Our board is made up of members from across the country.
Elected every three years, they’re passionate about advancing the Droughtmaster breed. In addition to attending board meetings, they represent Droughtmaster Australia at industry forums and actively engage with their respective Zone members.
DROUGHTMASTER AUSTRALIA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steven Farmer
Director
President
Special responsibilities: Technical Standards Committee.
Qualifications and experience: Steve has been breeding seed stock Droughtmasters since 1992. Today with his wife Claire and their three children they operate the SC Droughtmaster herd 70km north of Rockhampton. Steve holds a diploma in Agriculture science.
Todd Heyman
Vice President
Far Southern Zone
Special responsibilities: Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and Constitutional Review Committee.
Qualifications and experience: For nearly 20 nearly years, Todd’s family have been breeding quality commercial Droughtmaster cattle in the Clarence Valley of New South Wales. Todd holds a Bachelor of Business Degree (Griffith) and a Master of Industry Policy (ANU).
Dean Allen
Director
National
Special responsibilities: Advanced Marketing Committee.
Qualifications and experience: Dean, Julie and family live at “Tarcombe Station” just north of Stonehenge in Western Queensland where they operate the Western Red Stud.
Dean has previously been a Droughtmaster Director from 2008 – 2010 & in 2017. Dean was heavily involved in the Live Export Industry for over 25 years.
Gus McCormack
Director
National
Special responsibilities: Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and Technical Standards Committee
Qualifications and experience: Gus and Jen and their three boys run a commercial and stud operation based at Glenmorgan in south west Queensland. Gus’s family have a long history with the Droughtmaster breed. Gus is passionate about the beef industry and holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics.
Bronwyn Betts
Director
South East Zone
Special responsibilities: Finance, Audit & Risk Committee, Constitutional Review Committee, Board Representative for National Female Sale Committee and Show Advisory Committee.
Qualifications and experience: Bronwyn is a second-generation Droughtmaster breeder and along with her husband, Michael Hawkins, operates a small stud and commercial operation in South East Queensland. In addition to breeding and exhibiting stud beef cattle (her great passion), Bronwyn holds professional qualifications and has had extensive experience in both nursing and legal practice. Bronwyn’s formal academic qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws, and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing)
Kellie Williams
Director
Far Northern Zone
Special responsibilities: NextGen Adviser.
Hastings Donaldson
Director
Central Zone
Special responsibilities: Live Export Committee.
Olivia Wright
Director
Western Zone
Qualifications and experience: Olivia was raised on a commercial beef farm in Western Australia, and then went on to play a management role in a young West Australian Droughtmaster Stud and has been influential in its rapid building and growth, as well as managing all data collection and analysis, record keeping and administrative tasks for a 6,000 head accredited Droughtmaster herd in WA’s Pilbara region for the last 7 years. Being passionate about the industry and its potential for growth in WA, Olivia has started her own stud, West Coast Droughtmasters, with her husband Ben Wright.
Andy Hayes
Director
Special Skills
Jenny Underwood
Director
Southern Zone
Qualifications and experience: Originally from north-west Qld, Jenny and her husband Roger operate two registered stud herds alongside their commercial operation based at Wallumbilla outside Roma. The Underwood Family have been breeding Droughtmasters for almost 50 years and have been very involved with the breed and Society particularly since becoming stud members in 2004. With a background in education, Jenny has taught at a number of primary schools throughout Qld including 6 years as the Principal of a one-teacher school outside Hughenden.
Michele Galagher
Company Secretary
Independent
Qualifications and Experience: Michele has over 25 years experience in the Finance and Accounting roles including 11 years as Company Secretary with Company's Limited by Guarantee. Michele holds a Master of Business Administration (Finance), Master of Commerce (Accounting), and has membership in Governance Institute of Australia, Australian Institute of Company Directors and CPA Australia.
John Gardner
Patron
2017 – Current
DROUGHTMASTER AUSTRALIA
STAFF
Simon Gleeson
Chief Executive Officer
LEIGH ELEISON
Sales & Events Manager
CARLEY STIELER
Marketing & Events Coordinator
JACINTA BROWN
Registrar, Member Services & DNA Coordinator
Korrina Dull
Office Administrator & Member Services
PAUL WILLIAMS
TBTS Tehnical Officer