Meet Luke
Luke is a fourth-generation grazier from North West Queensland and a graduate of Marcus Oldham College. A 2022 Nuffield Scholar, he founded SkyKelpie to pioneer drone mustering, leading trials with MLA and QDAF that demonstrated the benefits of drones for livestock management. He is now recognised as a leader in drone mustering and aerial stockmanship, focused on equipping producers with practical drone solutions.
Our Journey
Initial trials
Luke started trialing drone mustering at his family property at Cloncurry, QLD.
Initial trials
Luke started trialing drone mustering at his family property at Cloncurry, QLD.
Incubator Program
Acceptance into Farmers2Founders ‘Ideas Program’
Incubator Program
Acceptance into Farmers2Founders ‘Ideas Program’
Nuffield Scholarship
Luke is awarded the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship to explore drone mustering.
Nuffield Scholarship
Luke is awarded the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship to explore drone mustering.
World Leading Trials
SkyKelpie conducts world-leading trials with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, including 20 drone mustering operations across sheep, cattle and goats in varied terrain. As part of this work, SkyKelpie secured Australia's first CASA approval for Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone mustering.
World Leading Trials
SkyKelpie conducts world-leading trials with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, including 20 drone mustering operations across sheep, cattle and goats in varied terrain. As part of this work, SkyKelpie secured Australia's first CASA approval for Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone mustering.
Real Customers, Real Results
SkyKelpie gathers interest from early adopters and surpasses 100,000 head of livestock by the end of 2022.
Real Customers, Real Results
SkyKelpie gathers interest from early adopters and surpasses 100,000 head of livestock by the end of 2022.
Beef Week
SkyKelpie accepted into Start Up Alley and Pitch in the Paddock at Australia's leading beef industry event. Conducted world first demo mustering livestock remotely.
Beef Week
SkyKelpie accepted into Start Up Alley and Pitch in the Paddock at Australia's leading beef industry event. Conducted world first demo mustering livestock remotely.
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
Proven Stockmanship Behind Everything We Do
SkyKelpie is built on real stockmanship, not just technology. Every tool, course, and system we create is grounded in decades of practical experience moving livestock in real paddocks, 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, the simulator, and the software are simply tools to apply good stockmanship more consistently, more safely, and more calmly. If a method doesn’t align with proven livestock handling principles, we don’t build it. Technology should support good stockmanship, not override it.
Everyone Is Welcome at SkyKelpie
SkyKelpie is built for people first. We believe great operators come from all backgrounds, and that agriculture — like technology — should be more open, accessible, and inclusive. Whether you’re a lifelong grazier, a new entrant to the industry, someone living with a disability, or part of a community that hasn’t always felt represented in agriculture, you’re welcome here. Good stockmanship is about empathy, awareness, and judgement — not ego. We’re building a community and a set of tools that help more people participate, contribute, and thrive.
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.