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Landmark wool broker Candice Cordy’s hard work wins trip to Venice

Terry Sim, August 27, 2018

NCWSBA chairman John Colley, left, with broker award finalists, AWN’s Cassie Baile, winner Landmark’s Candice Cordy and Elders’ Sam Wan.

HELPING wool growers manage the marketing of prematurely shorn clips has helped Landmark Bendigo wool account manager Candice Cordy win Australia’s prestigious national broker award.

At the annual Wool Week dinner in Melbourne last week, Candice was credited by award judges with helping her clients mitigate market risk by educating them about earlier shearing opportunities.

She was also commended for her role in running of the world’s largest fleece competition at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo.

In the seventh year of the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia award, NCWSBA chairman John Colley said senior brokers couldn’t split the three finalists – Ms Cordy, Australian Wool Network northern wool technical officer Cassie Baile and Elders wool technical officer Sam Wan – after they gave “the most extraordinary three presentations that we’ve seen.”

The prize for the award is attendance at the International Wool Textile Organisation’s 2019 Congress in Venice, Italy, next April. Candice congratulated the other finalists and the Landmark wool team for their support.

The 30 year-old said she had helped clients manage shearing at six months and eight month intervals to reduce the risk of over-length staples and discounts for variation in their wool. She helped them evaluate the benefits and opportunities from earlier shearing and supported them in wool marketing.

“Shearing more often gives more opportunities to meet the market through the years as well, and generate better cash flow by having wool for sale more often.”

Depending on their operation, some clients have shorn every eight months for the first two years and then revert to six-monthly shearing.

“It is certainly an emerging practice and it is bringing the industry back to a real production focus.”

Candice said she has been involved in the National Fleece Competition for seven years and convenor since 2017.

“Seasonal conditions haven’t seen record numbers, but this year we increased our entry numbers seven percent on the previous competition.”

Candice grew up on the family farm near Bendigo, completed a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of Melbourne, Dookie Campus, and started in the Landmark graduate program. In her current role, she assists clients with clip preparation, wool marketing advice, sheep classing and ram selection. She is also involved with the Elmore Field Day ‘Ewes for the Future Trial’ and assists with the selection of trial sheep and operations.

The award judges were WoolProducers Australia vice president Ed Storey, AWTA general manager – raw wool, Ian Ashman, and Stock and Land editor Annabelle Cleeland. Mr Storey said Ms Cordy had demonstrated benefits to her clients through advice on timing of shearing, sheep classing and wool marketing.

“They were three exceptional candidates who all filled different roles within their companies.

“It is great to see intelligent young women making a commitment to the wool industry.”

Ms Cleeland said she felt particularly privileged to be part of “this progressive shift in industry where it is women’s time to shine.” She said all three finalists epitomised the modern broker and excelled in their role to care for their clients.

Cassie was been credited with achieving premiums for her clients through Sustainawool accreditation, introduced efficiencies into the AWN New South Wales team on show floor and through an innovative transaction process.

Elders wool technical co-ordinator Sam Wan was commended for her passion and enthusiasm for wool broking, and her role as a digital disruptor.

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