John Roberts is the CEO of Australian Wool Innovation and the Managing Director of The Woolmark Company. John brings more than 30 years’ experience in the wool industry, having worked in a wide range of industry sectors throughout the entire supply chain.
John started his career in the wool industry in 1988 working for the exporter Booth Hill & New Pty Ltd where he gained a considerable grounding in the areas of wool valuing, buying, shipping, trading and wool processing.
He then spent the next two decades holding senior trading and manufacturing positions in several companies in Australia and overseas, including General Manager of both Elders Wool International and Dalgety Wool Exports. His extensive history in the industry has seen him trade both greasy and processed wool to all corners of the globe including key markets of Italy, India, UK, USA, Europe, and Asia, including China where he was stationed for three years in the role of Trading and Marketing Manager for Elders.
John joined The Woolmark Company in 2016 as General Manager – Eastern Hemisphere where he gained considerable exposure in the areas of product innovation, education, and marketing in overseas markets, before taking on the position of Chief Operations Officer in 2019. It is these roles which allowed him to truly connect the dots between the entire end-to-end supply chain and lay the foundation for his current role, leading strategic direction for the wool industry and Woolmark brand.
