David Hill
Mr David Hill has played a leading role in strengthening Australia’s biosecurity system through industry leadership, advocacy and collaboration. As a respected cattle producer and the founding Chair of the Cattle Australia Biosecurity Working Group, he has helped support emergency animal disease preparedness, improve industry engagement and ensure producer perspectives inform national biosecurity decision-making. Through his practical leadership and commitment to shared responsibility, he has played an important role in strengthening biosecurity resilience across Australia’s cattle industry.
As a second-generation producer, Mr Hill operates Clarkwood, an 8,500-hectare EU-accredited cattle breeding and fattening enterprise in central Queensland. Alongside his farming operation, he has devoted significant time to industry service, providing leadership across a range of biosecurity, sustainability and agricultural initiatives. His contribution has been characterised by a strong focus on practical outcomes, ensuring biosecurity measures are both effective and workable for producers.
Mr Hill’s leadership was particularly important during the emergence of lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia. As Chair of the Cattle Australia Biosecurity Working Group, he helped establish a coordinated forum for industry to assess risks, share information and support preparedness activities. Under his leadership, the working group strengthened communication between government and industry, promoted evidence-based decision-making and helped ensure producers were informed and prepared during a period of heightened biosecurity concern.
A strong advocate for preparedness, Mr Hill has contributed to the development and implementation of national biosecurity initiatives, including consultation on the National Lumpy Skin Disease Action Plan and support for improved vector surveillance capability. Through his advocacy, he helped support investment in emerging surveillance technologies that may improve Australia’s ability to detect and respond to future animal disease incursions. He has also actively encouraged producer participation in emergency animal disease training and preparedness programs, recognising the critical role industry plays in effective biosecurity responses.
Throughout his career, Mr Hill has worked to strengthen collaboration between industry, government and other stakeholders. He has coordinated industry input to reviews, policy discussions and national consultations, including work relating to the National Biosecurity Strategy, sustainable biosecurity funding, emergency animal disease preparedness and AUSVETPLAN development. His leadership has helped ensure industry expertise and operational realities are reflected in national biosecurity policy and response planning.
Through practical leadership, sustained service and a commitment to collaboration, Mr David Hill has helped strengthen Australia's preparedness for current and emerging biosecurity threats. By championing practical solutions, fostering strong partnerships and recognising the link between sustainable farming systems and long-term biosecurity resilience, he has enhanced emergency animal disease preparedness and reinforced the importance of shared responsibility across the cattle industry. His leadership continues to support a resilient cattle industry and a stronger national biosecurity system.
Watch a video about their work
Introduction
This is the accessible text transcript of the 2026 Australian Biosecurity Awards winner video featuring David Hill.
Transcript
My name is David Hill. To be recognised as part of the 2026 Australian Biosecurity Awards is an honour.
Principally, I’m a partner in a family beef production business based in the Fitzroy region of Central Queensland. I’ve also volunteered a fair amount of time to industry advocacy over the years.
I would like to thank Cattle Australia biosecurity policy staff members Niamh Pilatti and Mike Darby for the nomination. I am receiving this award for my role in the formation, as well as being the founding chair of the Cattle Australia Biosecurity Working Group.
The intent was to establish a coordinated group of industry stakeholders to assess risks, share information and support preparedness activities in response to the emergence of lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia.
It was important that we strengthened collaboration with the likes of Animal Health Australia, the wider industry and the relevant government ministers and departments. That collaboration went some way towards ensuring that the industry expertise and operational capabilities were reflected in national biosecurity policy and response planning.
One of the things we strongly advocated for was funding for emerging surveillance technologies that may improve Australia’s detection and early response capabilities.
As I reflect upon the work the group has been part of, I would like to thank those that have participated, it is a highly credentialed group. Again, thank you to Niamh and Mike for their efforts. I will remain forever grateful for their help. Thanks also to the Cattle Australia board and executive for the ongoing support, as well as the broader industry stakeholders whom the aforementioned group members represent.
In closing, I would like to thank the department for the award. Hopefully it will help me raise the awareness of the importance of individual involvement to our nation’s biosecurity.
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