UNE students have dominated at the 2026 Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association (ICMJ) National Conference and Competition in Wagga Wagga, with two students now up for selection in the Australian team.
Bachelor of Agribusiness student, Emma Wilkinson, was named Individual Champion in the Pork Judging and Overall Placings categories, fifth in the Beef Judging and Overall Questions categories, and took home Runner-Up Individual in the Overall Championship Industry Award.
Not far behind was Bachelor of Rural Science student, Emily Mailler, who placed third in the Overall Placings and Retail Cut and Saleable Item Identification categories, while Bachelor of Agriculture/Business student, Patrick Davis, received third place in the Pork Judging category.
Emma and Emily will now join UNE’s coach and Bachelor of Agribusiness alumnus, Xavier Graham, at a week of intensive industry training in Brisbane for Australian team selection later this year.
Professor of Meat Science, Peter McGilchrist is a strong mentor and supporter of UNE’s ICMJ students and has been on the voluntary committee for 20 years.
He says the talent displayed by UNE students is only growing, and their success is a testament to their passion for the red meat industry.
"The standard of UNE students at this year's National Conference was exceptional,” he says.
“Emma and Emily's results speak for themselves — these are students who have put in the hard work and genuinely love the red meat industry. To see them now in contention for the Australian team is incredibly rewarding.”
While at the week-long conference, students also got the opportunity to hear from guest speakers from across the red meat industry, participate in interactive workshops and hands-on judging training, meet potential employers at a careers expo, and network with fellow students and young professionals at an industry dinner.
"One of the best things about the conference is the opportunity for our students to network and catch up with our alumni who are now making waves in the industry," says Prof McGilchrist.
"At the Careers Expo, it was fantastic to see so many UNE graduates spread across the nearly 50 companies in attendance this year."
ICMJ National Conference photos
Thank you to this year's sponsors, Knowla Livestock, Landfall Angus, Fletcher International and Coles.
