Paul has been the Dairy NSW regional manager since 2019. Prior to that he spent 25 years working for the major livestock animal health companies. He has performed a variety of roles in that time including in nutrition, marketing and sales management domestically and across Asia. Paul brings a blend of strategy and operations in the teams he leads. Currently he also has a role with Dairy Australia coaching the farm engagement team nationally.

Growing up on the family farm, Matt is an experienced Agronomist with a keen interest in adding value to farming operations, the wider Agricultural industry and everything and anything outdoors. Away from work Matt likes to keep active and is a keen sportsman. Matt has been with DLF Seeds for 1 whole year and continues to bring great enthusiasm and practical insight to the team and farmers beyond.

After graduating from University of Melbourne Veterinary Science in 1990, John worked in a mixed dairy vet practice at Camperdown in SW Victoria until 2013. From the late 1990’s, after completing a Masters program in Dairy Medicine and Management, he spent a large portion of each year involved with industry funded Australian national animal health and feedbase programs including Countdown and InCalf.

John completed a PhD program in 2016 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison conducting milk harvesting research with Professor Doug Reinemann. In addition, he had previously completed membership examinations with
the Australian and NZ College of Veterinary Scientists in ruminant nutrition.

Following a research and advisory role at Anexa/Cognosco in NZ, he joined Dairy Australia in 2019 and is the Principal Scientist for the organisation. Through his various industry roles, John has presented at conferences and workshops in twelve countries, primarily on dairy animal health and milk harvesting topics. He remains based in Camperdown, South West Victoria.

Ian’s general interests are in improving the profitability of ruminant production. He is Managing Director of Scibus, a company that conducts research and consults to dairy and beef producers, within and outside of Australia. He is an adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney and has more than 200 published works and around 12,000 citations. He leads the P2 project for Dairy UP on unlocking the potential of the cow.

Scibus consults with dairy and beef producers across Australia and other countries and is also recognised for leadership and excellence in meta-analytic research and works with public and private research organizations to deliver high quality research on transition nutrition of dairy cows, calf feeding and ruminal acidosis.

Since 1990, Ian has been active in discussing the implications of increasing population on food availability and the roles of technology and activism in addressing these. He has a deep knowledge of factors influencing farm profit from a biological and economic perspective and has presented nationally and internationally on these.

• a past president of the Australian Association of Cattle Veterinarians.
• a past president of the Cattle Chapter of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists.
• AVA Board.
• Editorial committee of the Journal of Dairy Science and Journal of Dairy Science Communications.
• Reviewer for National Academies USA ‘Dairy Nutrition’
• Been an invited speaker at American Dairy Science meetings (or satellite) on five occasions since 1997.
• Awarded the Gilruth Prize, the Australian Veterinary professions highest honour (One only awarded per year).
• In 2010 awarded the Australian Dairy Science Award (One only awarded per year).
• American Feed Industry Award 2018 (One only awarded per year).
• Awarded DVSc from the University of Sydney in 2012 for excellence of published works.

David Sheedy is a veterinarian and post-doctoral researcher with The University of Sydney and Scibus, whose work is dedicated to optimising the health, longevity, and productivity of dairy cows. His current research focuses on lipid metabolism and its influence on resilience to disease, fertility, and survival as key drivers of sustainability.

After completing his veterinary training at the University of Melbourne, David spent several years working as a dairy veterinarian in South-West Victoria. In 2018 he was accepted into the Dairy Production Medicine Residency at the University of California, Davis, a three-year specialist program in California’s Central Valley. During this time he also completed a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and successfully passed the board examinations for both the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Dairy Practice).

On returning to Australia, David joined the Dairy UP program as a PhD researcher, where he explored cow longevity through advanced metabolomic investigations. He now continues this work as a post-doctoral researcher with Scibus, building on his PhD findings to deliver practical insights for industry. David will present outcomes from his PhD research at the 2025 Dairy Research Foundation Symposium.

