WoolProducers has congratulated the successful candidates, Mr Jock Laurie, Ms Georgia Hack and Mr Don Macdonald in this year’s AWI Director Elections.
The announcement made today at AWI’s AGM, follows a long election campaign with a field of seven candidates putting their name forward.
WoolProducers President Mr Ed Story said, “On behalf of WoolProducers I would like to congratulate the newly elected and re-elected directors and look forward to working more constructively with the AWI Board going forward.”
“I would also like to acknowledge and thank the unsuccessful candidates Mr Steven Read, Mr Michael Field, Mr Chick Olsson and Mr Syd Lawrie for standing in this year’s election”. Mr Storey said.
The results follow the recommendation of the Board Nomination Committee and also demonstrate the power of the Chair’s proxies given the low voter return.
Mr Storey said, “The low shareholder turn out is a bit disappointing”.
The new AWI Board are now required to get on with working in the interests of all Australian woolgrowers.
“With the results of the elections and WoolPoll now finalised, there are a number of issues affecting the wool industry such as labour shortages, the EU’s Product Environmental Footprint legislation and competition for land use, the AWI Board now need to hit the ground running in ensuring that wool remains relevant and the fibre of choice by consumers around the world”. Mr Storey said.
“WoolProducers, as always makes the offer to work constructively with the AWI Board to achieve whole of industry good outcomes through aligning our differing industry roles, with WoolProducers’ policy expertise complementing AWI’s research, development and marketing skills”. Mr Storey said.
Shareholders also voted in favour of changing AWI’s constitution to place a 10-year cap on director tenure.
Mr Storey said, “This is a pleasing result and one that WoolProducers had been seeking for many years which was identified by Ernst Young in their 2018 Review of Performance of AWI”.
“Putting a cap on director tenure supports a healthy culture as it enables an orderly rotation of directors, while retaining company and corporate governance knowledge plus facilitating new directors to join the board to add fresh perspectives. This ensures diversity in thinking, which is essential to any board”. Mr Storey said.
ENDS
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WoolProducers Australia contacts:
Jo Hall, CEO
02 6110 2067
Ed Storey, President
0438 309 500
About WoolProducers’ Australia
WoolProducers plays a critical role in working closely with companies and entities funded by woolgrower funds including compulsory levies or fees for service.
Its mission is to develop constructive and profitable outcomes for woolgrowers nationally.
The agency is responsible for appointing a director to each of the Australian Wool Exchange and the Australia Wool Testing Authority, promoting good corporate governance and ensuring that the interests of growers are met.
WoolProducers maintains a working relationship with Australian Wool Innovation as the voice of woolgrower shareholders. It aims to contribute to AWI’s programs for the benefit of growers, promoting responsible use of levy funds and ensuring good corporate governance.
WoolProducers is the sole wool industry member of Animal Health Australia, and as such, carries a significant responsibility for decision making on behalf of the industry in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak.
As the only wool grower organisation with membership of the National Farmers’ Federation, WoolProducers is responsible for providing key policy advice on behalf of our members, and other wool growers, to Australia’s peak farm body.
WoolProducers also works closely with the Federal Government Departments on key issues such as animal health and welfare, biosecurity, pest management control, natural resource management, drought preparedness, emergency animal disease outbreak preparedness and industry development, including research, trade and logistics.