Barb Madden

Barb is a graduate of the Queensland University of Technology and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting). She was the 2009 Qld Rural Woman of Year and has done the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course. She is also a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program Course 14. Barb is a partner and Chief Financial Officer of Smithfield Feedlot, a large cattle feeding enterprise in South East Queensland.

The  Smithfield Feedlot R & D initiatives include trials such as sourcing cattle from various geographical locations, shade trials, silage feed, vaccines, gasification plant to use cattle effluent to fire the boiler which cooks the grain. She is involved in many voluntary roles around the proactive design and engagement of rural communities.

Barb is currently employed as the Finance Officer for The Cherbourg Aboriginal Council and enjoys building local indigenous staff financial administrative capacity.

Barb is committed to changing the beef industry paradigm by breaking down cultural and social barriers through building strong relationships aimed at sharing knowledge and providing both commercial and social benefits to all.