Board & Management
About Us
LambEx is proudly recognised as the world’s largest sheep industry conference, attracting industry delegates from across Australia and internationally. Our vision is to deliver a world-class sheep industry extravaganza that connects, inspires and informs the entire supply chain, driving innovation and shaping the future.
Today, LambEx is recognised as a trusted, independent forum where producers, researchers, service providers, processors and industry leaders come together to exchange ideas, explore challenges and identify practical opportunities for progress. While best known for delivering the biennial LambEx conference, LambEx also plays an important role in facilitating industry engagement, showcasing innovation and supporting capability across the sector.
History
Established in 2012 by a group of passionate sheep producers, LambEx has grown into a flagship event for the Australian sheep industry. The conference has traditionally rotated across major sheep producing regions, building strong national engagement and connection.
Previous LambEx events:
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2012 - Bendigo, VIC
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2014 - Adelaide, SA
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2016 - Albury, NSW
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2018 - Perth, WA
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2020 - Melbourne, VIC (Not Held - COVID)
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2022 - No Event (COVID)
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2024 - Adelaide, SA
As the event has matured, LambEx continues to evolve to support greater scale, consistency and long-term partnerships, ensuring it delivers a high-quality experience and maximum value for the entire supply chain.
Governance
LambEx is an independent, industry-led organisation operating under the corporate name 28 National Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sheep Producers Australia (SPA), with its own independent Board and governance framework.
The organisation is governed by a five-member Board of Directors, responsible for strategic oversight, risk, governance and key appointments, including the Chief Executive Officer and LambEx Taskforce. The Taskforce, chaired by a Board Director and supported by the CEO, plays a central role in shaping the conference program and ensuring it reflects industry priorities.
This structure provides clear accountability and a coordinated, industry-led approach to delivering LambEx as a truly national event.
LambEx Organisation Chart
Meet the CEO
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Lauren Watt
CEO
Lauren Watt is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of LambEx, responsible for delivering Australia’s premier sheep industry event. A Chartered Accountant and experienced senior executive, Lauren has held leadership roles across elite sport and agriculture, including with Hockey Australia, the Geelong Football Club, and Ernst & Young.
She brings deep expertise in governance, finance, HR, and major event delivery to her role at LambEx and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the Australian HR Institute.Since her appointment, Lauren has been leading the planning and delivery of LambEx26, to be held in Adelaide in July 2026.
She is focused on strengthening industry partnerships, securing sustainable funding, and ensuring the event continues to celebrate and showcase the Australian sheep industry on both a national and global stage.
Meet the Board
Allison Harker
Chair
Allison Harker is a dedicated partner in her family's farming business in New South Wales, with a passion for sheep production. She brings extensive experience in livestock biosecurity, emergency management, and government stakeholder relations.
As an AICD-certified company director and CPA ASA, Allison has a diverse background in global financial services, primary industry, and government sectors. She has served as an experienced chair and director in audit, risk, and economic development, holding senior positions in financial services across Australia, the United Kingdom, and Asia including a Directorship at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in Hong Kong.
Allison is a strong advocate for capacity building within the agricultural industry. She is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and a long-standing mentor in the Diversity in Agriculture Leadership program, supporting the development of future agricultural leaders.
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Jamie Heinrich
Jamie is a 7th-generation South Australian sheep farmer, co-owner and manager of Ella Matta Pastoral on Kangaroo Island, the world’s first registered White Suffolk stud, a Poll Merino and Maternal Composite seedstock operation, and a commercial 17-micron Poll Merino flock. He earned a degree in International Business from the University of SA before spending three years at Thomas Foods International in meat export and livestock.
Passionate about the future of the sheep industry, Jamie is the newly appointed Chair of the LambEx Taskforce and looks forward to leveraging the positive momentum of LambEx24 and driving further industry collaboration and innovation. He has formerly held Board roles with Agriculture Kangaroo Island, Sheep Producers Australia, and the Sheep Sustainability Framework, as well as previously being a member of the Meat and Livestock Australia Board Selection Committee.
A 2017 Nuffield Scholar, Jamie studied ‘Attracting and Retaining Young People in the Sheep Industry,’ traveling to 17 countries in 20 weeks. In 2014, he was the Youth Ambassador for the Sheepmeat Council of Australia and has represented the industry at six American Sheep Industry Conferences, Washington DC delegations, and a Middle East delegation.
Jane Kellock
Jane and her family run a mixed-farming enterprise in Farrell Flat in mid-north South Australia. They have a self-replacing Merino flock, a lamb finishing system, as well as cereal and legume cropping.
Jane has a long farming history in South Australia and has held many positions across state and national sheep industries.
She is a passionate sheep producer who is always looking for ways to improve her flock, her business, and the Australian sheep industry as a whole.
Nathaniel Modra
Nathaniel is an experienced and knowledgeable agricultural professional who grew up on a cattle and sheep property at Western Flat in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia.
He has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and is an alumni of the Limestone Coast Leadership Program.
His personal background, passion and practical experience help him quickly relate to his clients' needs. He prides himself on developing tailored solutions that work for unique circumstances.
Nathaniel is a member of the South Australian Livestock Consultants association and has worked with multiple farm business clients to improve their business performance. He is adept at collating and analysing business data, preparing benchmarking reports, and identifying areas of improvement.
Nathaniel has delivered successful projects in farm business advisor services, advisory board services, pasture management and financial performance.
He is also passionate about developing and maintaining sustainable and profitable farming systems for current and future generations. His expertise and practical experience make him a valuable resource for any farming operation.
Andrew Henderson
Andrew Henderson is a leading strategic policy specialist with a passion for building the sustainability and prosperity of rural and regional Australia and enhancing the recognition of its role in the economy and its place in national security. Andrew is an experienced independent chair and member of several national policy and implementation committees focused on traceability and biosecurity systems, research and development, service delivery, food safety and regulatory systems.
Andrew has been heavily involved in developing and advocating for policy to reform Australia’s red meat and livestock integrity systems which has seen the adoption of transformational reform by industry, jurisdictions, and the Commonwealth government. Andrew has also advised the Commonwealth government on biosecurity, red meat and livestock, Northern Australian development, and climate change.
As the Principal of Agsecure, Andrew’s mission is to support industry and government to understand each other and work better together for the benefit of the nation. Andrew works across private enterprise, industry, not-for-profits, and governments and is a published author on biosecurity, food security, national security, agricultural supply chains and other matters of national interest.