Rod Franklyn

Rod Franklyn is the 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.

Josh Lamb

For over 30 years, Josh has had an intimate knowledge of wool, its industry and its processes from the farm through to end-user.

Growing up on a sheep station in western New South Wales, he went on to study ‘Sheep Management and Wool Technology’. After graduating, Josh landed straight into the buying side, never missing a beat with his passion for wool.

From buying to exporting, Josh has developed an extensive network of contacts domestically and overseas.

He is a fan for wool, gaining great satisfaction from servicing and exacting the needs of Techwool Trading clients.

Being the elected Buyers Representative on the National Auction Selling Committee, Josh travels regularly within Australia (as well as overseas) keeping his hand on the pulse. As a result, Josh is sought after for his considered commentary on the industry.

Ken Welsh

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.

Brendon Miller

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.

Geoff Stevens

Geoff Stevens began his working career with TWT in his late teens. With Rod’s guidance and encouragement, Geoff developed his skills in all aspects of TWT business from the ground up.

At thirty-four years service, his knowledge of wool from superfine fleece to XB oddments is nothing short of comprehensive.

Geoff is Country Manager for Techwool, providing the company country depots, woolgrowers and country dealers with up to the minute market advice, valuations and pricing.

Phil Schultz

Shearing all day and school at night was a tough way to get your qualifications, but that is how Phil started his career in the wool industry.

Phil’s family were growers of fine wool and he lived and breathed it, honing his skills from shed hand to shearer to wool classer and on to buying in the late 80s.

Phil has managed the Techwool depot in Hamilton for the last 15 years. The bulk class facility, core line and wool testing operations providing a great base for the growers in the surrounding districts of Hamilton.

Phil provides growers with sound, well considered advice and takes pride in providing on the spot, upfront honest appraisals and valuations.

Stephen Lomman

Stephen has a motto…. it runs as follows “Good service is giving people a little bit more than they expect. Excellent service is enjoying giving people a little more than they expect” well, it goes without saying, he enjoys his job.

For over 37 years, Stephen has been intimately involved in the wool industry. From growing wool, to classing (graduating in the ’70s) and on to the buying side, his consummate knowledge is invaluable in managing the Techwool depot at Kingston.

Stephen loves working with new clients, and finds helping his existing clients prepare their wool clips for market a most satisfying and mutually rewarding task.

With eighteen years with Techwool and a member of the Wool Classers’ Association of Australia, he is well up to date with the latest wool industry issues and standards.

Keith Robertson

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.

Russell Fraser

Russell represents Techwool in Western Australia. As Senior Wool Buyer, he regularly attends wool auctions, and visits private dealers to purchase wool that converts perfectly to the needs and satisfaction of Techwool clients.

On the job training and Wool School infused Russell with his passion for wool.

Developing his knowledge and skills as a junior buyer in the late ’80s he quickly found his feet in the industry and went on to work in varying capacities for major wool companies until finally landing with Techwool in 2011.

Russell attributes his insight, knowledge and good access in sourcing quality wool to building strong relationships with brokers, dealers and other wool buyers.

“Buying the correct wool, delivering the right quality and variety is paramount. We honour our customer’s needs without compromise, it’s our duty to source the wool grade to the letter.” says Russell.

Stuart Greenshields

Stuart heads up the Techwool presence in the Northern Region. He deals with everything from buying wool at Auction to satisfying his Techwool customer requirements with correct wool types for their processing.

He specialises in valuing the ever-changing wool clip and has a great feel for current market trends and micron pricing.

Stuart spent his childhood learning the ropes on the family wool-growing farm. Graduating from the Melbourne College of Textiles, he began his career in the industry wool buying in Sydney. With seven years experience working in wool buying arena, he joined the Techwool team in 2008.

Stuart’s experience and in-depth understanding of wool has enabled him to stand in good stead, consistently delivering the right wool type to satisfy the desired manufacturing outcome. Stuart says, “Taking plenty of time to learn what the customer needs and advising on what type of wool is best suited for their processes is very important to me.”

Cameron Stevens

Cameron is a part of the Techwool presence at the open cry auction rooms in Melbourne, bidding and buying greasy wool to fulfil the company’s export orders.
Cam began work at Techwool and confesses ‘he caught the bug’ pretty early in the piece.
Learning the ropes in a variety of roles from general hand to forklift operation to running the core testing line he set out to learn as much as he could.
Obtaining his Wool Classing qualifications, Cam co-ordinated Techwool’s showfloor and auction catalogue, whilst honing his valuing skills.
Eventually moving onto the challenge of buying at auction, he is keen to pay his dues and expand his knowledge in the international trading arena.
Nearing ten years at Techwool, Cam has a real passion for wool and is committed to the industry. He’s genuinely excited about the future of what he refers to as ‘this great fibre and fantastic industry’.

Paul Kinnaird

At year 10 in secondary college, Paul did ‘work experience’ on a sheep and grain farm. Paul recalls ‘this was when I got interested in the wool and sheep industry’. After completing school, Paul pursued his interest and began work as a farmhand, rousing on various farms, including a Merino Sheep Stud. He went on to learn shearing on the job, and backed it up by studying Wool Handling at TAFE as well as obtaining his Certificate II in Shearing.

Paul relishes the travel involved in his work, looking after the Mallee in Victoria and the Northern, more remote parts of South Australia. ‘Meeting new and great people, learning how individual growers manage their sheep and wool clip, is a real bonus for me’ says Paul.

Paul considers knowing and understanding the grower’s job is a must, and his commitment to helping growers market their wool is a given.

‘Often and open communication is the key’ says Paul… ‘I try to help with any problem large or small, in any way I can’.

Warwick Eddington

Warwick is the Techwool ‘go to’ man with the key responsibility of Financial Controller for the entire company.

Apart from being a wiz with the Techwool programmes and numbers, he manages the admin team and enjoys ensuring all the systems run smoothly.

Warwick recently handled the building and moving logistics of the large, modern head office/warehouse at Laverton.

“The move is certainly proving to be valuable one, streamlining the processes that affect our clients…” says Warwick.

When you want to know how the system works or who to ask… Warwick is your man. He has over twenty years of knowledge and experience in the accounting and administration arena, and is always happy to help.

Tricia Reynolds

Tricia provides high-level service in shipping Australia’s wool to the world.

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.

Cherrie Owen-Smith

Cherrie joined the Techwool Trading team three years ago. With an extensive background in corporate marketing and small business, she has embraced the mission of marketing the company’s services and ethos to its local and export clients.

“The industry is such an interesting one, full of history as well as continuous innovation, it’s a joy to work with” she says.

Alongside the marketing, and motivated by a challenge, Cherrie has assumed various special projects for Techwool Trading. These include updating and implementation of the OHS plan and working through the accreditation process for company’s participation in the Australian Trusted Trader Programme.

Cherrie explains… “Every day is different, stimulating and busy; it’s a great place to work and it’s really satisfying to work with the team”.

Glen Ludolff

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.