2025 Melbourne Royal Fleece Competition Judges
Susan Campbell-Wright
2025 Fleece Judge
Susan has been judging fleece at Melbourne Royal Show since 2017. She has also been a fixture in the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, with involvement across black and coloured sheep breeders. Throughout the years, Susan has been heavily involved in wool handcrafting - teaching people to spin, weave and felt using fleece, while also promoting fleece in clothing and homewares.
Tamara Pabst
2025 Fleece Judge
Tamara Pabst has worked as a Wool Technical Officer with AWN for over three years and regularly judges fleece competitions across North-East Victoria and NSW. She enjoys seeing the diverse wool types produced in these regions each year and admires the skill of growers who manage seasonal challenges to consistently deliver quality fleeces.
John McGrath
2025 Fleece Judge
John McGrath is pleased to join the Melbourne Royal Show Fleece Competition judging panel following his retirement. A former wool area manager with Nutrien for 20 years and long-time Merino stud breeder, he attended his 50th Sheep Show in 2024 and brings decades of experience in fine and superfine wool production.
Paul Ferronato
2025 Fleece Judge
Paul Ferronato has worked in the wool industry for more than 25 years. Early in his career, he assisted in the Lamb’s Wool section at the Melbourne Royal Show, where he gained valuable insights into judging standards - an experience that sparked his long-term involvement in fleece judging. Paul spent over 23 years with a local wool processor before taking on his current role as Trading Manager at United Wool Company, one of Australia’s largest wool exporters.
Rob Ellis
2025 Fleece Judge
Rob Ellis brings over 20 years of fleece judging experience and has served as Chief Judge at Queensland’s Ekka three times, in addition to judging at numerous local shows. He has judged at the Melbourne Royal Show in both 2022 and 2023 and returns to the panel again this year. Rob is known for his broad knowledge of fleece quality and commitment to the judging community.
Mal Nicholls
2025 Fleece Judge
Mal Nicholls started his career as a wool classer in his family’s shearing team in Gippsland, where he also ran a wool-growing property. He later worked as a Wool Preparation Adviser and then District Wool Manager with Elders, before becoming Showfloor Manager in Melbourne. Mal has judged wool across Australia and is a life member of the Gippsland Sheep Breeders Association and Omeo Agricultural Society, and recipient of the Wool Industry Medal.
Candice Cordy
2025 Fleece Judge
Candice Cordy is a Wool Account Manager with Nutrien Ag Solutions, based in Central Victoria. As a wool broker, she supports clients with sheep breeding, ram selection, wool preparation and marketing. Candice is also the Convenor of the Australian Fleece Competition - the largest fully measured fleece competition in the world. Raised on her family’s Merino property, she has been involved in agriculture her entire life and continues to enjoy the hands-on aspects of sheep and wool production on the farm.