2026 | Agriculture
In honour of Frank Mansell
Supported by the BBM community
“We must do everything to ensure the sustainability aspects of wool are at the forefront of everyone’s mind.”
I followed my dad and grandfather into wool classing and come from a family with a long history of growing wool. Classing wool into different lines of quality and length helps processors reduce scouring and production time, water use and energy consumption. This provides an economic premium and, more importantly, a more environmentally sustainable supply chain.
Seeing first-hand the benefits of working abroad during my brother’s Global Footprints program encouraged me to apply. I would like to understand sheep breeds and how their wool types, genetics and characteristics fit into the global textile industry, as well as how producers are tackling sustainability in an uncertain climate.
I would like to travel to the United Kingdom, with Scotland as a focus. I am hoping to gain insight into the UK wool and rural industries and how farmers and shearing contractors are navigating legislation, environmental pressures and rising costs, so I can impart these ideas back in Australia.
“Tom is a well-rounded applicant with good potential to contribute knowledge back to the Australian industry.”
- Assessor Panel