Rising leader in beef
EMILY Pullen’s passion for the beef industry has lead her to be the Queensland finalist in the 2019 Cattle Council’s Rising Champions Initiative.
The 34-year-old is CEO of her family’s business, Jim’s Jerky, based in Charlton near Toowoomba.
“I grew up on a mixed grazing and cropping property,” Ms Pullen said.
“I lived on the northern Downs until I was 12 and then we moved to central Queensland after that. Mum and dad had a commercial herd and a stud herd, we had stud droughtmasters.
“My parents started Jim’s Jerky in 2004 as a way of value adding to the beef industry.”
Ms Pullen has been connected to the beef industry all her life.
“I studied agronomy at UQ in Gatton. I was doing pasture agronomy out at Miles,” Ms Pullen said.
“I worked in the UK for a group called Assured Food
Standards. They are owned by an industry body that governs food production in the UK.
“I had quite a strong interest in the beef standards but having a background in agronomy I was interested in the horticulture and cereals. In the UK the industries are much more integrated.
“I was working there for five years.”
Ms Pullen said despite working in different agriculture industries she was always involved in the family business.
“About three years ago we had a chat and dad said if I wanted to come back into the family business there was a position I could come into,” she said.
“I started off doing marketing and sales before moving into the CEO position. Dad is still the owner and director and still very involved.”
As part of the Cattle Council’s Rising Champions Initiative, a representative is elected from each state. Ms Pullen will represent Queensland.
“Next month all the representatives go to Canberra and we have a four day intensive program of leadership, networking and meeting some of the leaders in the beef industry,” Ms Pullen said.
“At the end of the program they will choose a winner who will represent the Cattle Council in Australia for the year.
“It’s incredible just to be attending. As a younger person in the industry having access to those people will be outstanding. Anything that comes after that will be a bonus.”