18/10/2025
I know Paul personally, he is a absolute champion, in my opinion he is exactly who we need on the AWI board.
The wool industry is in crisis — fragmented, shrinking, and too often stuck in the past. If AWI is to stay relevant, it needs real change, starting with the board. That’s why I’m standing for election as an AWI director in the 2025 AWI General Meeting.
Contrary to what the AWI Board Nomination Committee has concluded, I do bring much needed experience from farm to fabric — I understand what growers face, but I also know what’s needed to connect our beautiful bio-fibre to modern markets, and how to back that with strategic science. As the only non-wool grower candidate, and the only one with a serious track record in wool innovation, I believe AWI needs to narrow its focus and get serious about generating real results and constructive change for all growers.
My priorities are clear:
1️⃣ Wool harvesting innovation – real breakthroughs to reduce shearing costs.
2️⃣ Sheep health and welfare – practical progress on parasite control and ending the need for mulesing.
3️⃣ Growing demand – stronger advocacy for wool’s natural, environmental and wellness strengths around the world.
We also need to fix the board composition – it’s far too narrow, and not representative of the skills our industry needs or AWI’s scope of business operations. How can any skills-based board renewal process for a strategic innovation company with global remit, from farm to fabric, recommend a board composition of 6 current wool growers for a 7 person board? Why would the former Chairman and the current Chairman be arguing against non-wool grower board membership?
And we must reject any move to restrict board size, which only protects the status quo and is designed to reduce the scope for renewal. How can it be in the interests of good governance to reduce the ability of a board to supplement its skill levels and scope of experience if that is reasonably required?
And it’s well past time for AWI to be a better strategic collaborator, especially with MLA, and to start thinking strategically about the future — not resolutely advancing us into the past
If you believe the industry deserves stronger leadership and sharper focus, I’d be honoured to have your vote and your support to reject the motion to restrict board size.
