TECHWOOL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Wool Buyer Southern Region
Brendon Miller is the Southern markets fleece buyer and is based in Geelong.
Following in his father's footsteps, Brendon learned to shear and spent long days in the shearing shed prior to heading off to the Melbourne College of Textiles to take on wool classing. He has been in and around the industry for thirty years, gaining a vast knowledge of wool and its applications.
Brendon regularly sources wool at auction, and his ability to identify the best value wool (quality & price) has been proven repeatedly over the years by the high standard of fleece deliveries to Chinese and European mills and fabric makers.
Job Titles:
- General Manager / Export Trade Manager
Having family members in the wool industry, Glen saw it as a ‘natural' to head off to Textile College to do wool classing as soon as he left school. As a trainee wool classer in the late '70s, he worked hard to develop the skills he relies on today. Glen has a thorough understanding of the market and wool types. He provides on the spot valuation / pricing for the many growers who take advantage of the Techwool Door Sale System. He loves working with the team, and considers his 20 plus years at Techwool a rewarding vocation. "Whether it's a hundred bales or one bale, treating grower clients with the same respect, is our promise" says Glen.
Job Titles:
- TWT Hamilton Wool Depot Manager
Job Titles:
- TWT Hamilton Wool Buying Manager
Job Titles:
- TWT Benalla & Mansfield Depot Manager
Keith began in the wool industry attending the Melbourne College of Textiles. Studying Wool Production and Wool Handling, he progressed quickly and landed a buying position for a large international wool trading company. Realising his love of the land, he spent a couple of years wool classing for shearing sheds throughout Australia, before moving on to various wool supply, buying and selling roles in the industry. Owning his own greasy wool broking business in the mid-90s Keith developed a close relationship with Techwool, eventually moving across to manage the Techwool Depot at Benalla. Keith still does a lot of kilometres, travelling to growers around the region with a ‘can do' attitude. He just loves the whole process of buying wool, (he adds "it can be addictive") to managing wool store logistics, blending, appraisals and valuing. What he enjoys most about his work is the face-to-face contact with growers, endeavouring to assist through his knowledge and in depth understanding of the industry processes.
Job Titles:
- Wool Manager Southern Region, Export Trader
Ken Welsh's expertise in buying crossbred fleece, merino skirtings, lamb fleece and all types of carding wool, stems from a keen appetite for knowledge and experience as a youth. From working as a general rouse-about to shearer and graduating as a wool classer, Ken developed his love for the industry. He progressed to wool buying in the late ‘70s, and has worked with Techwool in buying and exports for the last 20 years. Developing a knowledge base to be reckoned with, Ken advises that there is still plenty to learn, given the growing and evolving nature of the industry. Ken's regular contact with his woolgrower client base combined with servicing the TWT Indian client base, gives him a holistic view of the state of the industry at any given moment in time.
Job Titles:
- TWT Kingston S.E. Depot Manager
Job Titles:
- Laverton Store Manager & Wool Buyer
Job Titles:
- Benalla / Buying / Wool Store
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Owner & Managing Director of TWT
With over 45 years in the wool industry, he has experienced many different periods of wool supply, manufacturing demand, export destinations and technology.
His wealth of experience is complemented by a genuine consideration for the health and longevity of the wool industry.
Rod says, "We offer our services to customers small and large and pride ourselves in providing a quality service as well as a quality product. We are not just a trading company, we are a wool company and we can advise mills in the best possible wool types required to achieve their desired outcome".
Through Rod's mentorship and consistent business ethics, Techwool has forged mutually rewarding partnerships with local woolgrowers and export clients.
Rod Franklyn, Managing Director founded the company in 1983 and from humble beginnings, Techwool has progressed to being one of Australia's leading wool traders, exporting in excess of 220,000 bales per year.
Rod's consistent and sound business ethics, have earned Techwool an excellent reputation with wool growers and export clients alike.
Job Titles:
- Southern Region Wool Buyer & Trader
Job Titles:
- Wool Buyer Northern Region
Before joining the wool trade, Stuart completed his formal education in textiles at the Melbourne College of Textiles. He didn't stop there… further study earned him degrees in science, education and marketing. However, wool was calling and ‘brokering' was his starting place in the trade. Stuart worked in the store and travelled the country representing his employer. After a few years he moved on to learn the buying and exporting side of things. Stu says he has always felt lucky and privileged to be taught the business by the "old timers". Over the past 30 years Stu has never stopped learning and adding to his knowledge. He has travelled extensively representing the Australian Wool Trade, working with overseas consumers as well as processors. Stuart believes "Wool runs in his veins" and is delighted to be a member of the Techwool team.
She manages all the aspects of shipping, customs regulatory requirements and documentation for more than 2500 export consignments per year. (She loves a challenge!) Tricia has comprehensive experience in both local transport logistics and shipping. No matter how big or how small, Tricia's ultimate reward is that Techwool clients are looked after. Tricia regularly reviews, and refines the processes, constantly looking to improve flexibility and turn around times for Techwool overseas clients.