Save the Date details released for LambEx 2026

Organisers of Australia’s biggest sheep industry conference, LambEx, have issued a Save The Date to industry participants with the release of dates and a confirmed venue for the 2026 edition.

LambEx 2026 will be held at the world-renowned and ideally located Adelaide Convention Centre in South Australia from 8 to 10 July in 2026.

LambEx was successfully revived in August last year after a 6-year hiatus with a record 1,400 industry participants attending LambEx 2024 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Attendees represented the fields of sheep production, processing, retailing, innovation, science, education and government among others.

Kerry Harris, the Chair of 28 National (a wholly owned subsidiary of Sheep Producers Australia and which is responsible for the LambEx brand), encouraged sheep producers, and all others involved or interested in the sheep industry from around the nation and beyond to Save The Date.

“The feedback from those that attended the revived LambEx last year was very positive with almost four out of every five attendees indicating they were likely to return because of their experience at LambEx 2024 in Adelaide,” Ms Harris said.

Clare Scriven, the South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development said LambEx is an event that appeals strongly to industry participants from around Australia as well as overseas.

“Almost two-thirds of attendees at LambEx 2024 held last August came from outside of South Australia with 25 per cent from New South Wales and 18 per cent from Victoria while 5 per cent or nearly 70 attendees were from overseas,” Minister Scriven said.

“Importantly, LambEx 2024 provided a significant economic contribution to South Australia of almost $3.5 million and we expect, off the back of this success, for the 2026 event to deliver even bigger economic returns to our state’s economy.”

Sheep Producers Australia Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Skinner said the industry had been buoyed by the success of LambEx 2024 and looked forward to July 2026.

Australia’s lamb industry leads the world in innovation and quality. LambEx provides an amazing platform to showcase our sector on both a national and international stage,” Ms. Skinner said.

“Sheep Producers Australia was proud to work on getting LambEx back on to the industry calendar last year, and we are committed to supporting its continued success in 2026.”

Ms Harris said 28 National was very thankful to both the Australian and South Australian Governments for their support of LambEx.

“We are particularly thankful for the partnerships we have formed with Business Events Adelaide and the Adelaide Convention Centre in advance of LambEx 2026. We look forward to working with them as well as bringing on other major sponsors and partners in coming months.”

New LambEx 2026 taskforce

After a comprehensive selection process, 28 National can announce the Chair and members of the new skills-based LambEx Taskforce. This Taskforce will be charged with preparing for and hosting future LambEx events including LambEx 2026.

The Taskforce will be chaired by Jamie Heinrich, a 7th-generation South Australian sheep farmer, co-owner and manager of Ella Matta Pastoral on Kangaroo Island. Jamie has extensive experience across many facets of the Australian sheep industry.  He chairs Agriculture Kangaroo Island and serves as a director of Sheep Producers Australia, 28 National, and the Sheep Sustainability Framework, as well as being a member of the Meat and Livestock Australia Board Selection Committee. 

“I am passionate about the future of the sheep industry and look forward to leveraging the positive momentum of LambEx24 and driving further industry collaboration and innovation through LambEx,” Mr Heinrich said.

“There is a lot of work to do over the coming 18 months, but I am confident, with the quality of members appointed to the LambEx Taskforce we can once again deliver a world-class industry event in Adelaide.”

The other members of the Taskforce are (bios in full in attached booklet):

• Ashlee Wachtel – South Australian based animal health consultant
• Chloe Smart – coming from South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, Chloe is an agriculture sector training coordinator
• Dan Korff – a Rabobank agribusiness manager
• Emma McCrabb – NSW Riverina-based sheep producer
• Mark Ferguson – Co-Founder & Director of neXtgen Agri
• Nathan Scott – Victorian sheep industry consultant & innovator
• Paul Nenke – WA Sales Manager at Milne Feeds, & previously a sheep producer in the WA wheatbelt
• Sammy McIntyre – Fleurieu Peninsula sheep producer & Nuffield Scholar
• Tim Leeming – Victorian Western District sheep producer & innovator

The Taskforce has been appointed by the board of 28 National, the entity responsible for LambEx, following an Expression of Interest process that received a strong number of applications.

Over the next 18 months, the Taskforce will bring LambEx 2026 to life. Key tasks include:

• Recommending a professional conference organiser (formally appointed by the 28 National Board via an Open Tender process)
• Program curation and speaker selection
• Ensuring the conference aligns with industry priorities by continuously engaging with key stakeholders across the supply chain, including producers, processors, exporters, and researchers.
• Sponsor engagement
• Host city engagement
• Post conference review and evaluation

The new Taskforce is a key element of the reform of the governance model, reform which ensures LambEx remains a vital and beneficial event for Australia’s sheep industry for many years to come.