The Georgina Pastoral Future NTCA Industry Tour returned in full force for 2026, taking our young NT leaders across northern WA. What unfolded over seven big days was a testament to the generosity of our industry, the passion of the people within it, and the enormous potential of the next generation coming through.
Day 1 – Touchdown in the Kimberley
The group gathered in Darwin before heading west.. A lost bag, a plane-hopping toothbrush run, and a detour in Kununurra added some early excitement before we finally made it to Broome and hit the road for Nerrima Station. Lach and Camille welcomed the team with a warm BBQ dinner, the perfect first-night reset before the learning began.
Day 2 – People, Product & Passion
Back at Nerrima, Lachie shared insights on having a “self-replacing herd” of staff and the importance of backing your ideas, while Camille spoke passionately about crush-side data, process, and raising a family in the industry. At the yards, Joni Hall stepped the group through tailing weaners and managing a team of 20 working dogs.
From there, we travelled to Myroodah to meet Greg and Alison Dakin and learn the story behind KAPCo Beef, an Indigenous-owned boxed beef brand built to give back to the Fitzroy Valley and increase access to high-quality, affordable beef in Indigenous communities.
The afternoon wrapped up at Liveringa with the Hancock Agriculture team, touring their feedlot and irrigation developments. Despite the devastation of the 2023 floods, their standards of cattle care and professionalism were exceptional. The day ended with dinner at Spinifex Brewery back in Broome.
Day 3 – Integrated Kimberley Supply Chains
The morning began at Shamrock Station (Yougawalla Pastoral Company) with a deep dive into their pivot systems and the process of recently commenced construction of their NFAS-accredited feedlot, a major piece of a fully integrated Kimberley supply chain which will help support the recently acquired Kimberley Meat Company abattoir. The passion of the Yougawalla team for regionally driven value chains was unmistakable.
The tour then moved to Roebuck Export Depot, where the group learned about live export protocols, new infrastructure, and the critical importance of cattle presentation, a message consistently echoed across the industry.
Day 4 – Koojan Downs and the Power of Asking Questions
Flying into Perth, the group travelled to Harvest Road’s Koojan Downs feeding facility.
Harvest Road’s COO – Agribusiness, Ben Dwyer offered an impressive overview of Harvest Road’s vertically integrated supply chain, spanning the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and south-west WA. He encouraged participants to step outside their comfort zone and seek advice from leaders: “No question is a stupid question, but it’s stupid not asking one.”
Alex then walked the group through the operational side of running the feeding facility, demonstrating the Bud Box system and sharing her passion for animal welfare and low-stress stock handling.
Day 5 – Behind the Scenes of Australia’s Export Supply Chains
Day 5 was coordinated by The Livestock Collective and the Young Livestock Exporters Network, a deep dive into WA’s broader live export supply chain.
Starting with industry legend Nick Cryton, the group explored ESCAS requirements and in-market welfare oversight, before touring Peel Feedlot’s export preparation program and lamb backgrounding operations.
At AWH and AWTA, participants followed the journey of wool from bale intake to testing, classification and auction.
Later at Gage Roads Brewery, the crew met more industry greats, Steve Meerwald and Blythe Calnan, who shared insights on technology, leadership, and the importance of being in the “right place at the right time with the right attitude.”
Day 6 – LiveXchange: Insights, Challenges & Opportunities
The tour joined Day 1 of LiveXchange, hearing from speakers across industry, policy, research and trade. Highlights included:
Hon. Andrew Robb, reflecting passionately on the live sheep export ban and its impacts.
MLA’s Sam Burke, Rafael Ramirez and Naglaa Elkott, demonstrating lamb cuts and traditional Middle Eastern preparations.
Dr Kieran Moffat, unpacking the science of community sentiment around live export.
Tony Gelati, whose experience in WA agriculture and the “potato war” reinforced the value of standing up for your industry.
The evening wrapped up with networking at Burswood on Swan.
Day 7 – Young Leaders & Industry Legends
The final day of LiveXchange provided more big conversations and learning opportunities before closing with the gala dinner – a celebration of those who’ve shaped the export industry and those rising to lead its future.
As always, the generosity of the livestock export sector shone through. Our hosts opened their businesses, their expertise and their time to our young leaders, and the impact is unmistakable.
A Final Word
To our 2026 Future NTCA “weaners”: we couldn’t be prouder. You showed up open, honest, curious and vulnerable. You asked big questions, leaned into every challenge, and represented the NT pastoral industry with maturity, grace and genuine hunger to learn.
This program exists because industry believes in you, and because investing in the next generation of northern producers is one of the most important things we can do for the future of Australian beef.
We can’t wait to see where you take it.
