Wal Merriman not re-elected at AWI director election
Wool growers have delivered their verdict on long-serving Australian Wool Innovation board member and former chairman Wal Merriman’s candidacy.
WOOL growers have voted for a change at Australian Wool Innovation, with two new directors and one existing director elected at the company’s annual general meeting in Sydney today.
Michelle Humphries of Livestock Breeding Services and Noel Henderson of Avington Merino stud in Victoria were elected, as was current director David Webster.
Dr Humphries received 166,140 votes for, David Webster 159,465 votes for and Noel Henderson 39,370 votes for.
AWI chair Colette Garnsey had 19,949 open proxies and directed them equally as votes to Ms Humphries, Wal Merriman and David Webster.
After serving on the board since 2004, Mr Merriman was not re-elected.
It was the first time since 2006 Mr Merriman faced a contested election.
Mr Merriman stood down as chairman last November — a position he held for 10 years.
The other board candidates up for election were: NSW wool grower Paul Cocking; Haddon Rig stud principal George Falkiner; South Australian wool grower Janelle Hocking Edwards; consultant Philip Holmes; and Mr Merriman.
Meanwhile, the changes to the constitution resolution was passed. It needed to have a minimum of 75 per cent votes for and the board was recommending it to be passed.
It received 86 per cent votes for.
Ms Garnsey had 38,735 open proxies for the constitution resolution and directed them for.
This resolution included changes to the constitution to expressly set out shareholder voting rights, shareholders may be expelled from membership on reasonable grounds and the company will be required to consult regularly with participants in the wool industry.
The board size limit resolution was passed, which states the board size will be limited to seven.
It has 245,550 votes for and 16,616 against. Ms Garnsey had 32,037 open proxies and directed them for.