Meet our Team

Brett Freer

CEO

Brett Freer was appointed CEO of Regional Livestock Exchanges (RLX) in November 2022 following the decision to bring management services in-house and in a move that signalled the next stage in RLX’s maturity and growth prospects.

Brett is an experienced agribusiness, infrastructure, and logistics executive.  Across Director and senior executive roles at Nutrien, Landmark, and AWH, Brett led significant transformation programs, operated a network of bulk handling infrastructure assets, led M&A activity from identification through to integration, and held several Board roles. Prior to that Brett worked as a senior consultant in the corporate strategy practice at PWC.

With his own small farm running cattle near Mansfield in Victoria, Brett is passionate about the Australian agricultural industry, its long-term economically and environmentally sustainable growth, and the benefits it creates for regional communities and the nation.

Brett is married with two young daughters and, when not running RLX or his farm, tries to find some time to enjoy cycling.

Adam Bates

Business Manager - TRLX & HRLX

Adam commenced the role of Business Unit Manager at TRLX in August 2024, after 18months within the RLX company. He started with TRLX as a casual sale day operator riding pens and was offered the position of Assistant Manager in August 2023. He has played a key role within the business, developing and implementing a conscious safety culture and aiding in the roll out of an effective staff recruitment, retention, training & management process.

Adam grew up in Gunnedah NSW, where his family have a strong connection within the local industry, with his father Barry spent many years working for Martins Stock Haulage. Adam has a strong background in Agriculture after previous roles with Performance Feeds, Elders and Metalcorp, all  being livestock focused. His passion for safety was derived after a workplace injury in 2005, where he had his right leg amputated. 

During his early years Adam spent time in the USA working in feedlots and horse training facilities in Texas as well as on a ranch in the high desert region of Arizona.

Adam & his wife operate their own small farm raising local bred Angus cattle. He enjoys team roping & rodeoing on weekends when he is away from site. Adam & Becky also operate their own Allied Health clinics in Tamworth & Port Macquarie. They have 3 kids who are dance & rugby league mad!!

Jeff Paull

Senior Business Manager - CVLX & WVLX

Jeff Paull was appointed Business Unit Manager at CVLX in June 2021 at the height of the COVID pandemic.
His more than 30 years of experience in managing people and processes steered CVLX through that tough period and has laid the foundation for the site’s operations today.

Jeff comes from an FMCG, and manufacturing background having held National Sales & Marketing roles with large Australian manufacturers.

His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce, a Master of Marketing, Diploma in Workplace Health & Safety.

Product development has been a passion and in more recent years that turned to people development.

During his tenure at CVLX, staff retention and development has been a major focus and continues to provide positive outcomes for the site.

Jeff has a strong history of community involvement including District Manager for Auskick, Tournament Director for Baseball Australia, a qualified sailing and powerboat instructor, and has served on more committees and boards than he cares to remember. Prior to joining CVLX, he retired from his other passion, the Australian Navy Cadets, where he was the Flotilla Commander for Victoria, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

When not at CVLX Jeff can be found playing in the local community concert band, heading to the beach, or working on his very ordinary golf game.

Adam Sharplin

CFO

Adam commenced as CFO for RLX in July 2024.

Having spent considerable portion of his younger years on the family farm in central NSW (livestock and broadacre cropping), Adam has since built a diverse career in financial advisory, investment management and executive management across a range of industries and in listed/unlisted businesses.  

Agribusiness has always been a central focus for Adam. His experience has included advising, leading or executing transaction for operating businesses and assets throughout the supply chain within horticulture, cropping, livestock, fertilisers, dairy processing, packhouses, water infrastructure and water trading.  

Adam’s formal qualifications include undergraduate degrees in commerce and law as well as post-graduate qualifications in chartered accounting,  corporate governance and financial services compliance.

Off the clock, you’ll usually find Adam enjoying the great outdoors with his family, on the tools around the house and garage, or on the golf course.

Michelle Mair

Northern Regional Safety Coordinator

After first commencing employment with RLX back in 2015 as an administrative assistant in a part-time role, Michelle identified the need to provide support to other RLX sites and subsequently progressed quickly to becoming a full-time IRLX employee where she was utilised for several administration and accounting roles across multiple RLX sites in the portfolio. Michelle was appointed IRLX Business Unit Manager in June 2023 and promoted to Northern Regional Safety Coordinator in November 2024.

Michelle’s career began back in 1995 working for the local abattoir, formally known as Bindaree Beef across various plant operational roles and administration roles. From there, she moved into logistics to become the National Logistics Coordinator for Supercoat Petfood, Production Auditor for Ridley Aquafeed and Back of House Manager for the local Telstra Store.

Michelle lives locally in Inverell on the farm she established with her husband and two daughters. When not at IRLX, Michelle spends most of her weekends living in a horse float supporting her daughters’ equine ambitions and achievements.

Anna Adams

Head of Customer & Insights

Anna has been working in the Livestock industry since 2005, in both Australia and Canada. For 15 years, Anna’s key stakeholders have been livestock agents, buyers and producers, in roles encompassing Operations, Training, Product Management, Sales, and Customer Engagement. Anna has experience working in both physical and online livestock sales channels, before commencing with RLX in 2023 spent three years focused on the saleyard sector and ensuring positive outcomes for vendors and buyers during the Covid pandemic.

Anna understands the importance of relationships in the agricultural industry and she has developed trusted working relationships with stakeholders to achieve optimal outcomes for all parties involved in livestock transactions.

Originally from the Hunter Valley, Anna spent much of her childhood time of a family dairy farm with both cattle and horses. She now lives near Bathurst NSW with her young family, with enough space for kids motorbikes and a few head of cattle.