Robbie McKenzie
Founder and CEO of REALM Group. A farmer first, who built REALM from the ground up - "built by farmers for farmers".
- 20age he bought his first dairy farm
- 109,000 kmtravelled in 9 months to take livestock sales online
- 5countries REALM connects today
Built from the ground up
No wealth, no inheritance - just hard work, a $1,000 deposit and a habit of proving the doubters wrong.
- Age 8
Man of the house
After his father died, Robbie helped his mother and three sisters get through. "That's where it all started for me - I had to think on my feet and figure out how to get things done efficiently and cost-effectively."
- Age 20
His first dairy farm
With a $1,000 deposit and no family money behind him, he bought his first dairy farm after a bank manager at the State Bank of Victoria agreed to take a chance on him.
- The hard years
Three jobs and a business
Through floods, droughts and high interest rates he drove milk tankers at night, did hay contracting in summer and security work in winter, while building his engineering company, Australian Stainless Steel. Thirteen years later his farm and house in New South Wales were paid off.
- Late 1980s
Selling livestock online
Robbie was among the first in Australia to sell livestock online. He travelled 109,000 km in nine months to show sceptical farmers how it worked, and launched Computer-Aided Livestock Marketing (CALM), which became AuctionsPlus.
- Machinery and land
More ways to sell
He took the idea further with multi-vendor online machinery auctions, and became a licensed real estate agent when his livestock clients kept asking him to keep an eye out for properties.
- Today
REALM Group
Robbie leads REALM Group, "built by farmers for farmers", with a team made up mainly of current or former farmers - now connecting producers across Australia, America, Canada, New Zealand and Fiji.
Taking farm trade online
"My vision was fourfold: it had to be more efficient, deliver a better product to the consumer, reduce stress on animals, and secure better prices for farmers."
Livestock sales online
Among the first in Australia to sell cattle and sheep online, in the late 1980s.
CALM, now AuctionsPlus
Developed Computer-Aided Livestock Marketing, which became AuctionsPlus.
Multi-vendor machinery auctions
Developed multi-vendor online machinery auctions, now used across the industry.
One platform for farmers
List on auction or "for sale" channels from your phone, with invoices and receipts created automatically.
"All my life, I've been told 'you can't do that' or 'that won't work', but the word 'can't' is not in my vocabulary."
Robbie runs REALM with a "Let's Do It" attitude: tackle the problem head-on, keep things effective and efficient, and surround yourself with a great team. He has earned certificates in welding, business, marketing and real estate, and has been studying for an MBA with the Australian Institute of Business.
His advice for young farmers and people starting out: "Surround yourself with a great team and build lifelong relationships."
"Nothing is impossible. Unleash those ideas and Let's Do It!"
2025 FLUXX Awards, Hong Kong
In June 2025 Robbie attended the FLUXX Awards, a global event for leaders and innovators in business, healthcare, technology, sustainability and social impact.
Global Excellence Award winnerSustainability Leader of the Year 2025
First to help when the community needs it
Robbie and the REALM team have long supported:
- Ronald McDonald House
- Royal Flying Doctors
- Youth Off The Streets
- Aussie Hay Runners
- Riding for the Disabled
- BlazeAid
Join the community Robbie built
One free account for the marketplace, the newsletter and REALM's farmer groups in five countries.
Sources: REALM Group Australia company profile (June 2025) and FLUXX Awards brief and staff announcement (July 2025). Photos: REALM Group.