Speakers

NBRUC 2026 assembles leading beef industry experts, researchers and innovators from northern Australia and beyond to share their cutting-edge research findings and practical insights.

Through keynote presentations and dynamic panel discussions, you will learn from experienced beef producers, leading researchers, and industry leaders, gaining practical knowledge to enhance your operations and advance the northern Australian beef industry.

More speaker announcements coming soon.

David Foote

Keynote Speaker
Wednesday 11 March

David Foote

David has held operational, senior and executive management roles across all mainland southern states before beginning his northern beef industry journey with Stanbroke Pastoral Company 30 years ago.

More recently and until stepping back in December 2020 to chair the Advisory board at Australian Country Choice, David had been in the leadership role at the Lee Families, Queensland headquartered ACC Group of Companies since 1999. Over that time with 42 properties covering over 1.75 million hectares and a carrying capacity of 280,000 cattle to supports its three feedlots and processing plant in Brisbane, ACC grew to be the world’s largest privately owned vertically integrated beef operation.

In 2010 David was awarded Rural Press Pty Ltd “Beef achiever of the year” in recognition of his contribution to the industry.

In his retirement from full time duties, David continues to represent Agricultural industry interests through roles such as; Director-Cattle Australia, Deputy Chair-Laguna Bay investment committee, non -executive Director & Board Chair - Angel Seafoods, non -executive Director 40 South Dairies, non -executive Director Fortuna Group Ltd (NZ), Shareholder & non -executive Director Inventia Genetic Technologies (IGT), non-executive director Craig Mostyn Group, Chair Killarney & Birrimba Proprietors, non -executive Director Scales Corporation Ltd (NZ), and a committed member Qld Governments Rural Industry Sector Standing Committee for Workplace Health & Safety.

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Derek Bailey

Keynote Speaker
Wednesday 11 March

Derek Bailey

Derek Bailey is the Director of Research and Outreach at Deep Well Ranch in Prescott, Arizona (USA). Deep Well Ranch is a working cattle operation as well as a research site for precision livestock management and grazing management. Bailey worked at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico (USA) for 19 years, and he is now Professor Emeritus in the Animal and Range Sciences Department. After growing up on a cattle ranch and farm in southern Colorado, Derek received his PhD in Range Science and his MS and BS degrees in Animal Science at Colorado State University. Derek previously worked as a researcher for Montana State University and USDA-ARS in Oklahoma. His research interests include precision livestock management, rangeland cattle and sheep production, grazing management and animal welfare.

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Richard Heath

Invited Speaker
Wednesday 11 March

Richard Heath

Richard Heath is the Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s largest Cooperative Research Centre, Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC. His extensive experience in the Australian agriculture sector extends across multiple high-profile roles including as Executive Director with the Australian Farm Institute, Associate Professor of Agronomy and Farm Management at the University of Sydney and Director at Nuffield Australia Farming Scholars. Richard is a non-executive director of the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

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Bron Christensen

Invited Speaker
Thursday 12 March

Bron Christensen

Bron brings more than 25 years’ experience across a wide range of industries including beef, cotton, irrigation and rural health to her role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association. Raised on a mixed farming and grazing property in Theodore, Central Queensland, Bron and her husband own and operate their own grazing property in her hometown. Bron has also served in key leadership roles including Executive Officer with The Leucaena Network, Secretariat for the North Australia Beef Research Council (NABRC), Company Secretary for Theodore Water Pty Ltd and Regional Manager and myBMP Auditor for Cotton Australia. She has also served on various boards and advisory groups including Chair of the National Farmers Federation (NFF) Farm Business and Economics committee and previously as a member of AgForce’s Ag Business committee and a Director on the Central Queensland Health and Hospital Service (CQHHS). Bron applies her extensive experience in leadership and management for the betterment of the Australian agricultural industry, with a focus on the long-term viability of northern Australian beef production and the rural communities that surround them.

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Sally Leigo

Invited Speaker
Thursday 12 March

Sally Leigo

Sally is a nationally recognised leader in research adoption with more than 16 years’ experience delivering beef research and extension across Northern Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, a Master of Rangeland Management, and is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program (Course 26). Her work has been acknowledged through multiple awards, including the National Landcare Award for Innovation in Agricultural Land Management and the NT Chief Minister’s Medal.

As Program Manager for Adoption at Meat & Livestock Australia, Sally leads the strategy, investment and delivery of MLA’s national adoption program, overseeing the program, a team of project managers, and more than 120 service providers. Her leadership ensures research is designed with adoption in mind and is utilised by producers to increase profitability and sustainability.

MLA’s adoption investments continue to deliver strong, measurable outcomes, generating $81.6 million in net annual benefits in 2024–25 and engaging over 11,000 producers. These gains reflect the accelerated practice change and improved business performance achieved through the adoption pathways Sally has championed.

Sally remains committed to strengthening Australia’s extension ecosystem and expanding producer engagement to meet the ambitions of the Red Meat 2030 plan.

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