDPLAN Trait Scanning schemes, bringing a well-rounded perspective to livestock management and genetic improvement.
Building blocks of business
John Francis (Agrista) and Jess Paton (Agrista) will deliver the Building blocks of business two-day workshop in Rockhampton QLD, where participants will build confidence and skills in financial literacy, critical thinking and the ability to do simple cost-benefit analysis to support decision making.
John Francis is a farm business management consultant with over ten years’ experience in agricultural consultancy and a further fifteen years’ experience in production agriculture (agronomy). John holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) and a Certificate IV in workplace training and assessment.
John Francis is a farm business management consultant with over ten years’ experience in agricultural consultancy and a further fifteen years’ experience in production agriculture (agronomy). John holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) and a Certificate IV in workplace training and assessment.John is the owner of Agrista, an agricultural consultancy business based in Wagga Wagga in southern NSW. Agrista provides consulting and benchmarking services to corporate and family farm asset owners and managers, the rural finance sector, government and industry bodies and the agricultural services sector. John’s expertise generates value for clients via one-on-one consultancy, group consultancy, industry-driven project work, workshop content development and delivery and public speaking engagements and industry presentations.
John works at a strategic and tactical level with corporate and family farm asset owners and managers to improve productivity and profitability. John is also involved in a number of livestock industry projects and farm benchmarking groups. He is the NSW deliverer of the MLA Business Edge course and has recently developed a series of farm expansion workshops aimed at improving the financial skills of farm managers when acquiring additional farmland. John has a detail-oriented personality type with a proven ability to think critically, rationally, and objectively.
Jess Paton is based in Mitchell, QLD. She has a strong connection to agriculture, growing up on her family’s beef cattle property in Tooma, South-East NSW. Jess holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Business from the University of New England.
Jess Paton is based in Mitchell, QLD. She has a strong connection to agriculture, growing up on her family’s beef cattle property in Tooma, South-East NSW. Jess holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Business from the University of New England. Jess’s most recent professional experience includes three years with Cibo Labs as the Customer Support and Project Manager. She also has experience in livestock reproduction, spending time as an Embryo Transfer Technician at the Holbrook Vet Centre.
Jess joined the Agrista team in early 2025. With a strong foundation in livestock production, business, and client support, Jess is committed to helping producers enhance their business productivity and performance.
Meating the market
Elke Hocking will deliver the Meating the market one-day workshop in Brisbane QLD where participants will learn how to analyse customer feedback and assist their clients to identify and discuss possible on-farm solutions to compliance issues.
Elke is a private agricultural consultant based in the south-east of SA.
Elke is a private agricultural consultant based in the south-east of SA.Prior to commencing her consultancy business, Elke spent six years in beef research, seven years as a sheep industry consultant, and a lifetime of on-farm experience.
Elke holds a Bachelor and a Master of Agricultural Science and a Certificate IV in workplace training and assessment. She is passionate about producers being able to profitably and sustainably produce high yielding beef and lamb product that meets consumers’ expectations in terms of eating quality, nutrition and safety through the adoption of new technology, best practice production systems, value-based trading and a positive, professional approach to business.
Influence and impact
Jill Rigney (The Right Mind) will deliver the Influence and impact workshop in Brisbane QLD where participants will learn the fundamentals of human engagement, plus processes and frameworks for sustained influence.
Jill specialises in the areas of capacity-building for businesses and individuals, specifically in the areas of leadership and performance.
Jill specialises in the areas of capacity-building for businesses and individuals, specifically in the areas of leadership and performance. With an original background in administration, Jill now specialises in the areas of engagement, self-mastery, communications, conflict and negotiation.
Jill is a certified professional member of the Australian Human Resource Institute and a member of the Australian Institute of Training and Development.
