Meet our next group of YELs | World Egg Organisation

Brad McAuliffe

Australia

In his role as CEO of Surf Coast Eggs, Brad leads the organisation with a strong focus on sustainability, operations, and strategic partnerships. A passionate poultry farmer and entrepreneur, he has worked his way up from his beginnings as a chicken catcher. His first-hand industry knowledge spanning poultry handling through to farm operations — inspired him to establish and grow his own layer business.

Brad’s work has been recognised through industry accolades, including The Australian Young Entrepreneur Award (Food & Beverage) and, The 2025 Smart50 Regional Business Award. Through the YEL programme, Brad is eager to further refine his leadership capabilities and broaden his industry network by learning from the shared experiences of his peers.

Franswa Venter

Australia

As the Poultry General Manager at McLean Farms, Franswa oversees all aspects of poultry farming operations, encompassing both rearing and laying facilities, as well as the packing floor. His role involves strategic planning, daily operations management, and project leadership.

Over the course of the YEL programme, Franswa’s goal is to become an advocate for sustainable poultry farming, equipped with practical knowledge, leadership skills, and a robust network.

Heesun Yoo

South Korea

In her role as Director of Marketing at GanongBio, Heesun oversees all aspects of the marketing department, including brand management, content creation, package design, direct-to-consumer online sales, and customer service.

Heesun aims to gain further knowledge about the egg industry through the YEL programme, by communicating with major global players in the egg business. She anticipates practical outcomes from the programme and aims to build valuable relationships that deliver mutual benefit and growth.

Dr Ian Rubinoff

USA

As the Director of Sales for Hy-Line North America, interacts with a diverse range of farmers, as well as internal production and technical teams. He has nearly two decades of experience in the poultry sector, and has been a member of WEO’s Avian Influenza Global Expert Group since 2022, with his areas of expertise including avian diseases, biosecurity, lighting, data analysis, laying hen and breeder management, and public health.

Over the course of the programme, Ian’s goal is to learn more leadership and building connections from across the global industry. Glowing reviews of the YEL programme from previously participating colleagues inspired Ian to apply for this cohort.

Jandré Rossouw

South Africa

Jandré is the Chief Financial Officer of a fourth-generation egg production and processing business: Rossgro. During his two years in this position, he has successfully implemented improvement of systems, strategy and performance. His skillset has also helped guide the company through major challenges, including avian influenza outbreaks.

Jandré believes the YEL programme offers a unique platform to learn from global peers, engage with world-class leaders and broaden his perspective on best practices, innovation and succession planning.

Jorge Hernando Villamizar Diaz

Colombia

As well as being a Board Member for multiple influential poultry companies in Bucaramanga, Jorge’s main role is the Director of R&D at Inversiones JV SAS. He is a third-generation member of the company’s founding family and is proud to have led initiatives on automation, optimisation and adoption of technologies.

Jorge sees immense value in collaborating with like-minded peers with a similar sense of purpose and values, and believes that the platform for this provided by the YEL programme can help shape the future of the industry.

Laura Finco

Italy

Laura is the Business Developer of her family company, FACCO, and is the second-generation of actively working family members within the company. Her role involves corporate management responsibilities.

For Laura, being part of the YEL programme means the chance to contribute more effectively to her company’s strategic development and build industry relationships. She is specifically interested in the programme’s succession planning agenda, which will support her future trajectory.

Manolis Zouras

Greece

Manolis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Farma Pinelopi, the only vertically integrated egg production system in Greece. His visionary leadership is helping to drive the organisation towards becoming a regional leader in premium egg production.

The YEL programme will be an opportunity for Manolis to develop his confidence, collaborate with like-minded peers and meet key decision-makers. He is excited to represent Farma Pinelopi and the broader Greek egg sector within an international business setting.

Matt Vane

Canada

Matt sits on the Board of Directors for Egg Farmers of Canada, representing the Northwest Territories at a national level, as well as the Owner and Operator of egg producing company, Cherry Creek Enterprises. His 14 years of on-the-ground farming experience combined with his position as a key decision maker means Matt brings holistic perspectives of the Canadian egg industry to the table.

He hopes that the YEL programme will allow him to learn and apply lessons from an international level to positively impact Canadian farmers. On an individual level, Matt looks forward to collaborating and sharing experiences with other members of the industry.

Nina Furthner

Austria

In her role as Head of Operations at Poringer GmbH & Co KG, Nina is responsible for overseeing daily business operations, as well as the analysis and improvement of operational efficiency.

She believes that the YEL programme is a unique opportunity to meet like-minded peers and collectively strengthen their potentials. Nina is specifically interested in deepening her understanding of international egg markets and structures, as well as building a network of peers to help her continue contributing to the improvement of economic and ecological matters.

Sharath Ram SK

India

Sharath is the Executive Director of SKM Egg Products, where he leads the farm and feed division alongside R&D. He has a keen interest in One Health, antimicrobial resistance, and feed management innovations, with a view to place his organisation as a forerunner in the Indian egg sector.

For Sharath, the YEL programme offers an invaluable platform to exchange knowledge and learn from global industry pioneers. He is eager to bring insights from his experience as a poultry farmer with a vision of advancing the egg industry globally.

Stefan Rust

USA

Responsible for designing and installing new automation, retrofits, and system updates, Stefan is an Automation Engineer for Rose Acre Farms and represents the next generation of his family business.

For Stefan, the YEL programme is a platform to increase his familiarity within the global egg industry, armed with fresh innovation and ideas. Having attended WEO conferences in his younger years, he sees the programme as a unique opportunity to reconnect as a professional and build meaningful relationships with a diverse network of industry leaders.

Tawfeeq Brinkhuis

South Africa

Tawfeeq is the Production and Operations Manager at Chamomile Farming, a second-generation farm where he was born and raised. Immersed in agriculture from a young age, he has built 15 years of hands-on experience across a full-scale poultry operation. Under his management, the farm has grown from a modest start-up into a trusted supplier for major national chains.

Driven by both experience and ambition, Tawfeeq sees the YEL programme as an opportunity to maximise his potential as a young poultry farmer. He hopes to achieve this by learning from his peers, sharing experiences, and gaining insights that will support his continued growth within the industry.