What is WAMIA?
The Western Australian Meat Industry Authority is a statutory authority established under part II of the Western Australian Meat Industry Act 1976, its functions are set out in Part III Section 16 of this Act.
Functions of the Authority:
1. The functions of the Authority are —
- to survey and keep under review the establishments and facilities available in the State for the sale of livestock and the slaughter of animals, and for the processing of carcases, for human consumption;
- to review the operation of abattoirs and processing works, including —
- inspecting, and where appropriate approving, the premises and facilities, and the conduct of operations there; and
- recording in respect of each establishment its effective capacity and actual performance;
- to implement schemes and practices for the branding of any carcases or meat, which may include practices to define or identify its —
- source;
- method of production;
- processing treatment;
- quality; or
- other characteristics;
- to assume responsibility for, or arrange for the management of —
- Midland Saleyard, or any other undertaking, establishment or facility in the meat industry that the Minister declares, by notice published in the Government Gazette, to be a replacement for Midland Saleyard (The Midland Saleyard closed in May 2010 and the Muchea Livestock Centre was gazzetted as its replacement on the 30th April 2010); and
- if the Minister so directs and subject to subsection (2), any other undertaking, establishment or facility in the meat industry;
- to encourage and promote improved efficiency throughout the meat industry;
- to advise the Minister generally, and in particular as to —
- methods of overcoming areas of conflicting interest within the meat and livestock industries;
- future requirements for saleyards, abattoirs and processing works, particularly in relation to the overall slaughtering capacity of the State and the location of those establishments; and
- any matter relating to the meat industry referred to it by the Minister, or any matter that it considers necessary;
- to carry out such other functions as are required to give effect to this Act generally, in relation to saleyards, abattoirs, processing works and other facilities, undertakings or activities in the meat industry.
2. The Minister may give the Authority a direction under subsection (1)(d)(ii) only if the Minister is satisfied that the meat industry will suffer substantial loss or substantial disruption unless the Authority assumes responsibility for, or arranges for the management of, the undertaking, establishment or facility concerned.
3. The Minister is to specify in a direction under subsection (1)(d)(ii) the period, not exceeding 2 years, during which the Authority is to assume responsibility for, or arrange for the management of, the undertaking, establishment or facility concerned.
4. The Minister may from time to time, by a direction given to the Authority, extend the period referred to in subsection (3) by a period not exceeding 12 months.
5. The Western Australian Meat Industry administers the “Western Australian Meat Industry Act 1976” and the Western Australian Meat Industry Regulations 1985.
For current versions of the Acts and Regulations please visit the State Law Publisher’s website:
WAMIA Staff
The activities of the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority are funded through charges at Muchea Livestock Centre, revenue from market information services, rentals on property managed by the Authority, and fees charged for the approval of meat processing establishments.
The Authority’s financial accounting system is subject to the Financial Administration and Audit Act and a Chief Executive Officer appointed under the Public Sector Management Act manages the Authority.
The executive staff of the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority as at 21 November 2018 are:
| Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| I-Lyn Loo | Acting Chief Executive Officer | I-Lyn.loo@wamia.wa.gov.au |
| Jason Burns | Chief Financial Officer | Jason.burns@wamia.wa.gov.au |
| Judy Niblett | Executive & HR Officer | judy.niblett@wamia.wa.gov.au |
| TBA | Operations Manager | TBA |
WAMIA Board Members
The Authority Members as at 1st September 2022:
| Name of Member | Position Held | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Lang (Chairman) | Representing the Minister | 30/06/2026 |
| Mark Panizza | Representing Private Abattoirs | 30/06/2024 |
| Joanna Williams (Deputy Chairman) | Representing Wholesale & Retail Meat Industry | 30/06/2025 |
| To Be Confirmed | Representing Employees of the Industry | TBC |
| Belinda Lay | Representing Producers of Meat | 30/06/2024 |
| Kelly Pearce | Representing Producers of Meat | 30/06/2025 |
| Ben Dwyer | Representing Private Abattoirs | 19/02/2027 |
| Miriam Sauley | Representing Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development | N/A |
Ms Lang was appointed to the Chairman role on 3 July 2023. Ms Lang is about to conclude her four-year term as Chair of the Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network of WA.
