Australian Wool Innovation: Kojonup’s Neil Jackson voted onto AWI board after securing third-highest votes

Woolgrower profits and wool prices will be the major focus of WA’s only representative on the Australian Wool Innovation board after Kojonup farmer Neil Jackson was elected with a total of 98,168 votes on November 17. Mr Jackson ran on a platform of ensuring that wool production was profitable to encourage the next generation of sheep producers to continue in the industry, and he was “humbled and grateful” for the voter support. He joined South Australian-based Collinsville Stud Merinos director and owner George Millington, who received the most votes at 131,051, and Victorian skills-based candidate Emma Weston who received 128,084 votes. All three were approved by AWI’s Board Nomination Committee and were well ahead of the two other nominees, former Wool Producers Australia president and Yass farmer Ed Storey and WAFarmers vice president and Kojonup woolgrower Steve McGuire, who received 74,401 and 34,398 votes respectively. AWI chairman Jock Laurie held 1425 proxy votes in total, 303 of which were undirected proxies which were allocated to Ms Weston, Mr Jackson and Mr Millington equally. Mr Jackson said it was important that WA had a representative on the board to help deal with issues that were unique to WA. “Having a representative from WA was very important considering we pay 20 per cent of levy fees,” Mr Jackson said. “WA’s contribution is important to the success of AWI.” He said the board was “fully aware of the challenges” facing AWI and he would focus his efforts to improving confidence in the industry by doing what he could to achieve a lift in prices. “I like to think prices have bottomed out and turned a corner,” he said. “I’ll be doing my best to increase prices.” Mr Jackson also highlighted the continued need to address the “wool harvesting challenges” within the industry and said a focus on ongoing training, looking for new techniques and investing in technology, such as labour saving devices, were important to encourage greater confidence in the industry. Mr Laurie welcomed the new directors, saying all three would make a “valuable contribution to the company” and the important work AWI does on behalf of Australia’s wool industry. “Their skills and experience will complement their fellow directors and I look forward to working with them,” Mr Laurie said. “I would also like to thank the contribution from our retiring directors who each served the company and Australian woolgrowers with distinction.” AWI has a seven-member board and elections are held every two years. The decision has settled a dispute between AWI and WoolProducers Australia which supported the nominations of Mr Storey and Mr McGuire, in opposition to the BNC. The dispute also involved a stoush over the comments of Mr Laurie that woolgrower groups were not providing the “leadership” to resolve mulesing issues within the industry and with European markets. WoolProducers Australia president Steve Harrison fired back that the organisation was “frustrated at recent statements” from Mr Laurie that there was “no leadership (from farmer groups) at the moment” in relation to animal welfare advocacy. He went on to defend the organisation’s efforts on behalf of the industry, listing the “extensive work in relation to sheep welfare, health and biosecurity” both through representation and policy development. Mr McGuire was not present at the meeting and received more votes against him than for him — with 53,231 against compared to 34,398 in favour. He said he was “disappointed” by the result but wished the best for those elected as they worked to counter the “significant challenges facing the board”. “It was important that people had a vote and the result is what it is,” Mr McGuire said. He didn’t anticipate standing for election again in the future. WoolProducers chief executive Jo Hall said the organisation congratulated the newly elected directors and “expect to work more constructively with the AWI board going forward”. “I would also like to acknowledge and thank the unsuccessful candidates Mr Storey and Mr McGuire for standing in this year’s election”, Ms Hall said. “The new AWI board are now required to get on with working in the interests of all Australian woolgrowers. “WoolProducers, as always, makes the offer to work constructively with the AWI Board to achieve whole of industry good outcomes.” Ms Hall said the Wool 2030 document, which AWI referred to as “the roadmap for our industry”, states that there should be one industry voice. “It is time we start actioning this starting with the new AWI Board. “It is our expectation that AWI start working with WoolProducers on industry issues for the betterment of woolgrowers. “WoolProducers’ policy expertise should be complementing AWI’s research, development and marketing skills, however this opportunity has largely been ignored by AWI.”