WOOL brokers are encouraged to enter the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia wool broker award for their chance to win a trip to Istanbul.
The annual award, in its fifth year, recognises excellence in service to woolgrowers, auctioneering and innovation by a wool broker employee who is working for a national council member and has been in the industry for 10 years or less.
Council president Simon Hogan said the award aimed to promote wool broking and the Australian wool industry as an interesting prospective career for young people, including graduates.
"The more knowledge you have got beyond the wool broker gives you a point of difference against your fellow brokers," Mr Hogan said.
"It is a very competitive environment so everyone is looking for an edge on competitiveness and this prize provides that to young brokers."
Mr Hogan said the awards aimed to raise the profile of and increase the understanding of the important role of brokers.
"The networks and knowledge gained provided the winners with a firsthand view of the key issues faced by the wool industry across the world," he said.
"The Istanbul prize will allow the winner to understand the issues further up the supply chain and they can ask questions and investigate and really get a handle on the entire industry."
The prize in 2016 is an all-expenses paid trip to attend the 2017 International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, in May.
There will also be an opportunity to visit mills to learn about the Turkish wool textile industry.
The prize is supported by sponsors AWTA Ltd and Fairfax Agricultural Media.
Last year's winner Matthew Thomas, Landmark, won a trip to the IWTO Congress in Sydney in April and to the Nanjing Wool Market Conference in China in September.
Full details and the application forms are available from the council office or ncwsba@woolindustries.org.
Applications close on July 1.
An independent selection panel will review all the applications and short listed candidates will be notified by July 22.
Candidates will be expected to attend the council's annual general meeting on August 25, to give a short presentation in support of their nomination.
The winner will be announced at the Wool Week dinner on Thursday, August 25, at Aerial, South Wharf, Melbourne.
Annabelle Beale
National Sheep & Wool Writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media
National Sheep & Wool Writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media
