Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has announced the appointment of Sarah Strachan as general manager of research, development and adoption (RDA) to oversee the company’s $175.2 million investment in farm research and development projects.
Working with government, research bodies and universities, Strachan will also supervise the adoption and extension services provided to the red meat supply chain, helping to strengthen the company’s partnerships.
“Sarah comes into this role with deep industry knowledge, strong strategic leadership skills, and proven track record,” said MLA managing director Michael Crowley.
“She has an incredible record delivering high value and impactful results for producers, backed by her immense passion for the sector.”
Initially working on MLA’s Meat Standards Australia (MSA) program in 2001, Strachan has led growth and expansion in beef and sheep meat. She drove the implementation of recommendations from the transformative Beef Language White Paper, which guided industry innovation to meet growing consumer expectations.
“Her ability to translate complex R&D into practical, on-the-ground outcomes has been instrumental in strengthening MLA’s impact across the red meat supply chain,” added Crowley.
“Sarah will provide strategic direction and leadership to build awareness and adoption of MLA’s programs, an area where she has already demonstrated significant success.
“Under Sarah’s guidance, MLA’s adoption initiatives have delivered measurable improvements in producer engagement and practice change.”
Managing the $175.2 million investment, Strachan expressed her enthusiasm for leading MLA’s dynamic research efforts aimed at achieving positive industry outcomes.
“Our goal is to turn great research into real-world impact, and I’m excited to head that up as General Manager of RDA,” said Strachan.
“We want to invest in innovation that matters, supporting producers and the broader supply chain to adopt new practices, and ensuring the red meat sector remains competitive, sustainable, and future-ready.”