AWN AWN, one of Australia’s largest pastoral houses, is pleased to announce changes to its Group Board leadership, effective 1 July 2025. These appointments mark a pivotal moment in the Company’s journey, strengthening its leadership as it continues its significant growth trajectory within the Australian agricultural sector.
New Board Appointments: Effective 1 July 2025
- Rick Maybury has been appointed Managing Director & CEO, transitioning from his role as Chief Operating Officer.
- John Colley, AWN’s founding Managing Director, will take over as Chairman.
- Brendon Lunney transitions to Deputy Chairman.
- Ben Barlow will continue in his vital role as Non-Executive Director, providing ongoing expertise to the Board.
AWN has experienced extraordinary growth over the past 26 years, firmly establishing itself as a leader in agricultural services. Our strategic diversification from a wool-only company to a diversified pastoral house specialising in farm outputs such as Livestock and Real Estate has garnered amazing support from rural Australia.
The business also holds the largest stake in The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) and has investments with the ASX-listed Merino & Co in the manufacturing sector. Founded in 1999 as a wool specialist marketing company, AWN now employs over 300 people and serves more than 27,000 clients across every state in Australia.
These changes reflect a thoughtful evolution of our leadership, ensuring AWN remains at the forefront of providing exceptional service and value to our national network of clients in wool, livestock, and property.
To lead AWN into this exciting next phase, we’re proud to introduce the individuals who will be driving our vision forward on the AWN Group Board, effective 1 July 2025.
New Managing Director & CEO: Rick Maybury
Rick Maybury will assume the role of Managing Director & CEO at AWN, transitioning from his current position as Chief Operating Officer.
Since 2017, Rick has been instrumental in the Company’s significant growth and operational efficiency, leveraging a comprehensive executive management background that includes substantial experience gained during his 15 years in senior roles at Ruralco.
Rick’s direction for AWN is clear: “My vision for AWN’s next chapter is to harness technology to deliver smarter, more efficient services that enhance value for our customers. We’ll explore any areas where we can solve real problems and create greater value for our clients. By embracing change, staying agile, and maintaining a clear focus on service excellence, AWN will continue to grow as a trusted, indispensable partner in agri-services.”
Reflecting on his tenure as COO, Rick highlights his proudest achievement: “Helping shift AWN from being pigeonholed as only a wool broker and taking that trusted advisor culture into other farm outputs. By diversifying our services and identifying new opportunities to add value, we saw meaningful growth across the organisation—both in capability and customer reach.”
He also addresses the biggest hurdle he faced: “The biggest hurdle was navigating uncertainty during challenging external conditions while keeping the team aligned and motivated. Balancing expansion with operational resilience required tough decisions, clear communication, and a strong commitment to our long-term goals. Overcoming that period is something I’m extremely proud to have been part of.”
Rick also acknowledged the profound influence of John Colley and Brendon Lunney, commenting, “John and Brendon’s leadership has had a lasting, positive impact on both AWN and me personally. Their ability to remain steady and focused during challenging periods—never making short-term decisions at the expense of long-term value—has shaped a culture of resilience and strategic thinking.”
New Chairman: John Colley
John Colley, AWN’s revered founding Managing Director & CEO, will transition to the role of Chairman.
A dedicated woolgrower from Central West NSW, John’s deeply personal connection to the land fuelled the founding of AWN in 1999. His driving force was “The need for change within the wool industry,” explaining that “Rationalisation here in Australia had led to less competition within the broking sector.” He aimed to bridge the gap between growers and end-users, stating, “Many woolgrowers had no connection with the end users of the product, and it only made sense that people in the same industry and in the same pipeline understood each other’s needs. Growers required a guarantee of price, and mills required a guarantee of quality and supply…it still makes sense to educate and link all parts of the agricultural pipeline.”
John stated that one of his proudest achievement was, “Being in a position to attract such talented and loyal staff,” and highlights “Transitioning from a wool-only company to a diversified pastoral house specialising in farm outputs such as Livestock and Real Estate was also a key change.” He notes navigating “many and large” challenges, including droughts, the global financial crisis, and fluctuating markets.
Reflecting on AWN’s journey, John recalls two highlights from his time as MD: “The first wool sale…we were up and running and it was so good to see the support from our clients and the wool trade in general,” and “Taking control of AWN in 2011 when the Italians were struggling after the GFC.” He clarifies that this 2011 event was “The most significant change…when ownership and control changed in 2011,” which fundamentally altered AWN’s direction and enabled its positive diversification.
On a lighter note, he shares a funny moment: “Possibly the funniest moment was losing a new R.M. Williams boot at a client’s door to a new sheep dog and then having it returned to me by that client some 20 years later…that was testament to the support we have as a business by our clientele.”
Having witnessed decades of change, John notes that: “The industry has changed a lot in my time,” particularly with processing shifts to Europe to Asia and the increasing role of technology. He predicts “AI will play a big part in the years ahead,” and that future trading will be “different and more efficient and cost-effective.” He sees AWN “at the forefront of innovation, specialist marketing programs and continually growing,” well-placed to take advantage of all the opportunities that lie ahead.”
