Perth to host LambEx 2018

Perth has been revealed as the next host of Australia’s largest national sheep and lamb event - LambEx – with the Western Australian capital set to host the showcase event in August 2018.

The biennial event brings together producers, processors, researchers and service and education providers, from all over Australia as well as internationally, to discuss all facets of the industry and showcase latest industry developments.

WA sheep producer and Sheep Alliance of WA director Bindi Murray, Woodanilling, has been appointed chair of the LambEx 2018 Organising Committee.

“I’m very excited by the opportunity to lead the organising committee and I’m looking forward to building on the success of LambEx 2016 and delivering a fantastic event that showcases our industry,” Ms Murray said.

“Western Australia has a strong and passionate sheep industry and LambEx 2018 will provide local producers with the opportunity to promote their work and get insights into how they can continue to build their businesses.

“Our first step is to establish the organising committee to help deliver the event. This will comprise a cross-section of industry leaders, sponsors, producers, processors and service providers.”

LambEx founder and chair of the National LambEx Executive, Dawson Bradford, said the appointment of Ms Murray to the critical role of being responsible for the event’s design and execution was an easy decision.

“Bindi has a wealth of industry leadership experience and a vision for a highly sustainable WA sheep industry. LambEx provides a wonderful platform for a team of committed people to help drive the industry forward,” Mr Bradford said.

The first step in the creation of LambEx will be an open industry meeting hosted by the Sheep Alliance of WA during the third week in June.

“Until the professional conference organiser is contracted, the Sheep Alliance will fulfil the role of staging the initial meeting and the call for expressions of interest of people wanting to be part of the organising committee. This will allow us to engage the entire industry in extracting the first wave of ideas that could be incorporated into the big event and the newly appointed conference management company to then hit the ground running,” Ms Murray said.

“We have tentative dates and venues on hold but we want to check in with industry as we go and will not be announcing the dates until our first meeting."

The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) is supporting LambEx 2018 through its Sheep Industry Business Innovation (SIBI) project, which assists the industry in building capacity to supply new markets for sheepmeat and live exports.

DAFWA’s Sheep Industry Development Director, Dr Bruce Mullan, said with more than 13 million sheep and lambs in WA, Perth was an ideal location for LambEx 2018.

“The sheep industry contributes almost half of the gross value of agricultural production from all livestock industries in WA, including $513 million from the sheepmeat industry,” Dr Mullan said.

“LambEx is the country’s largest sheep industry conference and plays a key role in helping the Australian industry maintain its position as one of the world’s leading lamb producers and exporters.

“We are extremely pleased that WA will host this event which will include local and international speakers and industry representatives from across the country.”

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) supports LambEx through sponsorship and is working closely with industry to help deliver the event in 2018.

Persons wishing to be part of the initial meeting should contact Bindi Murray directly on bindimurray@activ8.net.au or 0409 347 299 or Sheep Alliance executive officer Esther Jones on esther@bluesee.com.au