about
He graduated with first class honours in Agricultural Science, before working for major wine companies in technical services, grower services and business management.
During this time Ben also worked in Mexico for CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre) where he undertook literature reviews and field research projects.
Ben established a wine and viticultural consulting business which has been wide ranging from feasibility projects in South Africa, Spain, France and Georgia to reviewing vineyard performance indicators for cooperate businesses and in education.
Ben began his involvement in valuations in 2006, from when he completed a Graduate Diploma in Property Valuations (GradDipProp). Since that time he has been involved in all facets of rural and agribusiness valuations specialising in wine and viticulture, poultry (egg layer farms including breeder, rearing, commercial egg production and serum production, broiler, pullet and cockerel farms), dairies and cheese operations, market gardens (broad acre, intensive, poly and glass house), flower farms, irrigated farms including cropping, turf production, nurseries (commercial seedling and retail) and fodder operations among others.
Ben also undertakes valuations of prestige rural properties (heritage, historic and architectural) and undertakes compensation and advisory work as required. He is on all the major banks valuation panels, and undertakes valuations for private, insurance, accounting, tax (stamp duty, capital gains and rating) and financial reporting purposes. He works across Australia.
Ben is an Associate Member of the Australia Property Institute (AAPI 63206), a Certified Practicing Valuer – CPV (for all classed of real estate), a business valuer – CPV(Bus) (for going concern valuations and business valuations), an Accredited Specialist Water Valuer.
Ben was Manager – Rural and Agribusiness for Opteon Property until late 2017, when he ventured off on his own and established Specialised Agribusiness Valuations.
Ben is married to another Agricultural Scientist, has two children, is an active CFA Volunteer and has been Captain of his local fire brigade for eight years. He is also on the interim board of Australian Viticulture, the organisational committee for the Australian Property Institute annual conference, and is on the Agricultural Consultative Committee for Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (AgCC ACCC).