A NEW but familiar face will be taking over in 2017 as CEO of the Cattle Council.

Duncan Bremner prepares to take the reigns over the council after previous CEO Jed Matz spent four years in the position.

For Cattle Council president and beef producer Howard Smith, there was nothing fishy about the new appointment.

"Mr Matz has been very successful in his time as CEO,” Mr Smith said.

"He has helped lead the industry through a very prosperous period and he decided it was time to move on.”

Duncan Bremner who already has a wealth of experience in leadership positions, was an easy decision for the new appointment said Mr Smith.

"Duncan has a range of rural experience that makes him a perfect choice,” he said.

"He has worked with Animal Medicines Australia, the Australian Road Train Association and he has even been a journalist.”

However it is the political experience of Mr Bremner that will make him most integral to this position said Mr Smith.

"Over the next year, especially with the developments in the global and domestic beef industry, Mr Bremners background in politics will be important,” he said.

"Mr Bremner was first secretary to former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson and has worked with the rural based national party.”

Mr Smith said that the cattle council is hoping to move towards an all direct elected membership so more beef producers can participate in the course of the beef industry.

"To make this transition better we need a long term funding stream and the ability to communicate and participate, and with Mr Bremners contacts and experience this will be easier to achieve,” he said.

The future for the beef industry in 2017 seems somewhat unpredictable, but a new council structure and Bremners appointment are positives for the industry said Mr Smith.

"These are exciting times forth we should be optimistic,” he said.

"If we can get it right and get out of the commodity phase it'll be a bright future.”

This article was originally sourced from Chinchilla News and written by Rory Hession.