John Hughes - Consultant – Chairman

John commenced his career in the meat industry as a 13 year old labourer at Smorgans, (Dinmore) Queensland . He has only had one short break from the industry since then. John has progressed to General Manager – Operational Improvement at Teys Bros (Holdings) Pty Ltd Queensland.

John's involvement with MINTRAC began in 1998 as a Director and he commenced his second term as Chairman of MINTRAC in 2002.

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 Federal President and Secretary of the AMIEU ( Newcastle and Northern NSW Branch). Kath had been Chairman of MINTRAC for five years when she did not seek re-election to the position of Chairman but remains a Director of the MINTRAC Board. Kath also holds the executive position of 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 Panthers Rugby League Club.

David McKay – Group Operations Manager
T & R Pastoral Company

David McKay joined the MINTRAC Board in 2003. David has completed post graduate study in management and is currently enrolled in the Diploma of Meat Processing course. As a Board Director he is an advocate for having key industry people provide input to MINTRAC to ensure the continued development of effective training that meets the needs of the industry.

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)

Geoff Yarham - Group Training Co-ordinator
Swift Australia Pty Limited

Geoff Yarham was appointed to the MINTRAC Board in 2008. Geoff’s career in the meat industry has spanned over 35 years commencing at the Dinmore site, near Ipswich Queensland. His roles have included all Office base tasks and management, supervisory roles in production, Plant management roles as well as many Head Office functions such as Occupational Health and Safety Manager and Training Manager. He has also been responsible for introducing large scale company databases that allow for efficient operation in the Payroll, First Aid, HR and Training areas of the business.

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.

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.

Warren Earle Director - (AMIEU QLD)

Warren commenced his career as an Apprentice Butcher for Woolworths and has been employed within the Meat Industry for 25 years.

After completing his apprenticeship he then worked in the boning rooms at Cannon hill Abattoir in Brisbane before travelling to the UK where he worked for several years as a Butcher for a leading UK Supermarket.

Upon returning he was employed with Coles where he performed the role of Manager and Area Department Trainer for 15 years.

He was appointed Supermarket/Butcher Shop Officer for the Queensland Branch of the AMIEU in 2007 and has a hands on role dealing with Apprentice Butchers. He is a certified Workplace Health and Safety Officer and is pro-active in the integrity of the Butchering Trade.  Warren was appointed to the MINTRAC Board in 2009.