IN MARKET INDUSTRY INSIDER X Making Q:Here Scott talks to Feedbackabout his role with MLA.Q: sense of Explain your role with MLA andhow you came to a career inof your job?What are the best parts the red meat industry? It’s absolutely the breadth of markets on integrating information andIn essence my role focusesinsights behind the drivers ofday I can go from talking indetail about what the consumertopics I get to cover. In the same supply and demand to better preferences for beef are in inform producers, MLA and the the UAE to what trade lambs broader industry to enable better are selling for this week at the decision making. Bendigo saleyard. This also means Red meat is one of the most I get to connect with a broad truly global products Australia cross-section of the industry and offers, destined for more than 100 within MLA from our in-market countries around the world. I was global teams to those doing drawn to promote something that R&D on-farm. is so iconic and tangibly AustralianI’ve always been really interested that is enjoyed by so many people in consumers and what drives in the world. their decision making and working We gather, manage and interpret with Australian red meat I have a a very large range of market, product that is enjoyed by almost trade and consumer data with every Australian and millions of over 50 data sources, ranging others around the world – basically from government agencies to I have more consumers to look at world institutions to research than I can shake a stick at. and industry surveys – and of I also get to see how Australian course our own National Livestock red meat is performing on the Australian livestock producers have Reporting Service data gathered global marketplace and get Coca-Cola to thank for Scott Tolmie’s from saleyards and processors a view of what is driving our passion for analysing markets, which around the nation. industry’s growth. he applies to red meat in his role as MLA’s This information is shared back Manager – Market Intelligence. to the industry in a whole range Q: It was while working for Coca-Cola Amatil that of ways including daily indicators, Scott learned all about the supply chain and weekly newsletters, quarterly How do you like to eat market drivers for ‘fast-moving consumer goods’. livestock projections and annual your red meat? competitor and market snapshots, Nothing beats a medium-rare rib “I love working with numbers and puzzling out the each generating thousands of eye steak, but overwhelmingly links and trends between them – throughout my clicks and used across varied I like to enjoy my red meat career I’ve developed a passion for understanding parts of the industry. surrounded by family and friends the consumer, why they choose certain products (with a cold beer in hand). ■ and how to influence this decision making,” Scott I was born in Townsville, (pictured) said. Queensland and raised mainly in Sydney, NSW, where my father Scott Tolmie “Combining these two things is my ideal job was originally based in the Army. E: stolmie@mla.com.au and currently I get to do just that by doing all I first learned about agriculture the analytics behind the supply and demand of when I went to an agricultural Australian red meat.” high school and then I obtained a These days Scott is responsible for a team Bachelor of Accounting majoring monitoring and interpreting the data for in International Business. international customers, hundreds of products, The passion and authenticity domestic buyers from butchers to large retail of the people in the industry chains and Australia’s large network of saleyards attracted me to red meat. I also and selling centres. really liked the idea of working for a company that wasn’t about generating a profit but rather to offer support to producers. 50