Steve Skinner 

Steve Skinner is the Manager of the International Beef Recording Scheme. 

In this role, Steve is responsible for all ABRI’s services with beef breed associations and other corporate breeding groups from within Australia and overseas, including the BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation service. As well as running a number of GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses himself, Steve coordinates the routine operational management of a diverse team who are involved in the processing of BREEDPLAN records and who provide support and results from BREEDPLAN and related technologies.

Steve is also the Executive Director of the Australian Registered Cattle Breeders’ Association Inc which is the peak industry body for the Australian beef cattle seedstock industry. Steve has had practical experience in running sheep and cattle properties and has worked in a professional capacity for the beef and dairy industries.

Steve can be contacted at (02) 6773 3091.

Jack Allen 

Jack Allen is Technical Director of the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI).   

Jack has more than 20 years experience in the livestock recording industry and has played a leading role in the development and commercialisation of BREEDPLAN since its inception in the early 80’s. Jack has extensive international experience developing and implementing genetic evaluation and pedigree/performance recording systems. Jack was Project Leader for the ACIAR sponsored “Genetic Improvement of Thailand’s Beef Cattle and Buffalo” project was part of the AusAID team for capacity development in Vietnam and has supervised the implementation of BREEDPLAN in the UK.    

Jack can be contacted at (02) 6773 3555.   

Brad Crook 

Brad Crook joined ABRI in 2000 and is a member of the BREEDPLAN Technical team.   

Brad's primary responsibilities involve the testing and implementation of enhancements to the BREEDPLAN analytical software, the provision of routine BREEDPLAN genetic evaluations for a number of beef cattle breeds (both domestically and overseas) and the provision of follow-up technical and diagnostic support to BREEDPLAN clients. Brad provides technical support to BREEDPLAN clients in North America, South America and Southern Africa, as well as engaging in contract R&D and customized genetic analyses on their behalf. Brad is responsible for the implementation and routine undertaking of the Pan American Hereford evaluation involving the Hereford populations in the USA, Canada, Uruguay and Argentina and is also investigating the possible development of across-country evaluations for a number of Bos indicus and tropically adapted breeds represented by ABRI’s international BREEDPLAN clients.    

Brad can be contacted on (02) 6773 5263.

Aaron McMillan 

Aaron McMillan joined BREEDPLAN in March 2011 and is a member of both the BREEDPLAN technical and performance data processing teams.   

Before joining BREEDPLAN, Aaron completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Quantitative Genetics at the University of New England. Upon the completion of his degree in 2007, Aaron gained employment with the Dairy Express division of ABRI where he was employed in a Technical Support and Research/Development role.     

Aaron can be contacted on (02) 6773 3052.

Keryn Hutton

Keryn Hutton joined ABRI in January 2009 and is a member of the team responsible for processing BREEDPLAN performance data. Keryn is also the Federal Secretary of the Australian Red Poll Cattle Breeders Inc. and the Prime SAMM Breeders Society of Australia.  

Prior to joining ABRI, Keryn worked in agricultural research, most recently in the field of Artificial Reproduction, as a Research Officer with the CSIRO. In addition she has owned and managed a sheep and cattle property in the New England region.  

Keryn can be contacted on (02) 6773 3059.

Samantha Barr 

Samantha Barr joined ABRI in March 2010 and is a member of the team responsible for processing BREEDPLAN performance data. Samantha is also Secretary of the Lincoln Red Cattle Society.  

Samanatha is a graduate from the University of New England with a Bachelor degree in Environmental Science. She is orginally from Moree but now calls Armidale home. Samantha has many years experience in customer service and has strong people and communication skills from her previous employment in both Moree and Armidale.  

Samantha can be contacted on (02) 6773 3032.

Melissa Sweeney 

Melissa Sweeney joined ABRI in November 2011 and is a member of the team responsible for processing BREEDPLAN performance data.

Melissa is an Armidale local and prior to joining ABRI has gained experience in Finance, Retail and Administration.

Melissa can be contacted on 02 6773 2244. 

Gemma Wilkinson 

Gemma Wilkinson joined ABRI in February 2012 and is a member of the team responsible for processing BREEDPLAN performance data. Gemma is also a Technical Officer with Southern Beef Technology Services (SBTS). 

Gemma grew up on her family’s mixed farming property near Young, southern NSW. In 2010, she completed her Bachelor of Livestock Science, with 1st class Honours, at the University of New England, Armidale. Before joining ABRI, Gemma spent seven months in Denmark working on a beef feedlot. Her industry experience also includes time spent jillarooing on a cattle station in Queensland.

Gemma can be contacted on 02 6773 3265. 

Pilar Argente 

Pilar Argente joined ABRI in December 2012 and is a member of the team responsible for processing BREEDPLAN performance data.

Before joining BREEDPLAN, Pilar completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Genetics and Biochemistry, at the University of Queensland. Following the completion of her degree, Pilar worked for a number of years as a Research Assistant and Laboratory Manager in a research lab within the University of Queensland and recently, before moving to Armidale, she worked the Glycan Array Facility in the Institute for Glycomics at Griffith University.

Pilar can be contacted on 02 6773 4093. 

Sharon Reynolds 

Sharon Reynolds joined ABRI in May 2005 and is a member of the team responsible for processing BREEDPLAN performance data. Sharon is also Registrar for the Australian Braford Society, Australian Red Poll Cattle Breeders inc. and Prime SAMM Breeders Society of Australia.

Sharon previously worked in Administration at the Rural Lands Protection Board and the Department of Psychology at the University of New England.

Sharon can be contacted on 02 6773 2327.