Board of Directors & Staff

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

Todd Heyman

President

Far Southern Zone

Special responsibilities: Member of 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).

Ken McKenzie

Vice President

National

Special responsibilities: Chair of Beef Australia 2024 Committee. Advance Marketing Committee.

Qualifications and experience: Ken was educated at Rockhampton Grammar School and Emerald Agricultural College. His family has been breeding both Stud and Commercial Droughtmasters since 1962 in Central Queensland.

Steven Farmer

Director

National

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.

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)

Alex Power

Director

Northern Zone

Special responsibilities: Live Export Committee.

Qualifications and experience: Lazy A Droughtmasters, Julia Creek

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

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

Vacant

Director

Southern Zone

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

LEAH WALL

Member Services and Office Coordinator

JACINTA BROWN

Office Services & Membership Coordinator

PAUL WILLIAMS

TBTS Tehnical Officer