Speakers 2025

Ben cut his teeth around the family farm, Koorine at Coleraine, Victoria.  His move to Western Australia continued his passion for farm work before moving into livestock transport, where being a good stock handler is a pre-requisite.  Eventually he started his own company 5K Livestock & Bulk, carting rural commodities such as livestock, grain and fertiliser. 5K Livestock and Bulk has gradually built up to a small fleet with each truck having a unique name with an entertaining back story.

In 2015, Ben joined the Livestock & Rural Transport Association of WA. He’s been a committee member since 2019, becoming livestock vice president in 2023 and president in 2024. This was at the height of campaign to defend members’ businesses from the proposed ban on live sheep exports by sea, and he became the public face of the Keep the Sheep campaign aimed at maintaining the trade.  His work has brought him into contact with many decision makers and political identities from the Prime Minister down.

Ben is committed to improving outcomes for rural transporters through working constructively with stakeholders to identify areas for reform. He’s a passionate supporter of rural communities and his business sponsors many local sporting and community groups.

Ben is married with five children, who are the five kids referred to in the business name 5K Livestock and Bulk. In his spare time, not that there is much of that these days, he enjoys driving and restoring classic cars, and fishing.