Ms Lang has over 18 years’ experience in banking and finance and previously held Senior Management roles with ANZ in Commercial and Agribusiness banking. Ms Lang has extensive experience in cash flow management & modelling, financial analytics, risk management, benchmarking, and financial modelling. Ms Lang is a strong supporter of regional economic prosperity and primarily works with rural and regional clients and industry as a Director of Regional Finance Hub.
Mr Panizza was reappointed to the Board for a further two-year term in June 2022. Mr Panizza is a CPA and represents the interests of private abattoirs. He has worked in various regional areas throughout the State as an accountant in public practice before taking up a position in the private sector. Mr Panizza is currently a Director and CEO of Dardanup Butchering Company. He is the Chairman of the Australian Meat Industry Association’s Western Australian Processor Council and is the State’s representative to that organisation’s national body, the National Processor Council.
Joanna Williams (Deputy Chairman)
Ms Williams was reappointed to the Board for a further three-year term in June 2022. She was also appointed to the position of Deputy Chair and continues as a representative representing the Wholesale & Retail Meat Industry. Ms Williams is a highly accomplished operations, sales and marketing professional with over 15 years of experience within the consumer goods (FMCG) industry and has worked extensively across both Australian domestic and international markets. She has considerable business and entrepreneurial experience through her partnerships within the wholesale and retail industries, having successfully negotiated supply agreements with all the major multiples in Australia. Ms Williams management roles with Craig Mostyn Group, Cannon Foods and Woolworths have provided her a comprehensive understanding of supply chain management within an accomplished integrated meat processing model. Ms Williams also has experience in continuous improvement and occupational safety and health.
Ms Lay was reappointed to the Board for a further two-year term in June 2022, as a representative of producers of meat. Ms Lay is currently a business partner at Coolindown Farms, a family-owned mixed sheep and grain enterprise near Esperance. She is the Co-Founder and current secretary of Esperance Zone Innovation (EZI) Group Inc and has worked in the Agricultural Industry since 1994. Ms Lay holds a double Diploma in Business Studies and Agriculture as well as completing the full Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in 2020. In 2019 Ms Lay won the WA Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award for her pilot project looking at GPS tracking of lambing ewes for animal welfare and production outcomes.
Dr Kelly Pearce was reappointed to the Board for an additional three-year term in May 2022, representing the producers of meat. She previously held the position of Deputy Chair until May 2022.Dr Pearce is a grain and prime lamb producer based in Yealering. She has a twenty four-year career in Agricultural Research and continues to coordinate several regional science and innovation projects.
Dr Pearce was recently appointed Director of the new Western Australian Agricultural Research Collaboration. Dr Pearce is also an Advisory Member of the Biosecurity Council of WA and Committee Member of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee. Dr Pearce is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a 2012 Nuffield Scholar.
Ms Sauley was appointed as the delegate of the Director General of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in July 2023. Ms Sauley is the Director of Legal & Legislative Services and General Counsel for DPIRD. Raised in Perth and educated at the University of Western Australia, she initially worked in private legal practice before joining the Public Sector. Ms Sauley has over 30 years of experience practising law in government agencies, of which more than a decade has been devoted to establishing, developing, and leading high-performing in-house legal teams. Her experience ranges from conducting prosecutions for regulatory offences, advising on statutory powers and administrative decision-making, leading legislative reform processes, negotiating and drafting commercial agreements on behalf of the State, and directly advising Ministers on sensitive and complex legal & legislative issues. She has served on several boards, including the Builder’s Registration Board, the Motor Vehicle Industry Board and a not-for-profit aged care facility. Ms Sauley is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Dwyer is Harvest Road’s Chief Operating Officer for Agribusiness & livestock procurement. He is a senior executive in beef industry operations with an in-depth understanding of cattle and beef integrated supply chains. He has extensive beef industry and pastoral experience, spending several years working across the top end of Australia, in the east Kimberley, NT and North Queensland, as well as overseeing properties in the Pilbara, Central, Southern & Western Queensland as well as Northern NSW. From this experience, he has developed an in-depth understanding of the Australian cattle and beef supply chain potential. Ben is focused on genetics, animal welfare, and building biodiversity in the productive and arid rangelands while driving profitability into the cattle and beef industry.
For further information contact WAMIA.