Dr Anna Chlingaryan is a data scientist specialising in machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), mathematical modelling, and the development of novel algorithmic solutions for real-world challenges in livestock production, dairy science, plant science, and mine geology modelling. Her work integrates rapidly evolving AI/ML technologies into multidisciplinary research, strengthening and adapting these capabilities to operate effectively under real-world constraints and complexities.

With a strong foundation in applied mathematics, Dr Chlingaryan bridges data science with domain-specific expertise to deliver measurable impact across industry and government sectors. Over the past fourteen years at the University of Sydney, she has contributed to major initiatives within the Faculty of Engineering, including the Rio Tinto Centre for Mine Automation and the Agriculture Group at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics.

In 2021, Dr Chlingaryan joined the Faculty of Science, the Livestock Production and Welfare Group where she works across multiple projects, enabling data-driven techniques for cattle feed optimisation, improved heat-tolerant dairy cattle selection, early flood alerts for dairy farmers, pasture management through remote sensing, and reducing impact of climate change on livestock production.

After graduating as a veterinarian from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in 2015, Andrew worked in dairy-mixed veterinary practices in Northern Victoria and Southern NSW. He has seen firsthand the changes occurring rapidly in the dairy farms in the Southern Riverina, which led him to become a PhD student through CSU and Scibus in 2023. His focus is on understanding and getting the best out of cattle in intensive systems. His studies focus on heifer breeding practices and housing of cattle, especially in bedded pack barns.

Barbara is a veterinarian from Chile. She joined the Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine Program followed by a PhD in Epidemiology at UC Davis, USA. Her work mainly focused on disease modelling and molecular epidemiology of Foot-and-Mouth-Disease virus (FMDV) and other diseases of livestock. As a postdoctoral fellow at the USDA Plum Island Animal disease Center she continued to study FMDV in endemic countries. Barbara also has a broad collaboration network with researchers in South America.

In 2018 Barbara joined the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) as a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow, where she developed new approaches (metatranscriptomic and targeted sequencing) to understand livestock diseases through AusGEM, a UTS collaborative framework with NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW-DPI).

Currently Barbara is a Veterinary Research Officer at NSW DPI Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, she studies infectious diseases of dairy cattle using metagenomic approaches.

Allan Cameron was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Gardiner Foundation in September 2021. Allan’s professional career has been spent in rural and regional communities developing a strong background in agriculture, agribusiness, financial services and rural extension. Allan has a deep understanding of Australian agriculture and extensive relationships across stakeholders in the Australian dairy industry.

Dr Golder is the Research Director at Scibus, where she leads a diverse portfolio of field and desktop studies focused on animal health, nutrition, and microbiome. Raised on a beef property in South Australia, Helen’s passion for cattle led her to complete an Agricultural Science degree at the University of Adelaide, followed by a PhD on ruminal acidosis in dairy cattle through Scibus and the University of Sydney. Based in Camden, NSW, Helen brings deep industry insight and scientific expertise to every project she undertakes.

I am a PhD student with the University of Melbourne and Agriculture Victoria Research, supported by the DairyBio and the ATSE Women in STEM Scholarship. Originally trained as a veterinarian in Russia, I have worked on Australian dairy farms since 2011, gaining first-hand experience with the challenges of calving and transition cow health. These experiences shaped my passion for improving cow health and longevity, which also strengthens farm profitability. My research uses advanced blood and DNA testing to find markers of cow diseases, with the goal of creating breeding values that help farmers select cows with stronger health and resilience.

Dr Sarah Wilma Jean Legge is a dairy scientist and educator at the University of Sydney, with expertise in calf management, precision dairy technologies, and animal longevity. Her research focuses on early-life interventions, automated calf feeders, and data-driven approaches to improving welfare, productivity, and sustainability in Australian dairy systems. Alongside research, Sarah coordinates and teaches across undergraduate units in animal and veterinary bioscience, where she integrates theory with practical, technology-enhanced learning.

