OUR TEAM Meet Cesar Gomez Cesar Gomez is Riverbend's Compliance Officer based in the head office in Toowoomba. Originally from Colombia, Cesar moved to Australia 6 years ago to pursue his professional career with qualifications as an Industrial Engineer. Joining Riverbend in 2020 in the Agribusiness and Logistics team, Cesar has gone from strength to strength, working hard to transform the Animal Health and Delivery Service departments and now joining our Safety & Compliance Team. We took the opportunity recently to ask Cesar a few questions about himself, his experience and his role with Riverbend. Can you tell us a little about yourself? As many may already know, I am an Industrial Engineer from Colombia and I moved to Australia back in April 2016. I define myself as kind of a geek as I am into animation, gaming and am also a collector of animated figures. When I am not at work I like to spend time with my partner, relatives and friends, travel when possible, and hit the gym. What is your title and what you do here at Riverbend? Up until a short while ago, I was the Agribusiness and Logistics Manager for Riverbend, then I had the opportunity to apply for a different role and transition to the Safety & Systems Team as Compliance Officer. Moving forwards, amongst other duties, I will also be responsible for Quality Assurance (QA), document control, systems software, and provide support with Environmental Management matters. How did you get started in the pig industry? What other industries have you worked in? Riverbend has been my first experience as part of the agriculture and livestock industry, so I did not have much experience before starting here besides studying related topics as part of my Master’s degree. Prior to my time at Riverbend, I worked in the private health and logistics industries back in Colombia. What is your favourite thing about working here at Riverbend? As this is a completely new industry to me, I would say the best part has been the opportunity to learn and develop my skills as an employee of one of the largest pork producers in Australia. In addition to this, both my current and previous roles at Riverbend allow me to travel, visit farms, and meet our widespread team and stakeholders which I really enjoy. What do you think is crucial to the future of the pig industry? I believe that training provided via a group effort from universities, government, industry bodies and employers is critical to the future of the industry. I also believe the inclusion of IT education and development within this training is essential. Is there an industry resource that you would recommend to others in the industry? I strongly recommend the daily newsletter from Pig Progress and all available content in their website . This was a wonderful resource that really helped me familiarise myself with the industry when I first started. Is there any advice you would give someone else just starting out in the agricultural industry? As someone fairly new to the industry, I can just tell you that it is possible to make it if you want to. There will be many things to remember and do, you may get behind sometimes, there will be mistakes to learn from, both long and short days, but like everything that has happened and will happen to you, if this industry is something you enjoy, you are in the right place and only success is ahead of your path. Thanks to Cesar for answering our questions!

OUR TEAM Meet Karina Cortes Celebrating her one year anniversary with Riverbend this month, Karina Cortes is Riverbend's Agribusiness & Logistics Officer based in the head office in Toowoomba. Originally from Colombia, Karina has moved to Australia to pursue her professional career and brings a Masters level education, an incredible work ethic and a friendly, can-do attitude to the Riverbend team. Karina has helped to transform the Animal Health and Commodity Trading departments, and is a big part of the smooth running of the Toowoomba head office and the provision of admin support company-wide. We took the opportunity recently to ask Karina a few questions about herself, her experience and her role with Riverbend. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do for fun? I grew up in my beautiful country of Colombia, with my brother, my father and my mother (who sadly passed away). I arrived in Australia approximately 4 years ago, and currently I live with my partner in Toowoomba. I have two bachelor degrees, the first one is in Finance and International Trade and the second is International Affairs, and currently I am studying a Master of Professional Accounting. My hobbies are hiking, biking, dancing, and I really love spending some time with my friends and family. What is your role at Riverbend? At Riverbend, my role is to provide support to different departments such as Administrative, Commodity Trading and Animal Health. I really enjoy what I do and am learning every day. What other industries have you worked in before moving to the pig industry? This is my first time working in the pig industry. It is great to apply the knowledge and experience that I already have and to get an opportunity to develop my skills and extend my knowledge. My main experience has been in the freight industry in which I worked for 4 years. I worked with an association which represents and defends the interest of cargo companies to the federal government. I was the Head of Economic Studies in which I was in charge about all the statistics for the freight sector. What is your favourite thing about working at Riverbend? I report to both the Agribusiness & Logistics Manager Cesar Gomez, as well as General Manager People & Culture Tara Maguire, and this allows me to be involved in lots of different activities and projects from which I can learn. I also really love the multicultural environment at Riverbend, there are people that work here from all over the world and it gives us all a great opportunity to learn and understand more about different traditions and cultures. What do you think is crucial to the future of the pig industry? From my perspective and my work experience, I consider that the information in terms of data could be useful for public policy, for example, an index for the industry which measures the performance of it. This sort of tracking and reporting can be very valuable for general information sharing and performance enhancement. Is there an industry resource that you would recommend to others? I love TED talks because those videos cover everything from personal interest to a range of professional development topics. (Check out all sorts of TED talks at their website here ). Is there any advice you would give someone just starting out in the agricultural industry? Be open to learning, be curious and ask about everything. You will learn and when you have that understanding you can potentially find modern and creative ways to streamline your work activities or processes. Also, look to the experienced people you work and interact with, they can provide you with insight and knowledge you wouldn't get otherwise. Thanks to Karina for answering our questions!

