Dairysafe CEO Mel Jackson attended the Australian Dairy Conference in Melbourne from 11–13 February, alongside more than 800 farmers and industry stakeholders.
Mel said the conference delivered strongly on its theme, ‘More than Milk – Building trust, value and legacy’ with a clear focus on farmers, leadership and the future of our industry.
The program was well structured, with sessions spanning:
- Dairy leadership, collaboration and advocacy
- Profitability and productivity
- Rethinking dairy sustainability
- Mindset
- Technology and innovation
“Discussions were both strategic and practical, reinforcing the importance of people, trust and on-farm outcomes,” Mel said.
“The conference covered diverse subject matter from discussing the next wave of dairy technology and how it will impact our industry to the use of lean principles to improve farm profitability, reduce stress and build more resilient systems.
“A highlight was Su McClusky who delivered the opening keynote address, sharing her leadership journey and how purpose-driven leadership can drive momentum in our industry; her presentation cleverly interwoven with iconic Australian music. Su engaged and motivated all the delegates to reflect on our own journey and identify growth opportunities.”
Mel said it was particularly encouraging to see South Australia well represented:
- Jake Altmann contributed to a panel on Dairy Early Adopters, sharing insights on innovation and learning from those leading change.
- Narelle Zanker shared her experience of building trust by opening their farm to the public, demonstrating how transparency and connection strengthen community confidence in dairy.
“Across all sessions, a consistent message emerged: the future of dairy depends not only on productivity, but on people, trust and collaboration. The strong attendance, engaged discussions and high-quality speakers reflected an industry that is confident, connected and committed to building a positive legacy,” Mel said.
“Beyond the formal sessions, the conference created space for meaningful conversations and connections across the diverse dairy community.”