Rezaul is a PhD candidate at The University of Sydney in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences. He holds a Bachelor in Animal Husbandry and a Masters in Dairy Science from Bangladesh Agricultural University. To further broaden his expertise, he undertook postgraduate training in India and China. Prior to commencing his PhD, he worked as a Researcher at the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Dhaka, where he contributed to projects on animal production and management. His current research focuses on impact of heat stress on dairy cows, with particular emphasis on biomarker development to advance understanding of mechanisms underlying thermotolerance.

Zain is a PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney. His research focuses on applying metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches to investigate the bacterial, viral, and parasitic communities of dairy calves, with an emphasis on understanding microbial diversity, resistance genes, and virulence factors across different age groups. His long-term goal is to improve understanding of infectious disease dynamics in cattle and to support the development of innovative diagnostic strategies for enhanced animal health and productivity.

Having been first elected to the Board on 14 November 2012 and is from Kempsey NSW where he and his family operates a 350 cow Dairy Farm. Michael has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors since July 2020 and he is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia.

Michael has completed the AICD Finance for Directors course, the AICD Company Directors Course and holds an Advanced Diploma in Agriculture. Michael is a member of the NSW Dairy Research Foundation Council.

After studying Agriculture at University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury, his career started on the family dairy farm looking after 3,000 milking cows. Over time the families’ dairy interests expanded with Michael taking responsibility for the oversight of the dairy operations.

Michael is currently CEO of Noumi Limited who manufactures long life milk that is sold domestically and internationally into 24 countries under various brands, with MILKLAB being the hero brand. His past roles include Chairman of Dairy NSW and President of the University of Sydney’s Dairy Research Foundation

With relatives that invented farm related infrastructure -octagonal barns and farm equipment-Ferguson tractors and milling machines.

A grandfather who fought for the Queen’s 4th Own Hussars taking part in the Charge of the Light Brigade, fortunately returning to dairy farming, protesting and acting, in the 1930’s Milk Wars of Northern Ireland. Jane is the last dairy farmer, of her generation!

Daughter Georgia and son’s William and Samuel the next generation taking on Dairy, along with Grant and Jane in the family dairy business. With dairy farming in the Southern Highlands now just a shadow of its former self, with well over 150 dairy farms – 30 years ago, now just a handful remaining. As real estate values rise there is less scope for traditional farm growth, the Sherborne’s are under pressure with increasing competition for land. With the belief that there’s no better place to dairy, Sherborne’s have no intention to move, with creative growth they are moving the business in less traditional ways, with research, investment, innovation and technology – engaging with locals, adding enjoyment and value to neighbouring properties and the local community.

For over 30 years, Jane has been involved with the NSW dairy industry, with an active role in education, promotion, development and research. With board, committee and supporting positions with – Cows Create Careers, local Cooperative, SELLS, Dairy NSW, Dairy Australia, NSW Food Authority, Biosecurity Industry round table, PIEF, ADF Calf Taskforce and currently President of Dairy Research Foundation University of Sydney.

Jane believes that – Dairy should never be cheap – It is always good value!

“It’s not just profitability, it’s value recognition, generational opportunity and growth, focused on prosperity along the value chain from Cows to Ice Cream!”

Ms Stone has 40 years’ experience across primary industries, land use planning, management and development, emergency management and rural and regional advocacy. She was a livestock farmer for 25 years, and pairs practical knowledge with her senior public service roles in NSW (DPI), Victoria and the Federal Government. From 2019 – 2025 she was the Chair of PrimeSafe which is the statutory regulatory authority responsible for food safety for meat and seafood in Victoria.

Ms Stone has also served on a number of advisory roles across Australia, including the Australian Government’s Forest Industry Advisory Council, the Victorian Fisheries Co-Management Council and the NSW Regional Development Advisory Council, where she has helped inform the delivery of programs to support regional and rural communities.

