BROOMEHILL farmer Miles Barritt is one of two new recruits to join Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) this year under its graduate training program launched last year.
Mr Barritt was raised on his family’s sheep and grain farm where he was involved with sheep and wool from a very early age.
He went on to study at The University of Western Australia where he graduated with a master’s degree in Commerce.
The other recruit through the graduate program is Emma Murphy from Galong, north west of Yass, in New South Wales.
Ms Murphy grew up on ‘Yamagalli’, a commercial mixed farm and like Mr Barritt had extensive exposure to wool production from a young age helping her family on the farm.
She studied agriculture economics at the University of Sydney where she is a member of the Ag society.
The two started their careers in the wool industry this week with AWI under its 2019 graduate training program.
They were selected for the 18-month program following a rigorous process which saw AWI’s human resources team screen more than 250 applicants.
AWI chief executive officer Stuart McCullough welcomed Mr Barritt and Ms Murphy to the AWI team and to the graduate training program which provides participants with a thorough understanding of the wool supply chain from fibre to fashion.
“Emma and Miles are embarking on an 18-month program which is primarily based at the AWI office in Sydney, where they will gain exposure to many areas of the AWI business from on-farm and off-farm R&D (research and development) through to marketing,” Mr McCullough said.
“Emma and Miles will also gain a global exposure to the wool supply chain through two three-month international rotations in London, Shanghai and Hong Kong,” he said.
Mr McCullough highlighted that the graduate program is part of AWI’s people resources program which is focussed on attracting passion and talent to the industry and on succession planning.
“We are focussed on attracting and retaining the best talent to the wool industry and we see the graduate program as one of the mechanisms to future proof human resources in our industry,” Mr McCullough said.
“The graduate program has enabled us to create a talent pipeline of more than 300 young graduates who are connected with the agricultural industry and who have a passion for the land and wool.
“To be able to tap into this emerging talent pool provides benefits to both AWI and the wool industry.”
Applications for next year’s AWI graduate training program open on Monday, April 1, and close on Tuesday, April 30.
To apply, select the AWI Graduate Training Program at www.wool.com/careers or apply through Seek or LinkedIn.
