Our Executive Team

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.