About Us

John Hughes - Consultant - Chairman

John commenced his career in the meat industry as a 13 year old labourer at Smorgans, (Dinmore) Queensland, beginning in the boning room, then progressing to a slicer/ boner and then to the slaughter floor. John then became a Foreman, Plant Manager and then Senior Manager.

In 1984 John was appointed the General Manager of Abattoirs, Industrial Relations and Personnel at Australian Meat Holdings. From 1986 John spent time as the Vice President of ConAgra Meat Division and in 2001 was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Meat. Consolidated Meat soon amalgamated with Teys (Bros) Holdings where John was the General Manager - Operation Improvement for over eight years. John currently consults for the industry and has an advisory role at Teys Bros Holdings.

John's involvement with MINTRAC began in 1998 as a Director and he has been Chairman of the MINTRAC Board since 2002, and is also a Director of AgriFood Skills Australia.

Kath Evans - Federal President and Secretary, Newcastle and Northern Branch AMIEU - Deputy Chairman

Kath Evans was the inaugural Chairman of MINTRAC which commenced in 1993. Kath is currently the Secretary of AMIEU (Newcastle and Northern NSW Branch). Kath was Chairman of MINTRAC for five years. She did not seek re-election to the position of Chairman, but remains as a Director of the MINTRAC Board. Kath also holds the executive position of Vice President of Newcastle Trades Hall Council, as well as Vice President of Newcastle and Cardiff Panthers Advisory Board. Kath is also the first female Director of the Panthers Rugby League Club, and is a Director of AgriFood Skills Australia.

Kevin Cottrill - Executive Officer Australian Meat Industry Council

Kevin Cottrill is the current Chief Executive Officer of Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC). He has been with AMIC for five years but he has had 13 years experience in various roles in the meat industry previously.

Kevin was born and educated in Sydney. He obtained his B. Commerce at the University of NSW . He is also a Certified Practicing Accountant and a member of the Fellow Institute of Chartered Secretaries. Kevin has been a Director of MINTRAC since April 2005 and is also a Director of Australian Meat Industry Superannuation Trust (AMIST).

Grant Courtney - Federal President, State Secretary Tasmanian Branch AMIEU

Grant is the Tasmanian Branch Secretary of the AMIEU and was appointed to the MINTRAC Board in April 2009.Grant is a 3rd generation meat worker. From completing his Butchery Apprenticeship with his father in Launceston, to working in most skill sets of the Meat industry throughout Australia and Europe.Grant represents some of the most highly skilled meat workers in the world.He lives and breaths our industry and can give an impartial perspective of meat employees on trade training, occupational health and safety and industrial relations issues in Australia.

Gary Pysing Director - (Rivalea (Australia) Pty Ltd)

Gary is the Employee Relations Manager for Rivalea Australia Pty Ltd, and has vast experiences in the Meat Industry, commencing in 1972 working through a range of areas including Boning, Meat Inspection, Training and Management.Through a long association with MINTRAC dating back to 1996, Gary was involved as a technical writer of the Industries early training material for both Smallgoods and Meat Processing.In 2000 Gary successfully completed a Graduate Diploma of Vocational Education and Training through Latrobe University.Gary is a board member of MEATRAIN and was elected to the MINTRAC board in 2009.

Michelle Edge - Chief Executive Officer, Australian Meat Processor Corporation

Michelle is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Meat Processor Corporation. Prior to this position, Michelle's work at the Department of Primary Industries Victoria centred on designing a national Research, Development and Education (R&DE) Strategy for the Primary Industries Ministerial Council, setting strategic research priorities and enhancing current capability, collaboration and co-investment to deliver on industry and Government needs. Michelle has previous experience in various senior policy positions for State Government and has developed the Victorian Livestock Management Act and associated regulations. Michelle has worked as a research scientist in animal welfare, animal production science and ethology, as well as in industry extension, education and training. Prior to this, Michelle has worked in livestock management policy and regulation and also has considerable experience in various R&D capacities including Executive Officer, research officer and other industry technical roles.

Chris Newman - Industrial Officer, AMIEU