Get to know MLA’s new Chair, John Lloyd

In late 2024, John Lloyd was elected as chair of MLA’s Board after five years as a director. His wealth of experience in agriculture leaves him well versed in the challenges and opportunities confronting the red meat industry.

While John has built a life for himself deeply rooted in agriculture, life didn’t always have the same country view.

“I was born and bred in the city but had aunties and uncles all over the place. I was always sent out to work on their farms when I was a kid in the 60s and 70s,” John said. 

“It felt like the natural step to go on to study agriculture at university, and I’ve worked in agriculture ever since.”

Starting his career in the Pastoral House and animal health sectors, John went on to hold several positions in prominent companies, including the roles of:

• Chief Executive Officer for Horticulture Innovation Australia
• Managing Director at Case IH and New Holland ANZ
• General Management roles in Incitec Pivot and Wesfarmers Dalgety.

Alongside running a small property at Borenore, near Orange NSW, John currently holds positions on boards with MLA, Elders and Charles Sturt University.

Connecting city and country

While young people transitioning from city to regional life appears few and far between these days, John said that wasn’t always the case.

“It used to be that everyone had much stronger links to the agricultural community, even if you lived in the city,” John said.

Despite city connections to agriculture perhaps losing some strength, he said the respect the farming community holds in Australia remains strong, and continues to produce powerful results, even when the industry’s social licence is being challenged.

“There is still a really positive attitude towards the types of people that are represented by our shareholders and levy payers, which pulls on the heartstrings of our city cousins.”

John said the meat and mixed farming operations have particularly maintained a sense of connection with Australians, and maintaining that connection is crucial.

“In the last drought, we saw people lining up at Bondi Public School in Sydney and schools in St Kilda in Melbourne to donate supplies to drought-affected farmers,” he said.

Keeping regional life alive

While the challenges around social licence, biosecurity and meat alternatives are all well documented, John believes the industry is well prepared to manage them.

It’s instead the threat to the ecosystem agriculture exists within – rural and regional Australia – that concerns him.

“We need to sustain the rural and regional communities which are so vital to the continued operations of our levy payers,” John said.

“The ability to operate profitably is represented by these towns and their infrastructure.”

In his new role, John wants to see MLA continue progressing its impact.

“We have the new five-year Strategic Plan coming up. Making sure we get it right and ensure it’s well aligned with industry is essential.

“We need to continue best practice when engaging with stakeholders, and internally, to ensure the organisation is as efficient as possible while delivering on what it says.

“I’ve had a great career in agriculture, and I owe this industry every part of it. Now I’m in the position where I can dedicate as much time as required to make sure the industry reaches its objectives.”