FORMER South Australian Danila Marini has been named as one of nine finalists in the LambEx 2018 Young Guns Competition.
Dr Marini attended Urrbrae Agricultural High School and studied a Bachelor of Animal Science at the University of Adelaide, gaining a First-Class Honours degree for her thesis investigating the effects of ntrauterine growth restriction on stress responses in sheep.
In 2013 she moved to Armidale, NSW to get her PhD through the University of New England, investigating self-medication methods in sheep.
She is presently working with UNE and the Rural R&D for Profit program, looking at the use of virtual fencing in sheep.
As part of her nomination in the mid-career producers and professionals category, she will fly to Perth to attend a Professional Development Workshop and LambEx 2018 in August 5-7, along with the nine other finalists, while the three category winners, will each receive a $1000 prize.
Also a finalist in the mid-career producers and professionals section is University of SA graduate John Gardner, South Mokanger, Cavendish, Vic, and Qld Department of Agriculture and Fisheries extension officer Andrea McKenzie, Charleville, Qld.
In the high school section are Zach Baker, Kojonup District High School, Kojonup, WA, Hannah Haupt, Calvary Christian College, Carbrook, Qld, and Lindsay Brown, Yanco Agricultural High School, NSW.
For the undergraduate, postgraduate, masters and PhD students section, the finalists are Amy Lockwood, Murdoch University, Baldivis, WA, Jamie Nykiel, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA and Georgia Reid, Ag Pro Management and University of New England, Mount Barker, WA.
The LambEx 2018 Young Guns Competition, sponsored by the Australian White Suffolk Association and National Australia Bank, aims to reward and encourage young and upcoming producers, industry professionals and scientists to consider a future or ongoing career in the Australian lamb industry.
LambEx 2018 chair Bindi Murray said she was excited by the strong field of entries and the nine finalists who had been selected.
“It’s important to help support and provide opportunities for young people in agriculture,” she said.
“We need to ensure more young people become involved in the sheep and lamb industry to build on the current buoyancy and help secure its ongoing success.”
NAB Agribusiness head SA & WA Matt O’Dea said it was important to celebrate emerging leaders in the agriculture industry and give them the opportunity to provide input into the direction of their industry.
“We have great confidence in the future of the sheep and lamb industry with the calibre of young people that the LambEx Young Guns Competition continues to attract,” he said.
Australian White Suffolk Association Board Member Andrew Heinrich said the Young Guns concept was a great opportunity for youth, and his association was very proud to be a competition sponsor.
“It provides a wonderful example to help young people from within the industry to grow and develop more confidence and experience, as well as improve their networking skills,” he said.
“This is the third time that the competition has run, and the third time that the association has been involved in sponsoring it. It has been really wonderful to be involved in the process and see the growth of previous finalists.
“The competition stepped up another level last year with some of the strongest applicants yet and the 2018 competition has hosted another strong field of applicants.”
