The Global Sheep Forum's Next Generation programme gives a group of young sheep farmers from five countries the chance to explore opportunities for industry collaboration and learn more about the host country's sheep farming systems.
The programme is made up of two interlinked parts: All participants first took part in a series of online leadership masterclasses, designed to build foundational skills in communication, advocacy, collaboration, values-based leadership and global awareness.
Programme participants then formed international project groups made up of members from partner countries. Each group selected a key area of sheep production to explore, collaborated online throughout the programme, and then will present their collective insights virtually to the Global Sheep Forum following the in-person visit.
Representing New Zealand were Grace Pettit from Tararua and Carey Pawson-Edwards from South Canterbury. As a founding member of the Global Sheep Producers Forum, Beef + Lamb New Zealand supported their participation in the programme.
The two kiwi representatives and others from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States spent four days in Australia visiting farms, feedlots, processors, retailers and more – getting a full understanding of the Australian sheep farming industry from paddock to plate.
One highlight of the tour included a visit to Ella Matta Pastoral; a farm located on Kangaroo Island (a few hours’ drive south of Adelaide). There, the Heinrich family runs a large-scale operation with over 1,300 stud ewes and a 4,000-head commercial flock. The farm is known for their innovative breeding practices, including DNA testing and electronic tagging.
Ella Matta is also recognized for their excellent biosecurity practices – with Jamie Heinrich being named Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year at the 2025 Australian Biosecurity Awards.
For Grace and Carey, the chance to explore every stage of the Australian sheep farming industry was incredibly valuable.
“It was a great opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, see how other countries farm and gain a better understanding of the whole sheep industry, from farm to consumer,” says Carey.
“It reinforced that while our farming systems are different, we're all facing many of the same challenges and share the same goal of getting more lamb on more dinner plates around the world.”
After the tours, representatives spent four days attending LambEx, Australia’s flagship sheep, lamb and wool conference, providing an opportunity connect with leading industry experts from around the globe and learn more about the latest innovations, research, and emerging industry trends.
Attendees went through a range of producer-led panels across the four-day event, with topics ranging from the characteristics of high-performing farms to firsthand accounts of farm system changes and the lessons learned along the way.
A series of tours on the final day rounded out the event, giving attendees the opportunity to explore some of the industry's latest innovations and research.
Finally, the trip was rounded out with a return to New Zealand for three days, providing participants with an opportunity to see first-hand how sheep farming systems operate in a different production environment. The group visited a range of sheep farms that showcased New Zealand’s diverse farming landscapes, management practices, and approaches to animal health and productivity.
Participants also visited Lincoln University, where they gained insights into the university’s internationally recognised agricultural teaching and research programmes. The visit provided an excellent platform to highlight the strengths of New Zealand’s sheep industry and encourage discussion around the common opportunities and challenges facing sheep producers across different countries.
Participants met with veterinarian and Beef + Lamb New Zealand Wormwise Programme Manager Ginny Dodunski, who provided an overview of the Wormwise programme and its whole-farm approach to managing internal parasites, one of the sector's most significant productivity challenges.
One of the key reflections for the New Zealand representatives on this portion of the trip was just how well our sheep industry compares internationally.
“Overall, the trip reinforced that while we can always learn from other countries, we also have plenty to be proud of,” says Carey.
“New Zealand remains one of the world's leading sheep-producing nations, and our greatest opportunity is to continue building on that reputation through innovation, collaboration and a commitment to producing the highest quality lamb in the world.”
Reflecting on the programme as a whole, Grace says the relationships formed were among its most valuable outcomes.
“I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to connect with all the people I met throughout this programme. It has given me a huge sense of hope. If our GSPF cohort is a true representation of the future generation of our industry, we are in great hands.”