Blair Brice

Tuckerbox is an intuitive and adaptive consultancy focused on Food and Agricultural Industry clientele, from both Private and Public sectors, specialising in the International Red Meat Industry (Beef, Sheepmeat, Goatmeat), and Livestock Production Systems and Management. Tuckerbox was developed to deliver market and industry development programs through strategic management and leadership. Based on a strong focus towards building and delivering specific results through teams and capacity development via a skills building and practical implementation processes. Tuckerbox has strong linkages into the international meat trading and procurement sectors, including logistics, documentation, food safety, training, and value adding services. Through dedicated capabilities that aim to deliver client and customer focused marketing and PR campaigns, particularly via digital and social media platforms.

Verde Beef Processing PLC, (VBP) is the first and only integrated export beef feedlot operation based in Ethiopia. The 1,300 hectare farm, including the 10,000 head capacity feedlot, is located in Adami Tulu, within the Oromia region of Ethiopia. VBP exported over 100mt/month of high-quality chilled grain-finished beef to the GCC markets, via airfreight. VBP operated an export sales office in Dubai that traded under the brand of Camden Beef. Key successes as GM: • Successful sale of the VBP business to an Ethiopian based consortium, including operational and management handover, without the loss of any staff or positions. • Increased domestic market allocation for VBP products, under the Ethiopian Development Board ruling for foreign investment companies, due to the unique and high-quality product VBP was producing, as a direct import substitution against similar high-quality beef products from other recognised international suppliers. • Development of supply chain programs to increase the supply of quality livestock into the VBP operation via direct mutually beneficial relationships with producer groups and supply cooperatives, through collaboration with foreign NGO’s already established within the respective livestock draw areas. • Reassessment of the stalled on-site abattoir build project. This had been stalled for over 12 months; as a result of the assessment, the completion time was reduced from 12 months to 3 months, the completion budget was reduced from USD$17 million to USD$3 million, and an immediate recommencement of works was achieved. • Harvest of the 550 hectare maize crop. This was the first time VBP had harvested maize for grain, as opposed to silage. This generated grain worth over USD$1 million, and as such reduced the feed cost and risk of supply for the 2020 feeding operation.

Verde Beef UK Ltd (VBUK) was the investment holding company for the Ethiopian agribusiness investment Verde Beef Processing PLC (VBP), an export beef feedlot operation located in Adami Tulu, within the Oromia region of Ethiopia. I was invited to join the VBUK Board to offer my livestock and meat technical, and GCC regional market, knowledge and expertise to the ongoing management of the Ethiopian operation. This then transpired, based on my proven knowledge and capability, to me taking on the General Manager’s role in June, whilst remaining on the Board. The VBP investment was successfully sold to an Ethiopian consortium in November 2019.

Fabianca is a Bahrain based digital media agency providing solutions and developing opportunities with its clients in the areas of design, web design and development, search engine optimisation (SEO), advertising, social media management and strategy, and e-Commerce strategies and solutions. As Business development Director I’ve applied my extensive experience and knowledge particularly within the food & beverage (F&B) and hospitality (HORECA) sectors, to seek out and explore digital marketing and training solutions within my network of F&B and HORECA organisations within Bahrain. To date Fabianca has worked on several projects under my direct involvement and development: - Working with an Australian lamb suppliers to develop and implement a GCC wide marketing program focused on modern retail backed up with an extensive digital media campaign. This project also included product training and advanced technical skills in value adding for butchers. - Butcher training and sales team development with one of Bahrain’s leading supermarket chains to focus on improved profitability. This was coupled with an additional program to assist with improving and increasing sales staff confidence in interacting with customers. In addition to the above activities, I’ve also continued my role in delivering business development and procurement/supply chain solutions related to red meat. - Advisory and trading activities with several GCC and International businesses. This has included securing supply of both chilled and frozen sheepmeat and beef for businesses in Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, and KSA from a range of international supply sources. - Business development activities and market development for cattle feedlot and slaughter businesses in Pakistan. This has included marketing strategies, product development, packaging solutions, cold chain management, slaughter training solutions. New customers developed in UAE and Kuwait, Jordan pending.

