Meet the MLA Updates industry leader line-up

With MLA’s flagship annual event MLA Updates just around the corner, learn about the industry leaders who will make up this year’s panel alongside our Managing Director, Michael Crowley.

To find out more about the event or to register, visit updates.mla.com.au

Wayne Crofts – CEO, Craig Mostyn Group

We’re lucky to have Wayne Crofts, Chief Executive Officer of Craig Mostyn Group, as the keynote speaker this year.

Born and educated in WA, Wayne commenced his role as CEO at Craig Mostyn Group in 2022. He holds a Bachelor of Horticultural Science and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Western Australia.

Wayne has a deep understanding of the paddock-to-plate cycle. He owns a sustainable beef and lamb farming operation in Lower Chittering, so he understands the challenges and opportunities within the cycle.

With over 25 years of extensive commercial and industry experience, spanning retail, convenience, agribusiness and industrial sectors (both domestic and international), Wayne is a value-based leader, who is agile and quick to understand business drivers and key decision points.

Ben Dwyer – COO, Agribusiness & Livestock Procurement, Harvest Road

As the Chief Operating Officer for Agribusiness & Livestock Procurement at Harvest Road, Ben Dwyer has extensive knowledge of cattle and beef integrated supply chains. Ben is one of our four panel members and will be discussing how Harvest Road approach the creation of value across the supply chain.

Ben spent several years working in the top end of Australia, including the Pilbara, Central, Southern, and Western Queensland, as well as northern NSW. From this extensive beef industry and pastoral experience, he developed an in-depth understanding of the potential of the Australian cattle and beef supply chain.

Belinda Lay – Business Partner, Coolindown Farms

Belinda Lay is a business partner at Collindown Farms, a family-owned mixed sheep and grain enterprise near Esperance. Her role within the business is managing the financial operations, including grain marketing. Belinda will join us on the panel discussion session.

After leaving school in 1994, Belinda worked in the agricultural industry while obtaining three Diplomas in Business Studies, Agriculture and Project Management, and completing the full Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in 2020.

Belinda took out the top spot for the 2019 WA AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for her pilot project which looked at GPS tracking of sheep. She has a strong interest in understanding emerging innovations and technologies connected to the farm, including the full utilisation of electronic identification (eID) and the data available for decision making.

Graeme Howie – Dorper Lamb

Establishing Dorper Lamb PTY Ltd in 2005, Graeme and Nina Howie have grown the business into a true paddock-to-plate operation. The company now operates as a WA producer, processor, wholesaler, retailer and exporter of Dorper Lamb branded products.  We are fortunate to have Graeme join us on the panel discussion session.

Originally starting in the live export business, Dorper Lamb transitioned to breeding and producing lamb for the WA market, mainly high-end restaurants. As demand grew, Graeme shifted his focus from breeding Dorpers to buying Dorper lambs from WA producers.

Ensuring that producers are prioritising animal welfare and farm their animals sustainably is a focus for Graeme. Continuing to add value to Dorper Lamb products, the company also now produces Dorper leather boots and belts.

Annabelle Coppin – Founder, Outback Beef

As the Founder of Outback Beef and the Owner/Manager of Yarrie Station, Annabelle Coppin is passionate about producing quality natural beef, alongside not only improving animal welfare, but also caring for the country and strong teams and culture.

The mission Annabelle has set out for Outback Beef is for it to continue for many generations to come and to “leave everything better in everything they do.”

Annabelle will join the other three panel members to discuss how she approaches value creation across the supply chain from her business’s perspective.

If you’d like to find out more about this year’s speakers, view the program or register to attend, visit MLA Updates