The ACE senior management team has been working together since 2013, formerly as the management team of the North Australian Cattle Company (NACC), and in partnership since the commencement of Australian Cattle Enterprises in 2019.
Led by Patrick Underwood, the ACE team is well known and well respected in the industry and are experienced in all facets of live export including livestock management, procurement, shipping, feed lotting, animal welfare and commercial matters.
A third-generation Northern Territory pastoralist, Patrick Underwood is a leading figure in the northern Australian cattle industry with deep roots in both pastoral operations and live export. Before founding Australian Cattle Enterprises in 2019, he managed the North Australian Cattle Company (NACC) and held senior leadership roles in the industry as CEO of the Northern Territory Livestock Exporters Association (NTLEA) and General Manager of Livestock Exports at Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).
Recognised as the livestock industry’s Young Achiever of the Year in 2003, Patrick currently serves on the board of the Australian Livestock Exporters Council (ALEC) and is Vice Chairman of the NTLEA.
Louis le Roux brings over two decades of commercial and financial expertise across the agricultural, logistics, and infrastructure sectors. As CFO of ACE, he oversees the financial operations and commercial strategy of the business, with a focus on the complexities of international livestock trade. Louis plays a critical role in navigating the financial and commercial challenges of each export shipment—ensuring smooth, compliant, and timely execution amidst the dynamic demands of live cattle exports
Matt Reed leads animal welfare operations at ACE, drawing on more than three decades of experience in research, compliance, and animal management with CSIRO, NSW Department of Primary Industries, and Meat & Livestock Australia. Matt is responsible for every animal under ACE’s care—from station pickup through export quarantine, and ultimately to processing in overseas markets. His oversight ensures every animal is treated with the highest standard of care throughout its journey.
Born and raised in Darwin, Jack Page has spent his career in the northern Australian cattle industry, working across breeder and backgrounding properties in QLD, WA, and the NT. He has overseen the welfare of over 150,000 cattle as an onboard stockman on live export vessels to Asia and the Middle East. With experience both on land and at sea, Jack expertly coordinates ACE’s consignments to ensure the efficient and safe transportation of livestock from Australia to South-East Asia.