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 2010 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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2010 - Perth, WA
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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.
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Meet the CEO
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Lauren Watt
CEO
Lauren is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of LambEx and Company Secretary, bringing extensive executive experience across governance, finance, human resources, strategy, and major event delivery.
A Chartered Accountant, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Certified Human Resources Practitioner, Lauren has held senior executive and finance roles across elite sport, agriculture and professional services, including Chief Operating Officer of Hockey Australia, Acting Chief Financial Officer of the Geelong Football Club and Assurance Manager with Ernst & Young.
As Chief Executive Officer, she led the delivery of LambEx26 and is responsible for the organisation's strategy, operations, stakeholder relationships, and long-term sustainability.
Her previous governance experience includes serving as a Non-Executive Director of Barwon Community Legal Service and the 000 Foundation and as Chair of the Institute of Managers & Leaders Geelong Regional Advisory Committee.
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 is an experienced South Australian sheep producer and Director of Kellock Farming Pty Ltd, a mixed-farming enterprise at Farrell Flat in South Australia's mid-north. The enterprise operates a self-replacing Merino flock and lamb finishing system alongside cereal and legume cropping.
She brings extensive experience across sheep production, industry governance, research and development, local government and regional leadership. Her current roles include Board Member of Roseworthy Farm.
Jane's previous industry leadership roles include Chair of the South Australian Sheep Industry Fund, Chair of the South Australian Sheep & Cattle Industry Blueprint Group and Chair of the Sheep Reproductive Partnership. She has also served on the Sheep Sustainability Framework Steering Committee, Meat & Livestock Australia Board Selection Committee, including as Chair, the MLA Red Meat Panel and the National Red Meat Taskforce.
Jane served as an elected member of the Regional Council of Goyder from 2010 to 2022, including as Deputy Mayor, and has contributed to LambEx through previous South Australian LambEx Committees.
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.
Jenny Bradley
Jenny is a sheep producer from Armatree in the central west of New South Wales, where she runs New Armatree, a mixed farming business, with her husband Craig and son Jack. She manages the commercial and stud sheep enterprises, including the family's Border Leicester stud, which is focused on performance recording and is a long-term member of Sheep Genetics.
Jenny brings more than 30 years' operational experience in the sheep industry and, for more than two decades, has contributed to agricultural policy at regional, state and national levels through committees, boards and advisory roles across Australian agriculture and the sheepmeat supply chain. She is a Director of Sheep Producers Australia and a member of the Supply Chain Task Force and Industry Calibration Working Group, and is a strong advocate for better carcase feedback to producers through technologies such as eID and hook tracking.
A recipient of the 2004 NSW Rural Women's Award, Jenny was a panellist at LambEx24 and an entrant in the LambEx26 Carcase Showcase. She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.