Congratulations to the winner of the 2018 SA Division of Agriculture Institute Australia (AIA) Jim McColl Young Consultant Award, Hamish Dickson from AgriPartner Consulting, Clare.
The award recognises the achievements of consultants aged under 40 in the memory of Dr Jim McColl, who was one of the early pioneers of the private farm consulting movement. He specialised in a whole of farm approach, including business aspects, and was highly regarded by clients and colleagues. The SA Division of Ag Institute Australia in which Jim spent much of his time, believes that it is fitting that his contribution to Australian agriculture be recognised in the long term. Jim was passionate about developing the skills of all involved in agriculture and especially consultants.
The award is open to consultants engaged in fee for service work. Such work may be one-on one service for clients, project development/management activity, or advice to larger entities on management. Although employer type is not relevant, it is anticipated that applicants, in the main, will be privately or self-employed, providing services to South Australia, under 40 years of age, and with five years consulting experience and currently consulting.
Hamish was nominated by the SA Livestock Consultants (SALC) group.
Hamish has always operated at a highly professional level and has gained extensive knowledge of agricultural operations and the red meat industry over his 15 years of experience, and has taken it to new heights in 2014 when he established, and is the Principal Consultant of AgriPartner Consulting, based at Clare, SA.
Hamish works with organisations and clients across Australia and internationally and brings a practical approach to a strong theoretical knowledge. He believes that continued practical approach research is paramount to progressing our industry and enjoys successfully conducting and delivering advice, training and research in livestock nutrition, management and financial analysis via on-farm visits, research, phone and/or email support, workshops, forums, field days and webinars.
AgriPartner Consulting recognises that livestock management must account for other enterprises as well, and must take a whole farm and people/business approach and assist with the integration of livestock, cropping and the feedlot enterprise.
Hamish has led national research and its on-farm application into copper deficiency (MLA), Native Pastures (NLP), iSheep:Data Driving Management (SA MDB), and is co-founder of Crown Agriculture, an Independent livestock technology and contract research company developing novel feeding and research equipment for the sheep and beef industries.
Hamish afforded strong leadership during his 2 terms as Chair of AIA (SA), 2013-15, and prior to that in 2012 was the Chair and inspiration of “InvigoratingAG”, a national-first conference designed to motivate, retain and connect young professionals in agriculture. Hamish was acknowledge by his peers for ensuring the program was vastly different from the previous technical type programs and ensured the people aspects of participation and leadership were front and centre.
Hamish is an active member of SALC, which a group of independent consultants who provide services to the livestock industry across SA and interstate. The group formed in 2010 to improve consulting services to, and build the capacity of the broadacre livestock industry. Currently, the group consists of 17 independent livestock and business consultants, representing 15 businesses and one ex officio member, the SA Sheep and Beef Industry Blueprint Manager. Hamish, via leading a committee, has led SALC through development of their capability statement, communications plan, through to a web portal design and operation for the profiling of SALC to industry. He also mentors and supports young industry graduates and interns.
Hamish champions values of integrity, precision and efficiency which are akin to AIA values, and has worldly views and outlook from his Overseas experiences. He is from a central west NSW family property, schooled in Orange, and the University of Sydney ( BSc, Agriculture) and has a University of New England, Graduate Certificate in Rural Science (Agriculture Consulting). Hamish retains his technical currency, builds his networks and contributes his knowledge to the state and national livestock industries via membership of professional associations such as Ag Institute Australia, ASAP, APEN, AARN and the SA Livestock Consultants.
These values, combined with his education and affiliations have place him well for strong national outreach and industry impact. During last year, Hamish helped over 300 producers that managed over 500,000 hectares and ran over 1,200,000 sheep and 65,000 cattle. Hamish has assisted in the development, industry utilisation and provides ongoing hosting on his website and industry specialist consultancy of the “National Procedures and Guidelines for Intensive Sheep and Lamb Feeding Systems”. He has also been invited by Meat and Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation to be a keynote speaker in its national Its Ewe Time! forums, which are one of their major flagship producer engagement and signposting to training opportunity events.
Hamish is nationally respected by his peers and clients alike as a credible authority in the innovation, implementation and utilisation of individual electronic management systems for livestock.