Bahrain Livestock Company (BLC) was the largest importer of halal red meat from around the world into the Kingdom of Bahrain, focusing on reliably supplying consistent quality. Net Revenue: approximately BD12 million, Net Worth: approximately BD5.5 million. On commencing this role BLC was one of two recipients of the Bahrain Government meat subsidy. With the subsidy’s removal in October 2015, my key role was to turn BLC from a Government subsidised monopoly, into a commercial organisation, focused on continually innovating and delivering outstanding service and market leadership in the provision of quality safe halal protein to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Achievements: • Managed the impact of the immediate removal of the subsidy on the business. resulting in daily turnover dropping from 120mt/day to 3mt/day – this has resulted in managing the business from a monthly revenue BD5.5 million/month to rebuilding it back to now BD1 million/month. • Anticipated losses due to the subsidy removal and business restructure were reduced from the forecasted BD720,000, to that of BD365,000 over 2016. • Business focus was moved towards meat trading, value adding, and retailing options i.e. e-commerce, home delivery, retail partnerships - via incorporating new meat products that would meet the price and quality expectations of the market, and utilise BLC distribution network, product knowledge and experience, and market coverage. • Incorporated a completely new product focus post subsidy to that of chilled mutton and frozen product for the first time. Frozen since its introduction in early 2015, has now grown to over 50% of turnover. • Other new products and sources were introduced to increasing market shares. Most of these products and sources had not been available in the market, or in limited availability to specific sectors. • The BLC market expanded to all aspects of the HORECA sectors – areas under the subsidy not previously accessible to BLC.

Responsible for the business performance of Wellard Meat Trading, a new division within Wellard’s $400 Million shipping and trading business, which includes Wellard Rural Exports, Wellard Feeds, Wellard Animal Production and Wellard International. Wellard Meat Trading provides high quality meat products to over 15 countries across 4 continents delivering quality beef, mutton, lamb, goatmeat, offals, and skins. Achievements • Developed this new business unit within Wellard Rural Exports that has generated $22 million in new revenue for Wellard’s over the last 12 months. • Implemented a chilled air freight program that now delivers up to 3,000 lamb carcases per week to 6 countries within the Middle East. • Commenced direct supply of sheep and goat skins to Chinese tanneries expected to generate over $3 million for Wellard’s. • Implemented an offal trading business that will add over $1 million in additional revenue to Wellard’s Meat Trading operations, and Wellard’s Rural Exports overall.

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is a producer-owned company that provides RD&E and marketing services to the livestock and red meat industry. MLA works in partnership with industry, including livestock producers, processors, exporters, foodservice operators, retailers, and government to achieve a profitable and sustainable red meat and livestock industry. This role was created at the specific instruction of Industry to manage MLA’s goatmeat RD&E activities (including supply chain investments), co-ordinate input into related domestic and international marketing portfolios, in accordance with agreed industry outcomes. Achievements • Delivered the new 5 year RD&E strategic plan. This strategy co-existed with the Marketing department via wide Industry consultation and endorse strategy to ensure supply chain harmonisation throughout the program. • Commissioned the first comprehensive nutritional analysis of Australian Goatmeat. Delivering data for the first time allowing for nutritional claims and statements to be made. • Instigated a comprehensive supply chain analysis of the Australian Goat Industry, allowing for the strategic investment of Industry funds into effective RD&E, and marketing programs. • Facilitated a comprehensive marketing seminar to review and revitalise national and international goat marketing activities.

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) regional team works in-market to discover, build, and defend channel relationships for Australian exporters within the Region. This role delivered representation within Australia for the MEA team to industry stakeholders and the relevant Government departments and authorities. Achievements • Managed the liaison and provision of information with Federal Government agencies and Industry regarding trade access issues with several MEA countries; Specifically Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Iran and Iraq. • Managed the development and upgrade of MEA regional reporting for MLA and Industry, as part of the consultative analytical support role. • Represented MLA on the AQIS Halal Consultative Committee, resulting in the implementation of the new AQIS Halal Brand. • Managed the Lamb Definition Review project, which was a major component of the Peak Councils submission to the Senate Investigation Panel. • Developed a strong knowledge of the Live Export Industry, including a close working relationship with MLA’s Live Export team.

This Supply Chain Management role was responsible for the development and implementation of the R&D programs and projects to deliver outcomes that would deliver further efficiency and productivity into Australian red meat and livestock supply chains. This also included implementation of strategies for commercialising resulting technologies The MLA Goat On-farm R&D Program delivered systems and technologies to improve productivity and returns for goat producers Achievements: • Successfully managed the contracting of the first Lamb Finishing Code of Practice, providing a comprehensive resource covering all facets of lamb finishing, allowing the Industry to demonstrate world’s best practice based on sound scientific R&D. • Managed the National Sheep CRC Program for the Implementation of Yield Technologies into the Lamb and Sheepmeat Supply Chain. • Managed MLA out of an anticipated $300,000 loss on the proposed National Lamb Industry Conference. • Managed and delivered a comprehensive scoping exercise into Alternative Production Systems i.e. organic, natural, bio-dynamic, etc. Delivering MLA an all inclusive analysis for participation in specific projects areas to assist Industry. • In conjunction with the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), delivered an evaluation of NLIS equipment for connectivity, including a comprehensive workshop including NLIS technologists and practitioners dealing with the limitations of the current systems and how NLIS can be value-added for Australian livestock producers, and red meat supply chain participants. • Implemented and managed the industry wide strategic review of the On-farm Goat R&D Program. This resulted in a 5-year R&D program that would address the supply of quality goats on a consistent basis; thereby addressing the identified needs of Industry.