Spanning more than 330 hectares of predominantly dryland terrain, the farm supports a herd of approximately 550 milking cows, supplying fresh milk to the Sydney market. The family is proud to see the fourth generation—their sons—now actively involved in the business.

In 2013, the Craig and Phil were informed that the Albion Park Rail bypass would cut through their property, initiating an 11-year negotiation process focused on minimising the impact on the farm, securing fair compensation, and reconfiguring operations. This transition involved consolidating two dairies and herds into a single enterprise, prompting significant changes to management strategies and infrastructure. The construction of a 60-cow rotary dairy, loafing shed, and associated facilities was completed in 2024.

Today, the farm operates within an increasingly urbanised landscape, with the Calderwood development contributing to continued suburban encroachment. The recent loss of leased land—previously held for 15 years—due to redevelopment of an adjoining property has further highlighted the challenges of farming in a changing environment and reinforced the family’s commitment to responsible and sustainable dairy production.

Professor Jennie Pryce is Research Director at Agriculture Victoria Research and La Trobe University professor, and an authority in dairy genetics.

Named Australia’s top researcher in animal husbandry by The Australian (2019-2022), her academic journey began at the University of Edinburgh, earning her BSc (Hons 1st class) and PhD. Hailing from a UK dairy farming background, her roots deeply influence her work. She has an innate understanding of what is important to livestock producers and an enormous capacity to translate learnings from dairy to apply to other ruminants.

Interested in livestock production and agribusiness, Tori completed her undergraduate studies in animal science at the University of Sydney in 2010. She then obtained her Ph.D with the FutureDairy team, focusing on better understanding of cow management and milking intervals in automatic milking systems. Following the completion of her studies, Tori spent 10 years with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, initially in Biosecurity (spanning all production industries) working with the veterinary pathologists at the State Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory at EMAI and then moved into the Agriculture division with the Dairy Unit. During this time Tori worked on delivering projects such as Milking Edge and the recent Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program.

From early 2025, she stepped into the role of Senior Research Officer with the Dairy Research Foundation, taking on leading Project P1a “Unlocking the Potential of Kikuyu: Remote Pasture Management”, following on from the work of Dr Martin Correa-Luna. Outside of official duties, Tori has acted as an industry advocate for the Cows Create Careers program for several years and is also part of the NSW Women in Dairy committee.

Professor Sergio Garcia (Yani) is an internationally recognised leader in the field of production systems, dairy production from pasture, forage utilisation and the integration of pasture and crops for dairying; and automation in dairying.

From a family background of beef and cropping production in Argentina, he has developed his career around dairy production systems in New Zealand and Australia, leading large national projects like Dairy UP, FutureDairy and the Dairy Research Foundation at Sydney University.

Yani is passionate about the never-ending journey of production efficiency on farming systems and the application of technology and automation in progressive dairy farms.

Prof González is the Nancy Roma Paech chair in Sustainable Livestock Production at The University of Sydney. Luciano will present findings from the Dairy UP project which estimated greenhouse gases and soil
organic carbon from confinement and pasture-based dairy systems in NSW, including the effects of land use type on soil organic carbon, concentrate feeding level on cattle emissions, and gas fluxes from pastures.

Luciano has a BSc in Agronomic Engineering (Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina), and MSc and PhD in Animal Production (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain). Luciano’s main areas of interest are on-farm cycles and balances of greenhouse gases, ruminant animal production, precision livestock farming, remote sensing, and animal behaviour and welfare.

Prof Gonzalez has a farming background and has previously worked in the livestock industries of Argentina, USA, Spain, Scotland and Canada in different positions ranging from ‘station hand’ to scientist and academic. Before joining the University of Sydney, Luciano worked in CSIRO-Townsville addressing issues for the northern Australia beef industry.

Richard Trethowan holds the Chair of Plant Breeding and is currently Director of the Plant Breeding Institute in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney. He has extensive experience in international agriculture, particularly in wheat breeding and genetics.

