Our Executive Team

Jason Strong

CEO

Jason was appointed CEO of Smithfield Cattle Company in February 2018.  For the previous five years he worked for the Australian Agricultural Company and was Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer from January 2014 to August 2017.  He led the ongoing transformation of AACo to a luxury branded beef business. 

Jason has more than 25 years experience across the beef supply chain, and brings significant industry knowledge, commercial experience and strategic marketing capabilities to Smithfield. He joined AACo in 2012 from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) where he was Regional Manager Europe with responsibility for Marketing and Business development in the European and Russian markets for the Australian red meat industry. Prior to the MLA appointment in Europe, Jason was Head of New Market Development for Pfizer Animal Genetics, a role that started in sales and operations for bio tech start up Catapult Genetics that included business development and market expansion in Australia, North and South America and Europe.

Jason played a key role in the development and implementation of Australia’s meat grading system – Meat Standards Australia. During this time he developed an extensive knowledge of meat retailing through an involvement in high quality Brisbane butcher shops. Jason has been actively involved in broader industry activities as a past Chairman and Director of the Australian Beef Industry Foundation and one of the drivers behind the establishment and development of the Intercollegiate Meat Judging program.

Jason Shearer-Smith

Director – Chief Operations Officer

Jason has a Bachelor of Applied Science Rural Technology from the University of Queensland. Since leaving university Jason has worked for Smithfield and has now been in the lot feeding industry for 25 years. He has actively engaged in and studied the cattle and feedlot industries throughout the world including New Zealand, Mexico, USA, Canada and China. This dedication to the cattle industry has ensured that Smithfield is a world class beef cattle operation.

Jason has previously been awarded the Young Lot Feeder of the Year by the Australian Lot Feeders Association (ALFA) and later went on to the ALFA executive board. Jason is recognised nationally as a leader in the beef cattle industry and is regularly invited to speak at industry seminars, conferences and strategy sessions.

Andrew Shearer-Smith

Director – Chief Investment Officer

Andrew, has a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor Laws and Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance. He was a lawyer for 18 years before joining Smithfield full time in January 2014. Andrew was formerly a partner of McMahon Clarke which is a boutique commercial law firm. He accrued over 12 years of experience in the Australian funds management industry as a lawyer and prior to that a further six years as a banking and finance lawyer in Australia and London.

Andrew has held committee positions with the Property Council of Australia, the Property Funds Association of Australia and was previously appointed to the Australian Government’s Financial Services Working Group, which was tasked with the overhaul of parts of Australia’s financial services laws. Andrew has been ranked by Chambers & Partners as a Leading Individual in the field of Investment Funds in Australia. Andrew now combines his legal and investment funds experience to help manage Smithfield’s corporate growth.

Don Madden

Director – Operations Manager Feedlots

Don has an Associate Diploma of Applied Science from the University of Queensland. After leaving university Don spent 12 years with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) working on the development and implementation of quality assurance systems in the meat processing sector. Don joined Smithfield in 2000 and has been integral in the development of both Smithfield and Sapphire Feedlot, leading them to be one of Australia’s largest feedlot operations. Don is a Nuffield Farming Scholar which required him to undertake extensive overseas research in his chosen field of study. He has since served on that organisations national board and was the State Chairman for Queensland from 2012 to 2015.

Barb Madden

Financial Controller

Barb has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from the Queensland University of Technology and is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was awarded the 2009 Queensland Rural Woman of the Year for her work improving beef supply chain relationships with Indigenous beef producers. Barb has more than 20 years of accounting experience operating in both the corporate and local government sectors. Barb has sat on the Board of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and is currently on the executive committee of the Australian Lot Feeders Association.