Hard work, humility and opportunity: the making of a live export leader

When Jack Webb was named the 2025 Nutrien Ag Solutions Livestock Export Young Achiever of the Year, it recognised more than a decade of dedication to Australia's live export industry.

From station hand to shipboard stockperson to now managing an integrated livestock operation in Indonesia, Jack has built a career defined by hard work, continuous learning and a willingness to embrace new challenges.

Along the way, he has earned a reputation as one of the industry's emerging leaders, combining practical experience across the supply chain with a passion for people, livestock and innovation.

Today, as General Manager of PT. Indonesia Livestock Operations (ILO), Jack oversees an integrated paddock to plate business that connects northern Australian pastoral production with Indonesian consumers.

Yet despite his success, he remains firmly grounded in the lessons that first drew him to agriculture as a teenager.

His journey has never been about chasing titles or accolades. Instead, it has been about making the most of every opportunity, building strong relationships and remaining open to learning from those around him.

Those qualities have shaped a career that continues to go from strength to strength and positions him as one of the brightest young talents in the live export industry.

Live export wasn’t an inevitable career path for Jack who grew up in Cairns in North Queensland.

Although a capable student at school, the traditional classroom environment never completely captured his interest and by the age of 13, he began working at a local butchery, later commencing a school-based apprenticeship.

It was during this period that he became aware of Rural Industry Training and Extension (RITE) traineeships and the opportunities they offered young people seeking a pathway into agriculture.

Soon afterwards he found himself working on a cattle property near Charters Towers, stepping into an unfamiliar world.

"It was my first introduction to agriculture. Having grown up in Cairns, I was very green and had never ridden a horse or worked with cattle. But I very quickly came to the realisation that you don't have to be born into the industry to be passionate about it. I loved working cattle from day one," Jack said.

The transition from suburban to station life was a change that Jack relished but it wasn’t without its challenges.

Not only was his new home comparatively remote, he’d taken on a completely different lifestyle with no prior exposure to the cattle industry, had limited networking opportunities, no driver's licence and, in an era before social media, few ways to connect with others outside the station.

Fortunately, he found himself surrounded by nurturing and supportive mentors.

"The family was very supportive and their door was always open if I wanted to ask questions or needed advice," he said.

"I very quickly realised that if I worked hard, was keen to learn and made the most of the opportunities in front of me, that the rest would fall into place. Attitude is everything."

His introduction to live export came in 2012 after relocating to Victoria and working on a property agisted by livestock exporting company, AUSTREX.

There, he caught the attention of the late John Stewart, a highly respected figure within the industry who recognised Jack's potential and persistently encouraged him to consider working as a stockperson onboard live export vessels.

The persistence paid off and Jack embarked on his first voyage in September 2013, with the experience marking a turning point in his career trajectory.

"Live export voyages teach you some of the best lessons you'll ever learn," he said.

The experience challenged him to think differently, adapt quickly and develop new skills under pressure.

"You need to be adaptable, open-minded and always think outside the box. Something that might have worked the previous 10 times won't work on the 11th time, so you need to pivot and find an alternative solution, often in a very short timeframe.

"It hones your communication skills and ability to work as a team and teaches you to always think of others before yourself, particularly the animals which are your number one priority.

“They're invaluable lifelong lessons that have just as much application personally as they do professionally."

Since that first voyage, Jack’s career has spanned roles as an operations manager with NACC and Livestock Shipping Services, manager of Sharp's Export Depot in Portland and cattle buyer for AUSTREX.

Each position broadened his understanding of the supply chain and strengthened an already extensive network of industry contacts.

These days he is based in Jakarta, Indonesia, as General Manager of PT Indonesia Livestock Operations (ILO), part of the AAM Investment Group (AAM).

ILO sources cattle from AAM's northern pastoral stations, including Limbunya, Maryfield and Legune, before finishing them in Indonesia through the company's feedlot and processing operations.

The business is now entering an exciting new phase with the recent launch of a premium branded beef product, Anugerah Agri Makmur, aimed at delivering high-quality, trusted beef to Indonesian consumers.

Built around carefully selected composite-bred cattle, the branded beef program is targeting premium quality outcomes while strengthening the connection between Australian producers and Indonesian consumers.

The company's vision is captured in its simple but powerful tagline: Trusted Beef, raised in Australia, perfected in Indonesia.

For Jack, the project represents much more than a commercial opportunity. It demonstrates the evolution of the live export industry and its ability to deliver value across the entire supply chain.

 More importantly, it highlights the strength of an industry that continues to create pathways for people with humility, passion and dedication, creating opportunities for those who choose a career in agriculture.

As Australia's livestock export sector navigates new opportunities and challenges in the years ahead, leaders like Jack will play a critical role in shaping its future.

Based on his achievements so far, that future appears to be in very capable hands.

*Nominations for the 2026 Nutrien Ag Solutions Live Export Young Achiever of the Year award will open in early September. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to be notified when nominations open.

Photo credit AAM.