He has led many national and international initiatives that aim to improve the productivity, sustainability and profitability of agricultural systems.

Troy Ainslie is the Farm Manager at Woodrising Dairy in Cressy, Tasmania, part of the progressive agricultural business, Compass Agri. A lifelong dairy farmer, Troy has dedicated his career to building productive, resilient, and forward-looking farming systems. His deep knowledge of pasture-based dairying and Compass Agri’s commitment to driving efficiency were recognised in 2023 when Woodrising was awarded Dairy Farm Business of the Year, a reflection of the farm’s strength under his leadership.

Following this achievement, Compass adopted the Halter system, and Troy has since become a strong advocate for how technology can transform farming. He has experienced firsthand how Halter reshapes the way farmers think and operate every day, moving beyond conventional practices to a more precise, data driven, and farmer friendly approach.

At Woodrising, Halter has changed the conversation around pasture management, giving the team better tools to maximise grass utilisation and protect soil health. It has also enhanced their approach to cow reproduction, offering new insights into reproductive health. Troy also highlights the benefits for cow health and wellbeing, with technology allowing earlier intervention, better monitoring, and a calmer, more consistent farming environment. Just as importantly, Halter has supported team wellbeing, reduced the physical and mental strain of traditional farm routines and creating more balance in daily operations.

Troy Ainslie is the Farm Manager at Woodrising Dairy in Cressy, Tasmania, part of the progressive agricultural business, Compass Agri. A lifelong dairy farmer, Troy has dedicated his career to building productive, resilient, and forward-looking farming systems. His deep knowledge of pasture-based dairying and Compass Agri’s commitment to driving efficiency were recognised in 2023 when Woodrising was awarded Dairy Farm Business of the Year, a reflection of the farm’s strength under his leadership.

Following this achievement, Compass adopted the Halter system, and Troy has since become a strong advocate for how technology can transform farming. He has experienced firsthand how Halter reshapes the way farmers think and operate every day, moving beyond conventional practices to a more precise, data driven, and farmer friendly approach.

At Woodrising, Halter has changed the conversation around pasture management, giving the team better tools to maximise grass utilisation and protect soil health. It has also enhanced their approach to cow reproduction, offering new insights into reproductive health. Troy also highlights the benefits for cow health and wellbeing, with technology allowing earlier intervention, better monitoring, and a calmer, more consistent farming environment. Just as importantly, Halter has supported team wellbeing, reduced the physical and mental strain of traditional farm routines and creating more balance in daily operations.

Tim Bale graduated from Hawkesbury Agricultural College in 1980, beginning his career milking at Camden Park Estate before spending 15 years with the NSW Department of Agriculture as a Dairy Livestock Officer. He is married to Julie, and together they have three daughters.

In 1993, he and Julie purchased their own dairy farm at Stewart’s River near Taree, where they milk 300 cows year-round—predominantly Holsteins, along with some Guernseys and crossbreeds. Their 413-acre property comprises mainly volcanic slip clay loam soils, with kikuyu as the dominant pasture, supported by direct-drilled ryegrass, clover, and chicory through winter. The farm operates a strong pasture-based system without a feed pad or mixer wagon.

For the past 12 years, the business has supplied milk directly to Woolworths under the Farmers Own brand. Following deregulation, Tim played a key role in establishing the Taree Collective Bargaining Group and has been actively involved with the Mid Coast Dairy Advancement Group since its inception, holding several leadership roles and currently serving as Deputy Chair. He is also a Board Member of eastAUSmilk.

Fleur with her husband, Sam, run a pasture based dairy farm at Casino Northern NSW. They milk 250 to 300 head all year round.

Fleur’s interest in measuring pasture started with field days in the 1980’s where farmers were shown how to measure the number of “cow days” on a paddock using a ruler. Since then Fleur has used a rising plate meter that measured kg of dry matter per ha and then a pasture meter mounted on a quad bike that saved a lot of walking.

