Future Leaders Strengthen Australia–China Wool Ties
Eight Australian Future Wool Industry Leaders recently returned from a tour of Chinese wool processing mills and their attendance at the Nanjing Wool Market Conference.
Made possible by a grant provided by the Australian Government’s National Foundation for Australia–China Relations (NFACR) and organised by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), the opportunity to bring future wool industry leaders has proved invaluable for both business and cultural exchange.
The shared view was that opportunities like this — built on genuine business and cultural exchange — are exactly what the industry needs to keep moving forward with confidence.
John Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Wool Innovation said AWI has been overwhelmed with the Australian wool industry's positive reaction to the grant from the National Foundation for Australia–China Relations.
“Brokers, exporters and of course woolgrowers have seen real value in future wool industry leaders visiting China and seeing China's commitment, investment and optimism in wool,” he said.
“Without the support of the Foundation that experience would not be possible.
“Upon their return to Australia the good news of their experience in China is being shared by these industry ambassadors.
“Continued people-to-people engagement will further lock in the connections between Australia and China in one of our largest agricultural exports.”
The group was nominated and selected by industry representatives and AWI’s Wool Industry Consultation Panel (WICP) with selection criteria based around demonstrated commitment to the industry.
The 10-day program included visits to Icicle Flagship store in Shanghai, Tianyu, JHT Home Textiles, Redsun/Sunwoo, Xinao Spinning, Shanghai Challenge and vertically integrated Nanshan Group in Longkou. A key part of the tour was attendance and participation in the 36th Nanjing Wool Market Conference in Nanjing attended by over 400 international wool delegates from all major woolgrowing countries.
One future leaders’ participant, Lindsay Brown, who is currently working at Elders Dubbo as district wool manager, said a major take-away from the trip for him was the of confidence the Chinese have in the quality of Australian wool as a product.
“This is shown through the level of investment in processing facilities for wool and it gives me confidence that there is a future for the Australian industry,” Lindsay said.
“Building relationships between Australia and China have never been more important in the currently challenging geo-political climate.
“They are our biggest trading partner for wool, and we are their biggest supplier. We both have a united interest in ensuring the wool industry keeps driving forward.”
Another representative from the group, Emily Stretch, who presented at the conference, said the biggest eye-opener for her was discovering how closely aligned Australian and Chinese businesses really are.
“The biggest learning for me is that we run our businesses in exactly the same way — any unnecessary steps that don’t make us money get cut quickly, and we need to be as efficient as possible with labour, time and investment,” she said.
“That means we can have very honest conversations with each other about the challenges we face in our own businesses. I’m incredibly grateful to the Foundation for funding this trip because I now have lifelong Australian friends and lifelong Chinese friends. Strengthening those relationships by sharing how we each make a living is the best way to find common ground.”
Future leader Gabby Neal, woolgrower and owner of her own Merino wool label ‘INTACT’, had the opportunity to sit on the panel for the finished product session and said sitting on the global stage in front of around 500 major participants in the wool industry was a “pinch me moment”.
Josh Lamb, President of the Australian Council of Wool Exporters and Processors (ACWEP) said Nanjing Wool Conference is an opportunity to show China and the international industry that Australia produces the best wool apparel clip in the world.
“To have that supported by this group of young next generation growers is the envy of other wool producing countries,” Mr Lamb said.
“The partnership between AWI and the National Foundation for Australia–China Relations is vital for the industry’s future.
“These young people aren’t just the next generation of wool leaders – they share a common drive to see wool succeed.
“They are progressive and positive and will take away knowledge and experience that will enhance their own businesses.”
AWI is now in the early planning stages for a reciprocal arrangement to again bring future wool industry leaders from China to Australia at the start of 2026.
