Rural & Agriculture
4 November, 2025
Local wool ambassador hits the global stage
STOCKYARD Hill farmer Katherine Bain is proving that the future of agriculture is in good hands. Passionate, capable and quietly determined, Katherine is part of the next generation stepping up to guide multi-generational family farms into a fast-changing world. Recently, she packed her bags, boarded a plane to Lisbon in Europe and found herself sharing the Australian wool story on the global stage.
Katherine was invited at the eleventh hour to attend the Textile Exchange Conference, a major international gathering focused on sustainability and the future of natural fibres.
Textile Exchange is known for bringing the entire supply chain together – from growers to processors to big-name brands – in an effort to improve environmental outcomes and traceability in the textile industry.
Her family’s farm, St Enoch’s at Stockyard Hill is Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified, and that connection opened the door to her last-minute invitation.
With lamb-marking still underway, her parents heading overseas, and plenty waiting for her at home, the timing was far from ideal. But when a fully funded opportunity to represent Australian wool in Europe appears, you don’t say no and with partner and family support, she headed off.
The conference brought together more than 1,400 people from across the globe, including major fashion houses, processing companies, traceability experts and a small number of producers.
Breakout sessions focused on sustainability targets, regenerative practices, and the big topic on everyone’s lips – how to properly value natural fibres like wool in a world that wants ethical products, but still chases bargain prices.
“Brands want to meet ambitious sustainability goals, but many still want to pay commodity prices. That has to change,” Katherine said.
She also gave a presentation about her own family’s farming story, sharing both the opportunities and the challenges facing woolgrowers today. It was a proud moment, bringing a voice from rural Victoria to an international audience.
As a part of the opportunity afforded her, Katherine joined a field visit through the United Kingdom to meet farmers and wool processors, including processors H. Dawson who are also buyers.
She noted that H Dawson are working hard to value-add wool through vertical integration and innovative products like insulation and bedding.
Despite the long flights and whirlwind schedule, Katherine returned energised.
For her, it reinforced a simple truth: the global industry can’t move forward without listening to the people on the land.
“I want to keep building our family business for the long term,” she said.
“Trips like this remind me that Australian agriculture has an important story to tell – and we need to keep telling it.”
Innovative, community-minded and committed to the land, Katherine is exactly the kind of young leader our community is proud to claim as our own.
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