Alberto Barberis Canonico with some of the superfine Australian wool he loved. Source – VBC.

AUSTRALIA’S wool industry is grieving the loss of inspirational Italian processor Alberto Barberis Canonico, an engineer and company leader who fostered the development of this nation’s superfine wool sector.

A company statement announced the passing of Mr Barberis Canonico, a mechanical engineering graduate that rose to become chief executive officer of the holding company Lanificio Vitale Barberis Canonico SpA and chairman of the Vitale Barberis Canonico SpA board.

He was a member of the Order of Merit for Labour, or in Italian, Ordine al Merito del Lavoro, Italy’s order of chivalry founded in 1923 by King Vittorio Emanuele III and awarded to those “who have been singularly meritorious” in agriculture, industry and commerce, crafts, lending and insurance.

Vitale Barberis Canonico SpA is the family company founded in 1936 that began manufacturing wool in 1663 and is today a global leader in textile production and the processing of fine wools.

A mentor, friend and pioneer

Renewable Fibres manager and former managing director New England Wool Andrew Blanch said he worked closely with Alberto from 1990 when he founded, along with Michael Lempriere and Roberto Botto, the New England Wool exporting company. Mr Blanch started in the role of manager at NEW at 26 years old.

“From Alberto, I learnt a lot about business, and even more about life.

“I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to associate with Alberto both professionally and personally,” Mr Blanch said.

“Alberto was a charming, formidable, hard but fair man.

“A wicked sense of humour behind the seriousness,” he said.

“Over our long association we enjoyed many constructive and robust discussions as well as a lot of laughs and enjoyment together.

“He had strong and well researched opinions on a huge variety of topics.”

Mr Blanch said Alberto devoted his life to making the best fabric in the world and doing everything in his power to guarantee the ongoing supply of the very best raw material to achieve that goal.

“Alberto understood the trials and pressures of producing the Saxon wool he loved, and he was integral in supporting directly those wool growers who strove to breed and prepare this wonderful product.

“The pinnacle of this support being the VBC Wool Excellence Club which he nurtured with great enthusiasm and passion,” Mr Blanch said.

“The wool Industry has lost a great man and a pioneer, but his legacy will continue in the hands of his family and the Vitale Barberis Canonico machine.

“I will miss his friendship and counsel dearly….even the arguments.”

A relentless pursuit of quality

Alberto Barberis Canonico

Former managing director of Lempriere Australia Will Lempriere said he wished to recognise and celebrate the significant achievements, passion, knowledge, and experience that Alberto Barberis Canonico has brought to the wool industry.

“Alberto’s dedication and expertise have left an indelible mark on our industry.

“Throughout his career, Alberto demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the wool textile industry,” Mr Lempriere said.

“His deep understanding of the intricacies of wool production and manufacturing, coupled with his innovative approach, has helped to shape the industry.

“Alberto’s passion for wool and his relentless pursuit of quality have inspired many.”

Mr Lempriere said Alberto’s extensive knowledge and experience have been invaluable in driving forward key initiatives and fostering collaboration within the industry.

“He has been a true leader, guiding and mentoring others while continuously seeking new ways to improve and innovate.

“His contributions have elevated the standards of wool production and heightened the need for transparency and integrity in the market place,” Mr Lempriere said.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have had Alberto as a part of our industry, and his legacy will undoubtedly continue to influence and inspire future generations.

“He was a great friend to my father and I, a patient and thoughtful mentor to me personally and a trusted and dependable business partner.”

Support for growers of traditional ‘Saxon” superfine wool

Tasmanian grower and former Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association president Simon Cameron said the recent tributes to Alberto Barberis Canonico have demonstrated what a significant figure in our industry he was.

“He will be remembered for the way he grew Vitale Barberis Canonico, his family company, for his passion for quality traditional wool and for his support of the wool growers who provided it.

“He was always good for a robust discussion about industry issues and whether you agreed with him or not you knew where you stood,” Mr Camron said.

“From a grower’s point of view, his most memorable initiative was the VBC Wool Excellence Club, a legacy that is being continued by his son, Alessandro.

“It offers premium pricing, so important today in our tough industry, and other benefits for those of us who stay true to “Saxon” type.”

VBC said mechanical engineering graduate Alberto Barberis Canonico joined the family business in the mid-1960s alongside his brother Luciano, serving as CEO from 1981 to 2012.

In 2018, he was awarded the title of Cavaliere del Lavoro by the Italian President of Republic. Under his leadership, the company pursued a growth strategy focused on work reorganization and innovation in both processes and products.

With expertise and passion, he initiated the search for the finest wools by studying origin markets

and traveling to Australia. In the early 1970s, he selected the best raw materials from all over the world and established a local office in Australia to foster relationships with breeders, that later led  to the founding of “Pyramul Pastoral,” the company managing the family’s farms.

As early as the late 1960s, he designed and launched a broad automation of production processes, leading to the creation of new departments and warehouses and a significant increase in output. He was deeply committed to workers’ health and safety and environmental protection: he initiated one of the first studies on wastewater treatment plants and designed soundproof cabins installed in the weaving room to reduce noise impact.

The company said his passing leaves a profound void not only in the company, but also in the Biella textile district. He will be remembered for his integrity, authority, and professionalism, as well as for his great humanity and attention to people. His vision and his words will continue to inspire for years to come.