Jessica started her life on a Dairy Farm at Bunya. Still living in Bunya Jess is a Classroom Music Teacher and Program Co-ordinator at a primary school on the Northside of Brisbane.

Born at Ekka time Jess has a special love for Ekka, one she hopes to pass onto her two daughters. Her family's involvement in the RNA and the Ekka is what led her to the Future Directions Committee.

Jess believes strongly in the roll the RNA plays in educating people about Agriculture and Farming.

Jessica likes to think that her involvement in the committee will help ensure the Royal Queensland Show transitions into the future while maintaining all the agricultural and historical elements that make it the Ekka Brisbane knows and loves.

Shaun is a Media, Marketing, Promotions and Events professional currently working as an Executive Producer in Breakfast Radio with the Australian Radio Network in Adelaide.

Although currently based in Adelaide Shaun is and always will be a Queenslander.

Major events are like second nature to Shaun as he has been involved in some of Queensland's largest events including Paniyiri Greek Festival, Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and of course Ekka. Shaun has been involved with the RNA for many years specialising in the Youth in Agriculture section located within the Agricultural Hall.

A move into the Future Directions Committee was inevitable for Shaun, as he's a bit of an Ekka junkie and has only missed one Ekka in recent years due to an overseas wedding. Shaun has been involved with the Ekka as an exhibitor, performer, volunteer, competitor, steward, judge and now as an Honorary Council Steward.

When not working on RNA projects, Shaun can be found working with Scout Movement as Business Manager for Brisbane Gang Show as well as Camp Chief for Agoonoree Special Needs Camp.

Shaun joined the Future Directions Committee in 2016 and is very excited to be working on so many great projects with the RNA.

Lauren grew up on the Darling Downs, on her family's cotton and grain farm, "Tyunga".

She is part of the first generation in her family to have been raised in Australia; her parents having immigrated from Germany in the early 1990s to build their farming enterprise.

She competed in local shows in dressage, show horse and show jumping events throughout her school years and grew an appreciation for the role local shows played in bringing rural communities together.

In 2013 Lauren moved to Brisbane to study and upon graduating, worked in the PwC Deals practice, focusing on work for clients in the agricultural sector. She is now Melbourne-based, however still working in agribusiness, and is committed to staying connected to her home state. Lauren is also a Treasurer of the Future Farmers Network and previously served as President of YARN in Brisbane.

Lauren is keen to showcase the contribution and possibilities presented by agriculture, both in town and on the land, through the Ekka. She hopes her work as part of the FDC will see the Ekka bring a taste of the country to the city each year for many generations to come.

Betsy is a lawyer in Clayton Utz's Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety team and a member of the Agribusiness and Food Industry Group.

Her passion for all things agribusiness stems from being the fourth generation of her family's sheep and cattle company "Moble" in South West Queensland. Born in Quilpie, Betsy had the fortune to grow up on and partake in the family property, which undoubtedly shaped her perspective of primary production industries and their importance in Australia.

While she is interested in all aspects of agriculture, Betsy is particularly passionate about wool and its proud history in Australia. She looks forward to helping educate Ekka attendees on the significant role wool played and continues to play throughout Australia, as well as the ongoing innovation in the area.

Having not missed an Ekka for as long as she can remember, Betsy is excited to be an active participant of the Committee and to spread her passion for the Ekka with old friends and new ones.

Andrew is currently National Sales Manager for Bordin Bros, and a strong believer in agricultural advocacy where he has served as AgForce SEQ Regional manager until March 2023.

He has a long history in the Australian agricultural industry; from growing up on his family’s farms at Toogoolawah and Taroom, and after the sale of that business at Yulgilbar Station. On top of Andrew’s work at AgForce, he in partnership with his parents, own and operate a Santa Gertrudis stud in northern NSW.

Andrew has had a long passion for Australian agriculture and upon completing his studies at Marcus Oldham College has been a professional Sales Representative, Agribusiness Analyst and now works in Agri-politics.

These roles have seen him manage sales in animal heath, husbandry and production; across the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, until taking on role at AgForce in January 2020.

The Sinnamon family have a long history with the RNA, they have been exhibitors in the beef section for three generations.

Andrew has also volunteered as a steward in the beef section for the past eight years.

Each year at Ekka it is amazing to see how city and country unite to showcase the incredible products the industry produces, and Andrew is passionate about being able to work towards bringing this great event together.

