Ben has been involved in rural and agribusiness all his life, growing up on his family’s Yarra Valley vineyard (Rising Vineyard) in Victoria, completing a degree in Agricultural Science (1994).
Ben’s wife Nicola is an Agricultural Scientist who is also a property valuer, they have two children, Ben is an active CFA Volunteer (having been Captain for eight years, was a Deputy Group Officer and is now a CFA Peer), has undertaken the Melbourne Firefighters Stair Climb (four times) in full breathing apparatus (donned and started) and climbed Eureka Tower (twice) in full structural firefighting kit, and donates blood/plasma as often as he can.
In 2021 Ben joined Delaney Livestock and Property and became a sales representative and specialised property advisor, with a focus on rural, agribusiness and specialised property sales.
In addition to selling real estate, Ben runs a successful valuation business, Specialised Agribusiness Valuations, and wine industry advisory business, Performance Viticulture.
Ben’s qualifications and memberships include BAgSc (Hons), GradDipProp, Follow of the Australia Property Institute (FAPI 63206), Member of the REIV (CEA), and Ben is a Certified Practicing Valuer – CPV (for all classes of real estate), a business valuer – CPV (Bus) (for going concern valuations and business valuations), Licensed Estate Agent, and an Accredited Specialist Water Valuer.
Ben sat on the Agricultural Consultative Committee within the AgUnit of the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) from its inception until early 2020, and was on the board of Australian Grape & Wine Incorporated (the peak national body for wine grape growers and winemakers) from 2012 until 2020. Ben also undertakes public speaking and presentations.