The Western Australian Meat Industry Authority is a statutory authority established under part II of the Western Australian Meat Industry Act 1976, its functions are set out in Part III Section 16 of this Act.
Functions of the Authority:
1. The functions of the Authority are —
- to survey and keep under review the establishments and facilities available in the State for the sale of livestock and the slaughter of animals, and for the processing of carcases, for human consumption;
- to review the operation of abattoirs and processing works, including —
- inspecting, and where appropriate approving, the premises and facilities, and the conduct of operations there; and
- recording in respect of each establishment its effective capacity and actual performance;
- to implement schemes and practices for the branding of any carcases or meat, which may include practices to define or identify its —
- source;
- method of production;
- processing treatment;
- quality; or
- other characteristics;
- to assume responsibility for, or arrange for the management of —
- Midland Saleyard, or any other undertaking, establishment or facility in the meat industry that the Minister declares, by notice published in the Government Gazette, to be a replacement for Midland Saleyard (The Midland Saleyard closed in May 2010 and the Muchea Livestock Centre was gazzetted as its replacement on the 30th April 2010); and
- if the Minister so directs and subject to subsection (2), any other undertaking, establishment or facility in the meat industry;
- to encourage and promote improved efficiency throughout the meat industry;
- to advise the Minister generally, and in particular as to —
- methods of overcoming areas of conflicting interest within the meat and livestock industries;
- future requirements for saleyards, abattoirs and processing works, particularly in relation to the overall slaughtering capacity of the State and the location of those establishments; and
- any matter relating to the meat industry referred to it by the Minister, or any matter that it considers necessary;
- to carry out such other functions as are required to give effect to this Act generally, in relation to saleyards, abattoirs, processing works and other facilities, undertakings or activities in the meat industry.
2. The Minister may give the Authority a direction under subsection (1)(d)(ii) only if the Minister is satisfied that the meat industry will suffer substantial loss or substantial disruption unless the Authority assumes responsibility for, or arranges for the management of, the undertaking, establishment or facility concerned.
3. The Minister is to specify in a direction under subsection (1)(d)(ii) the period, not exceeding 2 years, during which the Authority is to assume responsibility for, or arrange for the management of, the undertaking, establishment or facility concerned.
4. The Minister may from time to time, by a direction given to the Authority, extend the period referred to in subsection (3) by a period not exceeding 12 months.
5. The Western Australian Meat Industry administers the “Western Australian Meat Industry Act 1976” and the Western Australian Meat Industry Regulations 1985.
For current versions of the Acts and Regulations please visit the State Law Publisher’s website:
The activities of the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority are funded through charges at Muchea Livestock Centre , revenue from market information services, rentals on property managed by the Authority, and fees charged for the approval of meat processing establishments.
The Authority’s financial accounting system is subject to the Financial Administration and Audit Act and a Chief Executive Officer appointed under the Public Sector Management Act manages the Authority.
The executive staff of the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority as at 21 November 2018 are:
| Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| I-Lyn Loo | Acting Chief Executive Officer | I-Lyn.loo@wamia.wa.gov.au |
| Jason Burns | Chief Financial Officer | Jason.burns@wamia.wa.gov.au |
| Judy Niblett | Executive & HR Officer | judy.niblett@wamia.wa.gov.au |
| TBA | Operations Manager | TBA |
The Accountable Authority is the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority, which consists of eight (8) Members representing producers, processors, retailers, industry employees and government appointed by the Minister and one (1) Member nominated by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development as a representative. The Authority reports to the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
The Authority Members as at 1st September 2022:
| Position Held | Term Expires | |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Lang (Chairman) | Representing the Minister | 30/06/2024 |
| Mark Panizza | Representing Private Abattoirs | 30/06/2024 |
| Joanna Williams (Deputy Chairman) | Representing Wholesale & Retail Meat Industry | 30/06/2025 |
| To Be Confirmed | Representing Employees of the Industry | TBC |
| Belinda Lay | Representing Producers of Meat | 30/06/2024 |
| Kelly Pearce | Representing Producers of Meat | 30/06/2025 |
| Ben_Dwyer | Representing Private Abattoirs | 19/02/2027 |
| Miriam Sauley | Representing Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development | N/A |
Ms Lang was appointed to the Chairman role on 3 July 2023. Ms Lang is about to conclude her four-year term as Chair of the Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network of WA.
