AWA 2019 Board announced | Australian Wagyu Association

The Australian Wagyu Association Annual General Meeting was held 25 November 2019 and heralds in the release of the AWA Strategic Plan 2020-2025 which sets the guidelines for business operations for the Board and staff to support, promote and advance the production of Wagyu.

To lead us through the initial phasing-in of the Strategic Plan in 2020, the AWA is delighted to announce our 13th President, Mike Buchanan, effective as of the 26th of November 2019.
The Office Bearers of the AWA Board for the 2019-20 period are:

President Mike Buchanan

Senior Vice President John Spreadborough

Junior Vice President Sharon Oates

Treasurer Charles Perry

Newly appointed Board Directors are Dean Pollard and Gina Lincoln and re-elected Board Director John Spreadborough.

Mike Buchanan and his wife Maggie own Ginjo Wagyu, a fullblood seedstock and feeder operation which commenced in 1998, on properties in the Tea Gardens and Gloucester areas of the NSW Mid North Coast. Joining up to 200 FB cows in good years the aim is to replicate leading Japanese sires and target early growth, carcase weight, marbling and maternal traits. Ginjo genetics and live exports have achieved global success since 2008. Mike has been on the AWA Board since 2014.

“In 2020 my AWA focus will be on the continuing improvement of our suite of EBVs, Indexes and other selection tools. Plus a new strategic emphasis on measuring and maintaining genetic diversity in the Australian Japanese Black herd”, Mike said.

Gina Lincoln is a well-respected consultant to the beef industry. Gina has extensive experience in feedlot management and Fullblood herds, having spent 12 years as general manager of Peechelba Beef Feedlot and seven years with Blackmore Wagyu overseeing the breeding, feeding and operations of the company.

Gina has extensive Board experience having served with the Australian Lotfeeders Association, Pfizer Animal Health Board and is the current Southern Campdraft President. Her hands-on experience with Wagyu will be a welcome addition to the AWA Board.

Dean Pollard is synonymous with Sahara Park Wagyu, breeding Fullblood genetics for the past five years and a member of the AWA since 2012. A keen advocate for BREEDPLAN, Dean is keen to improve the overall Wagyu genetics for the Australian industry.

Based in central Queensland as a mining and agricultural company director, Dean will bring business acumen and youthful energy, passion and commitment to the Wagyu industry as a Director on the AWA Board.

Returning Board Directors:
Peter Cabassi

Sharon Oates

Lorna Tomkinson

Chantal Winter

The Board and Association would like to extend our appreciation for the tireless work of outgoing Board Directors, Peter Krause and Peter Gilmour.

Peter Krause of Sunnyside Wagyu, was elected to the Board in October 2014 and was Chair of the Genetic Improvement Committee from 2015 -2019 overseeing the implementation of Single-Step Wagyu BREEDPLAN and BreedObject $Indexes. These two initiatives have resulted in 60,000 animals now being genotyped with 50K genomics and delivered improvements in EBV accuracy and genetic gain for members.

Peter Gilmour of Irongate Wagyu, served as President for the Board between 2015-2018 and was elected to the Board in 2005. Under Peter’s tenure and guidance as President, the Association adopted Single-Step BREEDPLAN, the transition to SNP DNA testing and the commercial introduction of the MIJ objective carcase cameras. Peter drove the implementation of corporate governance standards and process improvements as the company grew significantly during that period. Peter provided a high level of commercial diplomacy and professional leadership.

The Australian Wagyu Association bids farewell to Peter Krause and Peter Gilmour and looks forward to working with Dean and Gina.

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