Mr Matias Suarez Appointed as Chief Operating Officer

It is my sincere pleasure to announce to you that Mr Matias Suarez will commence as the Chief Operating Officer of the Australian Wagyu Association, starting on 10 March 2025.

It is with great pride in the AWA that I report to you that we have been successful in securing such a high performing individual to the AWA team. It is very pleasing to see that our organisation continues to attract exceptional individuals who strive to make an impact for the benefit of our Wagyu Members.

Many of you will know Matias from previous roles, most recently as the Manager of Breeding and Genetics with Australian Agricultural Company between 2019 and the end of 2024. In this role, Matias oversaw the genetics team and delivery of breeding program services and operations across multiple sites for 5 years at AACo.

Prior to AACo, Matias has an extensive background of experience and capability including undergraduate Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Masters in Agriculture, followed by a post-graduate Masters in Science by research in Quantitative Genetics with the University of New England and AGBU.

In addition to Matias’s deep industry experience with Wagyu and research expertise in quantitative genetics, Matias has also worked over a 5-year period with ABRI. Here he was employed as a Beef Geneticist, responsible for client operations within ABRI across several breeds, including consultancies with Australian and International clients, running BREEDPLAN analysis, diagnostic reports and results provision.

Matias has also worked as Technical Services Manager at Zoetis, one of AWA’s genetic service providers, to provide technical expertise, training and support for the Zoetis (formerly Pfizer) genomics technology products. In this role, Matias supported Zoetis’s global R&D product development group and developed educational platforms for customers along with delivering genetic services consultancies for clients.

In Matias’s role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) with the Australian Wagyu Association, Matias will be applying his technical knowledge of quantitative genetics and databasing, with his direct Wagyu and genomic industry experience. His role as COO recognises the growth in the scale and impact of AWA’s research, databasing, innovation and membership activities. Reporting to the CEO and working directly with the AWA Chief Financial Officer, AWA is pleased to provide executive level support across all areas of business for its Members.

Although I am sure that many of you will be familiar with Matias through his past roles directly related to the Wagyu Sector, I look forward to introducing many of you to Matias in the coming weeks and months. Matias is extremely capable and looks forward to continuing to deliver services for Members, ensuring our databasing and analysis systems remain world-leading, and furthering our R&D and innovations pipeline to provide the next generation of value to our Members.

Sincerely,

Dr Matt McDonagh

Company Secretary/CEO

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Terms & Conditions

It is a condition of use of this database that you accept these terms and conditions.

It is important that you appreciate when accessing the Australian Wagyu Association Limited (AWA) database (which may be hosted on an external website) that the information contained on the AWA database, including but not limited to pedigree, DNA information, Wagyu Breeding Values (WBVs) and Index values (together called Database Information), is based on data supplied by AWA members and/or third parties. 

Whilst sincere effort is made to ensure the Database Information is accurate and complete, to the extent permitted by law, AWA, its officers and employees, shall not be responsible for its use or interpretation, and you use the Database Information at your own risk. Please be aware of the following limitations of the Database Information.

Regarding WBVs and Index values, it is important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that: 

WBVs are derived using genetic evaluation technology developed for the AWA, using the information contained within the AWA database. 
WBVs are estimates of genetic potential of individual animals and may not reflect the raw animal phenotype. 
WBVs can only be directly compared to other WBVs calculated in the same AWA genetic analysis.

Regarding pedigree and DNA testing results submitted to the AWA, it is important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that: 

Animals whose registration identifiers start with PED are Pedigree Recorded Animals. What this means is that the details which AWA used to register the animal were obtained from a Recognised Wagyu Registry Organisation – in other words a Wagyu breed association based outside of Australia. AWA has not independently verified the information with respect to the animal or the details recorded about the animal. You should read AWA’s by-laws which set out details regarding the definition of a Pedigree Recorded Animal. 
Pedigree and DNA data submitted and supplied to AWA may have errors in it which cannot be detected without further DNA testing. 
Technology may have advanced since a particular test was undertaken so that genetic issues or inaccuracies which were previously not detectable are now able to be detected by current testing technology (i.e. if the animal was tested again with current technology). 
AWA estimates that less than 1% of the pedigree entries, ownership or breeding details in the AWA Herdbook may have errors or which may be misleading. For this reason, users ought to consider if they need to obtain independent testing of the relevant animal (if possible) to ensure that the data is accurate.

Regarding prefectural content, it is important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that: 

Prefectural content is based on the estimation of prefectural origin from Japanese breeding records of 201 foundation sires and 168 foundation dams. As genotype-based parent verification is not used in Japan, and full Japanese registration certificates are not available for all foundation animals, exact prefectural composition for these sires and dams cannot be validated. 
The calculation of prefectural content for Australian Herdbook animals relies on the accuracy of pedigree records and DNA samples provided by AWA members.

Regarding DNA testing and genetic condition results submitted to the AWA, it is important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that: 

As genetic testing results are provided by independent DNA testing laboratories at the request of AWA members, AWA relies solely on the accuracy of the reporting of genetic testing as completed by the laboratories. 
AWA uses GeneProb software to calculate the likelihood of pedigree animals being a carrier of genetic conditions. This likelihood is an estimate based on the available genetic testing results.

If you consider that you do not understand or appreciate the nature and/or implications of the data provided on this website or the WBVs of a particular animal, then AWA strongly recommends that you seek expert advice.  Note there is substantial technical information and articles on the Wagyu website to assist our members.

AWA’s liability for any loss or damage, consequential or otherwise, suffered or incurred by you or your related business, arising directly or indirectly from your use of Database Information, to the extent permitted by law, is limited to AWA providing you with a refund for the fees paid for the service (if any), or AWA re-performing the service, where possible, at the election of AWA.

AWA administers this database in good faith to support AWA members and the industry. AWA does not represent or warrant that the animals recorded in this database, or animals breed from them, will achieve any particular genetic or phenotype performance.

THIS DISCLAIMER HAS BEEN UPDATED AS OF 03/02/2026, PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE READ IT IN DETAIL