John is the 3rd generation of the McConnel family to own Mt Brisbane.  He has served on the Droughtmaster board as a Director, is a classifier for the breed and was awarded life membership in 2012.  He was instrumental in getting many feedlot and carcass competitions started in SE Qld as he has always believed this is the best way to receive feedback on your cattle & compare them.  John is a Life Member of the Esk Show in recognition of his contribution to the show and is also on the Esk Jockey Club Board.

Carli lived and worked in Western Qld in the Ilfracombe area before marrying John in 1972.   After raising and educating 5 children she spent considerable time on the Droughtmaster Board and is now a Life member of that Society as well as spending time working with various weed and cattle management groups.   She works with the 3 local shows, Ag Force, writes for the DAAF publication, Beef Talk and is an active member of the SE Qld Beef Research Committee as well as maintaining a very active part in the general work at Mt Brisbane.   Hher most rewarding role, however, is as Maccy to her increasing number of grandchildren who are all introduced to the joys of country life at a very young age.

Our daughter Susie Sullivan lives outside Dalby with her husband Luke, their 2 year old daughter Gemma and baby son Charlie.  While currently on maternity leave, she has worked in Agribusiness Banking for the last ten years.  Susie has assumed responsibility for the marketing and promotion of the stud and both she and Luke are regular helpers on Mt Brisbane.  She has judged at numerous regional shows, has judged at the Royal Queensland Show, three times at the Toowoomba Royal Show and was invited by the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders Society to judge the Gatton Futurity in 2009.  She has spoken at a number of education days on topics ranging from “Cattle Selection” to “Obtaining Finance”. 

Don is now the mainstay of 'Mt Brisbane' living on the property with his wife Andrea. Don manages the day to day work of the property and is a regular exhibitor of prime cattle at the local shows. He is a classifier with the Droughtmaster Breed and is also on the senior judging panel. He has judged many regional shows in SE Qld and has judged twice at the Royal Queensland Show, included judging the Droughtmaster breed in 2012. In 2010 Don was named state winner in the Virbac Proud Achievers Award recognising the continuing herd improvement work he has undertaken at Mt Brisbane. Don is actively involved in the three local show societies (Kilcoy/Esk/ Toogoolawah) and is a steward in either Prime Cattle or Stud Cattle at each show, having been Chief Steward of the Prime Cattle Section at Esk for a number of years. He is also involved in the Esk Jockey Club Committee as assistant starter and barrier assistant.

Ian is married to Sheena and has two children, Ailee and Sam. He is the current Australian Rural Ambassador and in 2011 was named Cattle Council’s National Beef Industry Rising Champion. Ian studied Animal Studies at UQ Gatton before travelling the world as the Murray Grey youth ambassador and studied at Colorado State University before returning to work on Mt Brisbane. He began working for the DPI in 2003 as a sheep extension officer in Longreach, before moving back to SEQ in 2009 as a beef & grazing extension officer. In 2012 Ian commenced a new role as Project Coordinator – Sustainable Beef with the WWF (World Wildlife Fund). Ian works with industry and value chain members to encourage, and value, sustainable grazing practices.

Bruce is our youngest son, he is married to Alison and they have two young boys, Lachlan and James. Bruce completed a Bachelor of Agribusiness at UQ Gatton before commencing work in Agribusiness Banking in 2002.  He has worked in a number of Agribusiness Banking roles around Qld and NSW and is currently based out of Toowoomba as a Senior Agribusiness Manager.  He was one of the Youngest Judges appointed to judge at the Royal Queensland Show and has judged a number of rural shows throughout Southern QLD and Northern NSW. In 2009 Bruce was named the National Rural Ambassador.