With the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Annual General Meeting fast approaching, shareholders must make their vote count and have their say on the future direction of the industry.
This year five candidates are contesting the three vacant positions on the AWI board.
Three of these are incumbent AWI board directors – Colette Garnsey, Paul Cocking and James Morgan – and two are outside candidates, Don Macdonald and Will Wilson.
When casting a vote on board nominees, growers can either vote for or against a nominee, or abstain from voting on a nominee altogether.
Along with board elections, growers need to determine whether to limit the size of the AWI board.
The proposed resolution is for the AWI board to be limited to seven members.
It is important that shareholders of AWI exercise their vote and ensure that the organisation has a board that will deliver innovation back to woolgrowers.
With the continuing media around governance and transparency issues at AWI, it is a crucial time for growers to cast their vote for the future of the industry.
AWI shareholders have the power to direct the company, so it is incumbent on woolgrowers to participate in these elections and have their say.
In the past, there has been a reliance on undirected proxy votes to the chair or shareholders have abstained from voting completely.
NSW Farmers encourages shareholders not attending the AGM to send back the proxy form before the November 15 deadline, to have their voice heard.
For the appointment of a proxy to be effective for the AGM, the required documents must be received by Link Market Services at least 48 hours before the meeting.
- NSW Farmers’ wool committee chair Andrew Wood
