Four up and coming wool brokers recently took part in the 2025 National Council of Wool Selling Brokers Australia (NCWSBA) Broker Development Program.
Henry West, Brianna Spratling, Laura Erickson and Charlotte Crossen got a closer look at what happens to wool after it leaves the store and gained valuable insight into the broader industry.
The program brings together early career brokers from across the country to explore the wool pipeline from start to finish. It’s designed to build industry knowledge, grow confidence, and prepare participants for the Young Broker of the Year Award.
The group began with a visit to the Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA). The group toured the lab and saw how wool is tested for yield, fibre diameter, staple strength and other key traits.
Next, they headed to the Melbourne Wool Selling Centre for industry presentations, including a session from AWEX covering standards, certifications and sustainability programs.
At ABMT Textiles in Melton, the team saw firsthand how wool is knitted and dyed for local and global brands.
Henry West, a Wool Technical Officer based at Ravenhall, said the visits helped fill in some important gaps.
“Learning about weaving and dyeing was especially interesting, it’s not something I had much exposure to before” he said.
Brianna Spratling, also a Wool Technical Officer at Ravenhall, said seeing the technical side up close made a big difference.
“Understanding those steps is really useful, especially when it comes to supporting clients,” she said.
The group also heard from AWI’s Holly Byrne on grower engagement and industry networks, and from WoolProducers Australia's Adam Dawes, who spoke about policy, welfare, sustainability and trade.
The day wrapped up over dinner with Jim Robinson (EP Robinson) and Evan Croake (Techwool Trading), who gave their perspectives on early stage processing, exporting, and what’s happening in global markets.
For Charlotte Crossen, District Wool Manager in Western Australia, connecting with others in the industry was a big part of the value.
“It was great to chat with other young brokers and hear how they do things,” she said.
Laura Erickson, a Technical Wool Handler at Ravenhall, said the experience helped put everything in context.
“The more we understand about what happens to wool after it leaves our hands, the better we can explain it to others.”