OUR TEAM Meet Brenden Giuffrida At the end of 2021 Riverbend welcomed our first Safety & Systems Manager Brenden Giuffrida. Brenden is a Workplace Health & Safety professional with many years experience working in the safety and compliance sectors across a range of industries. Riverbend's rapid growth over the years and the expansion of our farms and office locations has meant managing our safety and systems in-house has become absolutely essential. We are thrilled to welcome Brenden to the team and took the opportunity recently to ask him a few questions about his impressive credentials, experience, and advice as an industry professional. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Riverbend? I am 40 years of age, have 2 children Ella and Lachlan and I live in Toowoomba with my partner Kristy and also her 2 children. I have lived in Toowoomba for most of my life and really enjoy going to places such as the beach, parks with family and friends and I am a massive sports fan in particular cricket, rugby league and basketball. I am the Safety and Systems Manager at Riverbend Pork Group and my role here is to make sure that our workplace health and safety, quality assurance and compliance systems are meeting the current standards and that we are demonstrating best business practice in these areas. What other industries have you worked in before moving to the pig industry? This is my first foray into the pig industry, before joining Riverbend Pork Group I worked in the cattle industry. Apart from agriculture I have worked in transport, manufacturing and mining industries. What is your favourite thing about working at Riverbend? Although my time here at Riverbend Pork Group has been brief so far, I am enjoying the fact that we are all working towards ensuring the company is an industry leader in pig farming. Employees I've met and worked with here are passionate about the pig industry and I am looking forward to learning new skills from all of them and those I am yet to meet. What do you think is crucial to the future of the pig industry? Like any industry it is important to invest in your people. Training, rewarding and affirmation for employees helps create a strong work culture where people enjoy coming to work everyday. Also, any company that strives to be an industry leader has to be in tune with sustainability and understand that consumers want to purchase a product with good practices behind it. Is there an industry resource that you would recommend to others? TED Talk podcasts are a great resource for all employees to listen to experts in various areas of life such as business, relationships, compassion, and courage to name a few. Is there any advice you would give a younger version of yourself when you were just starting out in the industry? Ask as many questions as you can! Find a mentor and gain as much knowledge from that person to help you decide if the agricultural industry is for you. Find training pathways that help you gain further knowledge in the area of agriculture you want to pursue. And of course, have a safety mindset in all activities that you undertake. Thanks to Brenden for answering our questions!

