Future Australian Wool Industry Leaders Shine in China
Ten (10) Australian Future Wool Industry Leaders have returned from a tour of Chinese wool processing mills and their attendance at the Nanjing Wool Market Conference.
The program was organized by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and was a key part of a grant provided by the Australian Government’s National Foundation for Australia-China Relations (NFACR).
AWI Chief Executive John Roberts said the study tour provided an opportunity for business and cultural exchange.
“This was an outstanding group of young people involved in the wool industry and showed the strong commitment and passion of Australian wool industry youth engaging with key partners throughout the wool supply chain.
The group was nominated and selected through AWI’s Wool Industry Consultation Panel (WICP) with selection criteria based around demonstrated commitment to the industry as an industry volunteer or ongoing career development and their drive for engagement of the wool supply chain. The group aged between 20 and 30 years (4 female & 6 male) were representatives across five (5) states”.
The 10-day program included visits to Icicle Flagship Store & ‘The Beast Home’ homeware in Shanghai, Donghua University/Wool Education Centre, Tianyu, JHT Wuxi, Redsun/Sunwoo, Xinao Spinning, Shanghai Challenge & vertically integrated Nanshan Group (Longkou).
A key part of the tour was attendance and participation in the 35th Nanjing Wool Market Conference in Tongxiang, attended by over 400 internal wool delegates from all major woolgrowing countries and included the President of IWTO, Mr Klaus Steger.
An Australian Woolgrower Reception attended by over 50 key Australian and Chinese traders saw the Future Wool Industry Leader group front and centre, engaging with delegates across all sectors of the industry.
Kate McBride, speaking on behalf of the group said: “We have learnt an exceptional amount and look forward to sharing this with friends and family when we return to Australia.
It has also been amazing to see the investment in the wool industry over here and it makes us feel the future of wool is bright. While there are many challenges we face with wool growing, especially low prices at the moment, we are grateful to have a partner in China that understands these challenges. This trip is about us learning and opening up new relationships between the next generation of Australian growers and Chinese traders and manufacturers and I’ve seen it happening before my own eyes.”
Other representatives from the group also presented at the Conference, including Brittany Bolt on feed efficiency and -farm methane mitigation R&D, and James Carter on the Australian broad wool sector.
President of the Australian Council of Wool Exporters Josh Lamb echoed their positive sentiment saying: “The Future Wool Industry Leaders Tour is a great partnership by AWI and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations. They are great group of young people with common goals in mind for wool’s success but with very diverse ideas and experience. They are a credit to the industry.”
CEO of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations Gary Cowan said, “The Foundation is pleased to support AWI’s 2024 Future Wool Industry Leaders program. China is our largest wool export market and an important trading partner across all our agricultural industries. Building the capability of the next generation of Australian woolgrowers to engage competently with China, by giving them opportunities to participate in industry building activities and to form enduring relationships with Chinese partners, strengthens the resilience of our trading relationship.”
The NFACR grant funding will also be used for a reciprocal arrangement to bring future wool industry leaders from China to Australia at the start of 2025 and then a second Australian delegation will go to China in mid-2025.
The 2024 Future Wool Industry Leaders group consisted of:
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Kate McBride Woolgrower & Advocate Tolarno Station, NSW/SA |
Brittany Bolt Woolgrower/Researcher Wagin, WA |
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Tom Sleigh Woolgrower “Kooringal” Jerilderie, NSW |
Miranda McGufficke Woolgrower ‘Willarney’ Cooma NSW |
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Clive Silcock Woolgrower Gringegalgona Merino Stud, Vic |
Jack Finch Wool Broker/Woolgrower Wool Shute Bell, NSW |
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James Carter Woolgrower/Ag Services Dalby, QLD |
Padraic (Paddy) Lowe Woolgrower/sheep classer Crookwell, NSW |
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Ben Stace Wool Broker Australian Wool Network, Vic |
Emma Pearson Woolgrower New England, NSW |
About the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations
The National Foundation for Australia-China Relations works to promote enhanced cooperation between Australia and China. For more information about the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, visit australiachinafoundation.org.au
Delegates and Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, H E Mr Scott Dewar (middle) with Madam Yang - Chairwoman of the Nanjing Wool Market
