Meet Luke
Luke is a fourth-generation grazier from North West Queensland and a graduate of Marcus Oldham College. A Nuffield Scholar in 2022, he founded SkyKelpie to pioneer the use of drones in livestock mustering. He has led industry trials in partnership with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, helping demonstrate how drones can improve efficiency, safety, and animal handling in real-world grazing conditions. Luke is now recognised as a leader in drone mustering and aerial stockmanship, focused on equipping producers with practical, proven drone solutions.
Our Journey
Early Trials
Luke started trialing drone mustering at his family property at Cloncurry, QLD.
Early Trials
Luke started trialing drone mustering at his family property at Cloncurry, QLD.
Farmers2Founders
Acceptance into the Farmers2Founders ‘Ideas Program’
Farmers2Founders
Acceptance into the Farmers2Founders ‘Ideas Program’
Nuffield Scholarship
Luke is awarded the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship to research drone mustering.
Nuffield Scholarship
Luke is awarded the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship to research drone mustering.
World Leading Trials
SkyKelpie led world-leading trials with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, completing more than 20 drone mustering operations across sheep, cattle, and goats in varied terrain. This work resulted in Australia’s first approval for beyond-visual-line-of-sight for drone mustering.
World Leading Trials
SkyKelpie led world-leading trials with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, completing more than 20 drone mustering operations across sheep, cattle, and goats in varied terrain. This work resulted in Australia’s first approval for beyond-visual-line-of-sight for drone mustering.
Early Adoption Milestone
Drone mustering through SkyKelpie surpassed 100,000 head of livestock across real-world operations.
Early Adoption Milestone
Drone mustering through SkyKelpie surpassed 100,000 head of livestock across real-world operations.
Beef Week
SkyKelpie was selected for Start-Up Alley and Pitch in the Paddock, delivering the world’s first live remote drone mustering demonstration at Australia’s leading beef event.
Beef Week
SkyKelpie was selected for Start-Up Alley and Pitch in the Paddock, delivering the world’s first live remote drone mustering demonstration at Australia’s leading beef event.
Autonomous Mustering
Reached an important milestone by achieving a fully autonomous muster at test site in Upper Pilton, QLD.
500,000 livestock mustered
Finished a big year with an exciting milestone, surpassing half a million livestock mustered by SkyKelpie customers.
evokeAG demo
SkyKelpie obtained Australia's first 'mobile' remote operation centre (ROC) from CASA to operate a drone 300km away live on stage.
Autonomous Mustering
Reached an important milestone by achieving a fully autonomous muster at test site in Upper Pilton, QLD.
500,000 livestock mustered
Finished a big year with an exciting milestone, surpassing half a million livestock mustered by SkyKelpie customers.
evokeAG demo
SkyKelpie obtained Australia's first 'mobile' remote operation centre (ROC) from CASA to operate a drone 300km away live on stage.
Mission & Values
Modern tools. Traditional wisdom.
SkyKelpie is built on real stockmanship, not just technology. Every system we create is grounded in decades of practical experience under real conditions, with real consequences. We don’t start with what the technology can do - we start with how animals think, move, and respond to pressure. The drone is simply a tool to apply good stockmanship more consistently, safely, and calmly. If a method doesn’t align with proven livestock handling principles, we don’t use it. Technology should support good stockmanship, not override it.
Built for People Who Care
SkyKelpie is built for people who care about doing the job properly. Good operators aren’t defined by background or ego - they’re defined by judgement, awareness, and respect for livestock. We design our tools and training to be practical, accessible, and grounded in real-world conditions, so more people can work safely, confidently, and effectively on farm. SkyKelpie welcomes and supports anyone willing to learn, apply good stockmanship, and do the job well.
Capability Before Complexity
We believe skills matter more than features. Before adding more automation, more buttons, or more clever systems, we focus on building operator capability and understanding. A simple tool used well will always outperform a complex tool used poorly. That’s why training, simulation, and practical judgement sit at the core of everything we do. Our products are designed to grow with the operator — not overwhelm them. The goal is confidence, competence, and control, not confusion.
Respect for the Animal
Livestock are not machines. They are thinking, feeling animals with instincts, stress thresholds, and memory. Everything SkyKelpie builds is designed to work with animal behaviour, not against it. Calm movement, correct pressure, and good timing don’t just improve welfare - they improve outcomes, safety, and efficiency for everyone involved. We believe that better animal handling is better agriculture. Respect for the animal isn’t a feature - it’s a foundation.