Meet Riverbend's new COO Guy Holcroft

OUR TEAM Meet Dr Andrew Morris Dr Andrew Morris is a familiar face to many. He is Riverbend Pork Group's Production Veterinarian, a key member of the Senior Production Team, as well as Head of the Technical Services Team. Andrew is also a prominent member of the Australian veterinary community, having been in the industry over 20 years, he provides consulting services across the country, sits on national panels and committees, represents the Australian veterinary industry both nationally and internationally, and provides expert guidance to industry governing bodies. We asked Andrew a few questions about his impressive credentials, experience in the pork industry, and advice for those just starting out. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you started in the industry? I graduated from veterinary school in 1998. My first job was in Smithton, Tasmania in the dairy industry. After 5 years, and a short time in mixed practice, I spent the next 5 years as a resident in equine reproduction at Oakey Veterinary Hospital where I was very fortunate to be mentored by Dr David Pascoe. Dr Pascoe had a significant influence on my professional development, especially my ability to think critically. I live on a small farm near Wondai which we purchased in 2016, I am married to Patricia and have three children aged 26, 17 and 14. When I was younger, I was heavily involved in sports especially track and field, rugby union and touch football and throughout my twenties I competed professionally. I enjoy sailing and have even built my own boat - I don't get out on the boat as much as I would like, but I am hoping to change that! What other industries have you worked in before moving to the pig industry? I started in the dairy and horse industries straight out of university, and am also familiar with raising beef cattle. What is your favourite thing about being a Veterinarian in the pig industry? The pig industry gives people a chance to excel at their tasks through repetitive improvement. I enjoy farming in general and Riverbend is a place with a sound ethical and philosophical basis in terms of family and farming. What do you think is crucial to the future of the pig industry? I think training and the development of people is crucial to the industry's future. Through employee development and recognition you have the opportunity to create a precision team which can deliver and achieve excellence in the field. Is there an industry resource that you would recommend to others in the industy? I have always been a big supporter of self-improvement and education - the resources are out there, make contacts with your peers, engage and seek out opportunities to learn, evolve and grow. Is there any advice you would give a younger version of yourself when you were just starting out in the industry? Be patient. Success comes with multiple iterations of small improvements! Thanks to Andrew for answering our questions!

OUR TEAM Meet Amanda Weare Amanda Weare is a new face around Riverbend Pork Group however she has been a part of the agricultural industry for many years - most recently at BEC Feed Solutions. Amanda is a very experienced sales manager, with a big focus on her family and a passion for horse riding and competing. We are thrilled Amanda is now a part of the team and asked her a few questions about herself and her time at Riverbend so far. Can you tell us a little about yourself? I am married and have two gorgeous sons, Sam, six and Hugh, three. They are absolutely awesome and keep me very busy outside work hours! When I do get time to myself I only have time for one hobby and that is my horse riding. It has been a complete addiction since I was six years old. I compete in showing and dressage. What is your title and what you do here at Riverbend? Procurement and Sales Manager - I work in the Commodity Trading and Animal Health departments here at Riverbend. How did you get started in the pig industry? Working at Riverbend is my first sole pig industry role! I completed an Associate Diploma in Animal Production at UQ Gatton and since then have worked in various roles within the agricultural industry. This has included vet nursing, being a part of the Primac Elders Rural Merchandise team, working at Better Blend Stockfeeds and then BEC Feed Solutions for the last eleven years. What is your favourite thing about pig farming/working here at Riverbend? The team at Riverbend have been so welcoming and all the farms and suppliers too. I am enjoying a new challenge and learning more about the pig industry. I have previously been in mostly sales so procurement is new to me, I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to widen my skillset. What do you think is crucial to the future of the pig industry? Keeping young people engaged and enthusiastic about the industry. Is there an industry resource that you would recommend to others in the industy? I would say look to your peer group. I am surrounded by professionals that have so much knowledge and they are willing to share what they know. Always ask questions! What are you most looking forward to in 2021? Visiting some more farms and meeting new people. I also am looking forward to more family time and enjoy every day watching my sons grow and learning more about their personalities. Thanks to Amanda for answering our questions! If you have any Commodity Trading questions or issues, you can get in touch with Amanda via the Riverbend Head Office email inbox admin@riverbendgroup.com.au

Boondooma Country Pork piggery worker Cassandra Simcox was crowned showgirl twice in 2020, the first time at the Proston show and then at the ABC Wide Bay Virtual Showgirl. The virtual agricultural show was the first of its kind, born of COVID-19 event shutdown restrictions, the event was held live on ABC radio. This inventive method to keep the show alive this year was indeed a success but the hope is that these events will return to their traditional format from next year. “Country shows are vital in rural communities,” Cassandra told the ABC, "to cancel shows forever would be a devastating blow." To find out more about this event and to listen to the recording of the virtual show please visit the ABC website here .