Emma was born in Brisbane and has attended the Ekka for as long as she can remember. It was where she was given her first pony ride, beginning a life-long love of horses. A country girl at heart, she spent much of her childhood at Esk, Beaudesert, and Tenterfield, where her grandparents farmed beef cattle.

Emma works as a professional singer, actor, and show announcer, traveling the country to perform and announce at Agricultural Shows and hack events. She is a lead performer at The Australian Outback Spectacular, playing the role of “Sarah” in the current production, Heartland. Emma also performs regularly with Australia’s premier touring equine entertainment production, The Rooftop Express Show, at events including EkkaNITES, Equitana Melbourne, and their sold-out Night of the Horse arena productions.

Emma graduated with a Masters of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 2022, and teaches voice lessons to students of all ages. She also works as an events manager for Redtie Entertainment, and lead vocalist for the Redtie Band, coordinating performances and singing at corporate events and weddings Australia-wide.

As part of the Future Directions Committee, Emma is passionate about ensuring the future of the Ekka, and is excited to bring her love of event planning, education, and entertainment, to the FDC team.

Kate has attended the Ekka since her first as a four week old baby whilst her mother stewarded in the Dairy Cattle section. Her families involvement stems back four generations through stewarding, judging, competing and exhibiting in the Dairy and Horse sections of the show.

Kate has competed in Young Judges competitions throughout the show as well as having been a steward since 2001 and a judge in 2018 and 2019. She has been a life member of the RNA since 2019.

Kate is a mother to two boys and a small school Physical Education and Middle Years teacher. With her husband, they operate an electrical contracting company specialising in electrical efficiency and maintenance and installation of agricultural, commercial and industrial components. They own and operate a commercial Angus Wagyu operation at Pittsworth in the heart of the Darling Downs. Kate and her husband come from a strong foundation of farming spanning seven generations and endeavour to leave a legacy for their children to continue.

Kate is passionate to extend the legacy of the RNA through future generations. Kate has seen many changes on the grounds over the years and looks forward to the future of the RNA as a means of celebrating agriculture in Queensland and the role it plays in the lives of Queenslanders.

Rowan Jamieson has been a lifelong attendee of the Ekka, following in the footsteps of his father, who served as a steward for several decades. Rowan began his stewardship in the wood chop arena and later expanded his involvement to include roles as a horse ring steward and in Fashions on the Field.

Professionally, Rowan works in the IT sector and Commercial Real estate as a consultant. He is passionate about the role the committee plays within the Ekka and aims to bring a modern perspective to the RNA that reflects on his lived past at the show paired with a deep connection to the country. Rowan often spends time out west assisting farmers and friends with beef cattle duties, embodying the spirit of community and support that defines both him and the agricultural sector.

Aleacea's upbringing on a cattle property in the Western Downs, surrounded by her family's Hereford and Gelbvieh stud, instilled in her a profound love and understanding of the agricultural industry, especially beef cattle. This passion led her to pursue a degree in agriculture and start a career in Livestock Nutrition with Top Country in Roma.

The Ekka holds a special significance to Aleacea's family, with her parents' romance sparking at the event, and their ongoing involvement as beef cattle stewards and exhibitors. Aleacea's own journey with the Ekka began at 11, and save for rare exceptions due to academic commitments, she's been attending ever since, honouring her family's legacy that stretches back to the 1960s as Hereford breeders and exhibitors.

Aleacea's engagement with the beef industry runs deep, marked by her active participation in junior shows from the age of 5, culminating in her current role as the President of Hereford QLD Youth, where she has been a committee member for nearly a decade. In addition to giving back to the beef industry with her involvement in youth programs, Aleacea also owns stud cattle, which she proudly exhibits at both local shows and the Ekka.

Beyond her personal achievements, Aleacea is an advocate for agriculture's pivotal role in shaping the future, believing that events like the Brisbane show serve as crucial bridges between urban and rural communities.

Growing up I always had a foot in the city and a foot in the country. My grandfather ignited my passion for cattle, and it is also a major reason as to why I chose to pursue Agricultural science and Agribusiness at UQ.

Every year my family attended the Ekka. We would watch the cattle judging, eat strawberry Sundays, and admire my mother’s fruit cake through a glass cabinet.

The drought in 2013 sparked a stronger connection with the Ekka. I took some time off school and to help my grandfather feed cattle and had to document the natural disaster for a project. Landline then picked it up and my primary school started fundraising with the RNA high tea.

‘Connection to the land’ is a strong part of the Australian identity. The Ekka is a fantastic way of connecting rural and urban communities together. Through my time within this committee, I want to bring new ideas to continue to pull country and city together.