Group aims to develop live export’s future leaders
Young and motivated.
They are the two driving forces inspiring rising live export figures Pat Coole, John Cunnington and Kari Moffat to develop an avenue to nurture the future leaders of Australia’s live export sector.
The Young Live Exporters Network, which launched at an event in Darwin earlier this month, was established by the trio in a bid to enable industry workers under 40 years old to craft their career path.
YLEN held its maiden workshop in Perth last Wednesday, attracting a capacity 20-person crowd — including workers from the Northern Territory — eager to shore up their live shipping future.
For Mr Coole, 29, the six-hour seminar marked an important step in redirecting how the live export trade communicates with those who are not familiar with its extensive supply chain.
The ESCAS manager at exporter Halleen Australasian Livestock Traders said it was important for the industry’s next generation to shine a light on Australia’s crucial role in improving global animal welfare standards.
“We understand the environment we live in now, with social media, it is a large part of live export’s future,” he said.
“If we want to be sustainable, we have to communicate what we are doing and the positive aspects of the trade.
“It has been one of the challenges of the industry in the past, and something we’ve struggled with, so going forward we are trying to upskill the people in this room and other members to tell the trade’s story.”
Mr Cunnington also works at Halleen Australasian Livestock Traders, heading up the business development manager role, while Ms Moffat is the compliance and animal welfare manager at Wellard.
The three YLEN co-founders all aim to use the group — financially backed by live exporters, service providers and industry bodies — to help youngsters entering the live export workforce to rise up the ranks.
Mr Coole said enabling career progression would underpin the industry.
“As a group, we want this trade to be sustainable and we want it to supply us with long-term, enjoyable and rewarding careers,” he said.
“We understand it is going to be challenging, so to meet those challenges and ensure we have a sustainable future ahead of us, we know that we need to be responsible and ethically minded leaders.
“We’ve developed this program to improve ourselves so that we can better meet those needs going forward and make sure our practices are in-line with what’s required to ensure a sustainable future.”
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