Robbie McKenzie, Founder and CEO of REALM Group Australia, has built his career on resilience, vision, and determination. His journey began in childhood, shaped by hardship and responsibility. After losing his father at the age of eight, he stepped into the role of caring for his family, supporting his mother and three sisters. These early years taught him to think quickly, solve problems creatively, and push through challenges without hesitation. Those values still guide his leadership today.
At just 20 years old, Robbie purchased his first dairy farm with only a $1,000 deposit. Despite rejections from several banks, he convinced a manager at the State Bank of Victoria to take a chance on him. That moment sparked his entrepreneurial journey. The early years were far from easy—floods, droughts, and high interest rates forced him to juggle multiple jobs while building his engineering company, Australian Stainless Steel. After 13 years of relentless work, he finally paid off his farm and home.
These struggles laid the foundation for REALM Group Australia. By the late 1980s, Robbie became the first person in Australia to sell livestock online, pioneering what would later grow into Auctions Plus. His vision was simple yet revolutionary: make trading more efficient, reduce stress on animals, secure better prices for farmers, and deliver quality to consumers. Many farmers were skeptical, so Robbie traveled over 100,000 kilometers in just nine months to prove the system’s value. His persistence paid off—today, tens of thousands of cattle and sheep are sold daily through the platform.
Robbie’s philosophy is straightforward: face challenges head-on and get the job done. Along the way, he earned qualifications in welding, marketing, and real estate, and is now pursuing his MBA at the Australian Institute of Business. He has also built multiple businesses under the REALM Group umbrella, including Pay In Time – Finance, which offers funding solutions for farmers ranging from small loans to multi-million-dollar investments.
Innovation has always been at the core of his journey. REALM Group’s platform connects farmers directly, eliminating the inefficiencies of traditional social media and offering a trusted space backed by one of the largest farmer databases in Australia. With features like audited Trust Accounts that streamline finances and reduce costs, Robbie continues to create practical solutions for his community. He is also a strong supporter of integrating advanced technologies in agriculture—drones, robotics, automation, and autonomous machinery are areas he believes will reshape the sector in the coming years.
His entrepreneurial achievements extend far beyond farming. Robbie once led the construction of Australia’s first Caterpillar rope shovel, completing the massive project in half the estimated time while setting national records for material movement. He also spent eight years in the United States, helping grow a business from $12 million to $56 million, with the company later reaching nearly $90 million in turnover. This global experience gave him unique insights into sales, leadership, and customer relations, which he carried back to Australia when he returned to support his family.
Looking forward, REALM Group is expanding into North America, with offices opening in the United States and tailored models for Canada. The company is also active in Fiji and New Zealand. Robbie’s vision is clear—to use technology and smart systems to make agriculture more efficient, profitable, and community-driven worldwide.
Beyond business, Robbie has also made his mark in sports and international networking. He founded the Greenwich Yamaha Racing Team which was one of Australia’s most successful motocross teams. He was also the Team Manager of Subaru Rally Team Australia which won eight consecutive national championships in a row, and second in the world at their first and only attempt in Sweden in the snow. His reputation has earned him international recognition, from radio interviews in the U.S. to to proposals before Congress, and even collaborations with global leaders on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island.
At the heart of all his success lies a mindset that refuses to accept limitations. Robbie has often been told something “can’t be done,” but for him, the word doesn’t exist. Instead, he sees every challenge as an opportunity to prove otherwise. His life is a testament to resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of progress—not only for himself but for the farming communities he serves.