As Chairman, John is keen to build upon the strong legacy of his predecessor, Brendon Lunney. He states that his primary focus will be “…to continue as Brendon has done in previous years,” adding with clear admiration, “He has supported me in so many ways and that has given me the foundation to do the same for Rick.”
He emphasises the need for “more Corporate Governance oversight” and ensuring that AWN continues to “service all the stakeholders and meet their expectations with AWN’s strong policies and procedures.”
John expresses immense confidence in Rick’s leadership, noting, “Rick comes from a different generation to me and each generation brings something new to the table. The biggest change I see is his ability to use technology, identify the opportunities and then implement the right strategy to add value to our clients and stakeholders.” John concludes, “AWN is very fortunate to have someone with both experience, strategic thinking ability and knowledge of Agriculture.”
New Deputy Chairman: Brendon Lunney
Brendon Lunney will assume the role of Deputy Chairman, having served as AWN’s Chairman from 2011 to 2022 and as a Board member for over two decades.
A major shareholder and active farmer of fine merino sheep and Black Angus cattle, Brendon’s “on-the-ground” perspective has been instrumental in shaping AWN’s strategy. “I enjoy the wool and livestock businesses because I’m personally involved in both,” Brendon shared.
Throughout his extensive tenure, Brendon has played a crucial role in AWN’s development. From his perspective, one of the most defining moments in AWN’s history, and a highlight of his time on the Board, was the pivotal 2011 acquisition of the Italian partners’ shares, which brought full ownership back to Australia.
This occurred when, during the global financial crisis, AWN’s Italian partners sought to divest their shares. Recognising this critical juncture, Brendon, alongside John Colley, decisively planned and executed the acquisition of the Italian interest.
Brendon reflects that this was “probably the most considerable action that I have taken as a member of the Board,” protecting the Company and safeguarding its future. The pivotal move underscored AWN’s commitment to its Australian roots.
Consequently, the crucial acquisition enabled AWN to adapt and thrive, expanding beyond its strong wool marketing foundation into livestock and real estate. “The market told us that wool would not be as strong as it had been,” Brendon notes, “so we’ve expanded our business into the obvious connecting field of livestock and then real estate.”
Brendon emphasises that AWN’s strength lies in “the skill and professionalism of our people on the ground,” fostering client trust and loyalty. Beyond business, Brendon champions mental health awareness within agriculture, ensuring every AWN Board member is mental health first aid trained. “The whole point about mental health first aid is that you don’t have to solve the problem,” he clarifies, “the whole point is what you have to do is recognise that there is a problem.”
Brendon expresses strong optimism for AWN’s future under Rick Maybury. “We have brought in a young, dynamic person to be the CEO and Managing Director,” Brendon states, highlighting Rick’s nine years with AWN. “He knows the business inside out. He knows livestock. He knows wool. He knows the rural industries. He’s a professional.”
He also cheekily noted, “Rick’s more like John was when John started, just a bit taller,” before underscoring Rick’s qualifications by adding, “He’s trained to run a business.” Brendon’s comments reflect clear confidence in Rick Maybury’s ability to lead AWN, building on its strong foundations while embracing new opportunities.
Non-Executive Director: Ben Barlow
Ben Barlow will continue in his vital role as Non-Executive Director. Having joined the Board in January 2016.
Ben is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. Ben holds a number of strategic agribusiness roles and agribusiness investments and is the Chairman of RLF Agtech Limited; Chairman, Pro Agni Holdings Pty Ltd; Executive Chairman, Bioborne Pty Ltd; and Executive Director, Axioma Australia Pty Ltd.
With over 25 years of experience in agribusiness business management, Ben has driven investment and change in agribusinesses where he identifies high potential and assists in making them profitable and “investor-ready”.
Ben leverages his experience in economics, finance, risk management, and business relationship management to help enterprises grow and innovate, where new opportunities enhance agricultural productivity, profitability, and sustainability.
He is passionate about supporting cutting-edge science and research that can position Australia as a global leader in this sector.
Ben shares his love of agriculture and regional affairs with the wider community through his involvement in various industry and leadership programs.
Ben said, “The changes reflect the evolution of the enterprise and the careful positioning of key people to take on key roles as the Company moves to its next phase. This is a successful succession transition that provides exceptional leadership at the Executive level and solid governance and experience for the Company more broadly.”
Outlook and Future Direction
These strategic appointments reaffirm AWN’s commitment to delivering exceptional service and continued growth for its clients and stakeholders across Australia.
With Rick Maybury now at the helm as Managing Director & CEO, John Colley stepping into the Chairman role, Brendon Lunney as Deputy Chairman, and the continued expertise of Ben Barlow as Non-Executive Director, AWN is exceptionally well-positioned to navigate the evolving agricultural landscape and drive new opportunities for success. We look forward to the next chapter of innovation and expanded service under this dynamic Board.
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