Mrs Michelle Axford leads the Extension and Education team at the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS). Through her role Michelle supports farmers and their advisers to maximise the opportunity to benefit from genetic improvement. Michelle was born in Midland, Ontario, Canada. From an early age she developed a passion for dairy science through 4-H and her family’s Jersey herd. In 1994 she received BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, an MSc in 1996 followed by a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship to Massey University, New Zealand. Later, she completed a Graduate Diploma in Vocational Education and Training from Charles Sturt University, Australia. Since 2007, Michelle has managed the delivery of ADHIS genetics extension activities such as the Good Bulls Guide, Selectabull, genomic breeding values, Genetic Progress Report and recently led the National Breeding Objective Review. Michelle and her husband Michael operate a 280 cow dairy farm near Korumburra in South-East Victoria. They have two young children and maintain a strong community connection through involvement in local sporting, agricultural, music and education organisations.