Richard Rains grew up on a mixed farm near Dunedoo in the central west of NSW. Educated at boarding school in Sydney and went on to a cadetship with Dalgety. Whilst there, in 1974, he sold the first beef to Korea that the country ever imported and it quickly grew to become Australia’s third-largest export market for beef, which it remains today. Richard then joined Sanger Australia (a meat export marketing co) in 1976 and by 2000 he owned a majority stake in the business. He sold his equity in the company in 2013 in a management buy-out. In the late 1990’s he convinced McDonalds that they should use Aussie beef in their burgers in North America and was instrumental in establishing that trade for Australia. Richard also helped establish the prominent processor/marketer of organic beef and lamb, The Arcadian Organic and Natural Meat Co. Richard has Chaired The Zanda McDonald Award since 2015.

Richard’s roles:

• Sanger Australia 1976~2013 (CEO from 2000~2013).
• A founding director of The Arcadian Organic and Natural Meat Co, a significant processor and marketer to domestic and export markets of organic and natural beef and lamb from 2005~2015.
• The Australian Export Council ~ Member of the Advisory Board from 2013 ~ 2015.
• Cattle Council of Australia ~ Member of the Marketing, Market Access and Trade committee from 2013 ~ 2015
• The Co-operative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies (Beef CRC) ~ director from 2008 to 2012.
• A Director of CAG (Certified Angus Group) representing the Angus beef brands CAAB and Angus Pure 2013~2017.
• Member of the 1st year of The Industry Steering Group for the Australian Beef Industry Sustainability Framework.
• A Director of Paraway Pastoral Co (Paraway owns and operates large-scale sheep and cattle enterprises across Australia).
• Country Education Foundation. 2016 ~ 2021.
• Richard was a mentor in the Beef Connections Graeme Acton Mentoring Program leading up to the 2018 Beef Australia event.
• Australian Export Heroes award ~ recipient 2012