IN MARKET INDUSTRY INSIDERX Ted takes up the challenge If you’re a northern beef producer, there’s a good chance you’ve come across Ted Parish (pictured). It might have been when he was a stock inspector with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, or while he was working on government drought projects, or maybe when he was involved in licensing feedlots. It could be he picked up the phone when you wanted to have your say on government policy while he was an advisor to the Director Generals of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. You might have sat next to him at a Cattle Tick Management Advisory or Wild Dog Offensive group meeting or come across him when he worked at AgForce Queensland. This familiar face has brought his knowledge, skills and networks to MLA to take on the role of Adoption Manager – Northern Beef. “It’s like all my previous experience has been rolled into one position. I’m really excited to be working directly with producers to help them move ahead and lift productivity,” Ted said. Here Ted talks to Feedbackabout his role with MLA. Q: Q: Q: Explain your role with MLA and how you came What are the best parts How do you like to eat to a career in the red meat industry? ofyour job? your red meat? My passion for the red meat My role in MLA is to work • Meeting producers and As funny as it sounds, my industry comes from growing with the northern grassfed providing them with favourite is station-cured up on a cattle and grain beef producer sector to: information to solve corned beef. I love the property near Willow Tree • facilitate collaboration production-related different flavours that people in NSW and my secondary between MLA and research, problems. use when they make their own schooling at Farrer in developmentand adoption • Working with like-minded corned beef. Tamworth, where I was a providers to increase and passionate people From a steak perspective you member of their Angus on-farm adoption in MLA and other can’t go past a nice rump show team. develop and coordinate organisations to get cooked medium rare and • After completing studies private sector and agency greater adoption by red served with onions and at Gatton Ag College, I partnerships to facilitate meat producers. chilli sauce. started my career with the the delivery of extension • Coordinating extension Queensland Department of and adoption programs and adoption activities Ted Parish Primary Industries as a stock • evaluate current extension across service providers E: tparish@mla.com.au inspector. After many years and adoption strategies in northern Australia to working in various positions, related to improving avoid duplication and I moved to the private productivity and develop get improved return on sector in 2012 and worked new investment and investment outcomes. for AgForce Queensland implementation strategies and then Agriculture Asset to improve delivery of Management Investment industry outcomes Group where I managed the • work closely with producers animal welfare, environment, and stakeholders to identify workplace health and safety and deliver extension and quality systems portfolio. priorities to increase the on-farm adoption of research and development outcomes. 50