More recently the farm is deriving this information from satellites that give automated pasture readings using artificial intelligence and farm records. Throughout this time Fleur has recognized the importance of pasture management as a key driver of farm profitability.

Justin Walsh is a third-generation dairy farmer who operates Walsh Family Farming at Jaspers Brush, between Berry and Nowa on the NSW South Coast. His family’s connection to the land spans more than 70 years, beginning with his grandparents, and today Justin and his wife are carrying that legacy forward while shaping a modern, progressive business.

After completing a degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Sydney in 2016, Justin returned home for 10 years before taking over the day-to-day running of the farm. His studies gave him the tools to approach farming as both a science and a business, helping him to apply evidence-based practices and new technologies to strengthen productivity and sustainability.

Walsh Family Farming is home to around 380 cows, producing approximately 580kg of milk solids per year. This fresh milk is supplied to Sydney, where it is sold under the Pauls brand. The operation has been recognised as a NSW Focus Farm and Justin has been actively involved in industry initiatives, including the Young Farmer Dairy Program and The Observership Program. These experiences along with Justin’s consultancy work have broadened his leadership skills and deepened his commitment to driving innovation and resilience within the dairy industry.

Jaspers Brush itself carries a rich history, named after Jasper Ingold, the brother of an early settler, and once blanketed by temperate rainforest. Today, the Walsh family farm represents a balance of heritage and progress—blending tradition with modern farming systems.

Through Justin’s leadership, Walsh Family Farming has become a strong example of how Australian dairy can adapt, grow, and thrive for generations to come.

Dr Golder is the Research Director at Scibus, where she leads a diverse portfolio of field and desktop studies focused on animal health, nutrition, and microbiome. Raised on a beef property in South Australia, Helen’s passion for cattle led her to complete an Agricultural Science degree at the University of Adelaide, followed by a PhD on ruminal acidosis in dairy cattle through Scibus and the University of Sydney. Based in Camden, NSW, Helen brings deep industry insight and scientific expertise to every project she undertakes.

Blessing Azubuike is a PhD candidate specialising in sensor and data analytics for grazing and feeding management in pasture-based dairy systems. Her research combines machine learning, remote sensing and optimisation to improve pasture-cover estimation and feed-allocation strategies for sustainable dairy systems.

Sarah Bird is a PhD student at Massey University, New Zealand. Her research seeks to determine how to select dairy cows suitable for extended lactations in a grazing system using mathematical models and machine learning. After completing a Master of Applied Data Science in 2024, Sarah is interested in applying data driven methods to agricultural applications, with previous work on wearable technology impacts on reproductive performance of dairy cows and cow-level factors influencing extended lactation curves, yields and persistency. She aims to contribute research towards a sustainable dairy system future in pasture-based dairy industries.

Nick is a practicing livestock veterinarian at Livestock Veterinary Services, University of Sydney. On top of providing a veterinary clinical service to farmers and teaching veterinary students, his recent research focuses on calf health and production. With experience in both clinical practice and research, he aims to combine practical herd management with epidemiological approaches to improve livestock welfare and productivity. He has particular interests in intensive dairying, calf health and reproduction.

Dini graduated from the University of Sydney and worked in mixed practice across Oberon, Kyabram and the United Kingdom before returning to Australia to take up a residency in dairy cattle medicine. Dini is very passionate about dairy cattle and has a special interest in calf medicine and rearing, which is what she has based her masters research on. After completing her membership exams in Dairy Cattle Medicine in 2023, she now has her sights on sitting her fellowship exams soon.

After graduating as a veterinarian from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in 2015, Andrew worked in dairy-mixed veterinary practices in Northern Victoria and Southern NSW. He has seen firsthand the changes occurring rapidly in the dairy farms in the Southern Riverina, which led him to become a PhD student through CSU and Scibus in 2023. His focus is on understanding and getting the best out of cattle in intensive systems. His studies focus on heifer breeding practices and housing of cattle, especially bedded pack barns.