I grew up in Australia (1976) with alpacas and was involved in many facets of my family’s alpaca herd. I was mainly involved in alpaca selection, breeding, showing, fibre harvesting and sales. As well as my involvement with the family herd I also held a position on the Australian Alpaca Association Tasmanian Regional committee and was involved in show organisation throughout the region.

In the mid 1990s I was lucky enough to spent time in Victoria with Coricancha Alpaca Stud. Here my knowledge increased further as I gained experience in large-scale alpaca farming. In 1998 I graduated from the University of Tasmania with an Applied Science degree and in 2002 I came to England to work for one of the leading alpaca producers in the UK. Here I undertook a herd manager’s role of approximately 170 alpacas.

Two long trips to Peru selecting stock for export in 2003 and 2004 increased my knowledge further as I had the pleasure of working alongside the Tijera family

(Koricancha) and Rural Alianza EPS who own 43,000 alpacas. Here I was able to select from thousands of very uniform alpaca while living and learning from the breeders.

As my own herd of alpacas grew I left my employment and began farming full time in 2006. Along with my wife we now enjoy my herd of approximately 130 black alpacas and the breeding challenges they present. In addition to Inca Alpaca, I am also co-owner of Moonsbrook Alpacas in Sussex totalling over to 330 head of suri alpacas.