Luke Bowen appointed to Cattle Australia CEO position

Luke Bowen will take on the role of chief executive officer with the newly-established grass-fed beef lobby group Cattle Australia.

High-profile agribusiness leader Luke Bowen will take on the role of chief executive officer with Cattle Australia starting April 17.

The newly established Cattle Australia’s brief is to represent the grass-fed beef industry.

Mr Bowen, originally from Western Australia, started his career in South Australia with the Indigenous Land Corporation and is currently head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Biosecurity with the Northern Territory Department of Industry Tourism and Trade.

Luke Bowen at the Bohning Yard Cattle Sales in the NT.

He has previously worked for the Commonwealth and was chief executive officer of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association from 2008 to 2014.

Cattle Australia chairman David Foote said there was an overwhelming response and a solid candidate field for the position.

The formation of Cattle Australia follows many years of work by the industry to restructure to a single commodity representative body for the nation’s largest agricultural sector.

With an annual production value of $20 billion, directly employing 35,000 people and managing 42 per cent of the Australian landmass, the grass fed cattle industry forms the backbone of rural, regional and remote Australia.

Meanwhile, Mr Foote took on the role of Cattle Australia inaugural chairman last year after the organisation evolved from what was known as the Cattle Council of Australia.

Garry Edwards is deputy chairman of Cattle Australia and is joined by directors Adam Coffey, Bryce Camm, Elke Cleverdon, George King and James Bowie.