Ms Lang has over 18 years’ experience in banking and finance and previously held Senior Management roles with ANZ in Commercial and Agribusiness banking. Ms Lang has extensive experience in cash flow management & modelling, financial analytics, risk management, benchmarking, and financial modelling. Ms Lang is a strong supporter of regional economic prosperity and primarily works with rural and regional clients and industry as a Director of Regional Finance Hub.
Mr Panizza was reappointed to the Board for a further two-year term in June 2022. Mr Panizza is a CPA and represents the interests of private abattoirs. He has worked in various regional areas throughout the State as an accountant in public practice before taking up a position in the private sector. Mr Panizza is currently a Director and CEO of Dardanup Butchering Company. He is the Chairman of the Australian Meat Industry Association’s Western Australian Processor Council and is the State’s representative to that organisation’s national body, the National Processor Council.
Joanna Williams (Deputy Chairma)
Ms Williams was reappointed to the Board for a further three-year term in June 2022. She was also appointed to the position of Deputy Chair and continues as a representative representing the Wholesale & Retail Meat Industry. Ms Williams is a highly accomplished operations, sales and marketing professional with over 15 years of experience within the consumer goods (FMCG) industry and has worked extensively across both Australian domestic and international markets. She has considerable business and entrepreneurial experience through her partnerships within the wholesale and retail industries, having successfully negotiated supply agreements with all the major multiples in Australia. Ms Williams management roles with Craig Mostyn Group, Cannon Foods and Woolworths have provided her a comprehensive understanding of supply chain management within an accomplished integrated meat processing model. Ms Williams also has experience in continuous improvement and occupational safety and health.
Ms Lay was reappointed to the Board for a further two-year term in June 2022, as a representative of producers of meat. Ms Lay is currently a business partner at Coolindown Farms, a family-owned mixed sheep and grain enterprise near Esperance. She is the Co-Founder and current secretary of Esperance Zone Innovation (EZI) Group Inc and has worked in the Agricultural Industry since 1994. Ms Lay holds a double Diploma in Business Studies and Agriculture as well as completing the full Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in 2020. In 2019 Ms Lay won the WA Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award for her pilot project looking at GPS tracking of lambing ewes for animal welfare and production outcomes.
Dr Kelly Pearce was reappointed to the Board for an additional three-year term in May 2022, representing the producers of meat. She previously held the position of Deputy Chair until May 2022.Dr Pearce is a grain and prime lamb producer based in Yealering. She has a twenty four-year career in Agricultural Research and continues to coordinate several regional science and innovation projects.
Dr Pearce was recently appointed Director of the new Western Australian Agricultural Research Collaboration. Dr Pearce is also an Advisory Member of the Biosecurity Council of WA and Committee Member of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee. Dr Pearce is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a 2012 Nuffield Scholar.
Ms Sauley was appointed as the delegate of the Director General of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in July 2023. Ms Sauley is the Director of Legal & Legislative Services and General Counsel for DPIRD. Raised in Perth and educated at the University of Western Australia, she initially worked in private legal practice before joining the Public Sector. Ms Sauley has over 30 years of experience practising law in government agencies, of which more than a decade has been devoted to establishing, developing, and leading high-performing in-house legal teams. Her experience ranges from conducting prosecutions for regulatory offences, advising on statutory powers and administrative decision-making, leading legislative reform processes, negotiating and drafting commercial agreements on behalf of the State, and directly advising Ministers on sensitive and complex legal & legislative issues. She has served on several boards, including the Builder’s Registration Board, the Motor Vehicle Industry Board and a not-for-profit aged care facility. Ms Sauley is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Dwyer is Harvest Road’s Chief Operating Officer for Agribusiness & livestock procurement. He is a senior executive in beef industry operations with an in-depth understanding of cattle and beef integrated supply chains. He has extensive beef industry and pastoral experience, spending several years working across the top end of Australia, in the east Kimberley, NT and North Queensland, as well as overseeing properties in the Pilbara, Central, Southern & Western Queensland as well as Northern NSW. From this experience, he has developed an in-depth understanding of the Australian cattle and beef supply chain potential. Ben is focused on genetics, animal welfare, and building biodiversity in the productive and arid rangelands while driving profitability into the cattle and beef industry.
For further information contact WAMIA.
