Wool elections committee snubs major contender in pick

His resume reads like a who’s who of the wool industry, but NSW producer Ed Storey has been snubbed ahead of the upcoming AWI elections.

A major NSW wool grower with credentials across industry bodies has been snubbed as a favoured candidate in the upcoming Australian Wool Innovation board elections.

But Ed Storey — a former WoolProducers Australia president whose resume reads like a who’s who of the wool industry — says he’s hopeful his reputation will be recognised by levy-paying voters at the AWI elections next month.

Ballot papers have this week been sent to wool growers to vote on three new board positions.

Mr Storey said he was not surprised he did not get the backing of the AWI-appointed nomination committee, which sought to narrow the field of recommended candidates down from four to three.

Recommended candidates are considered more likely to become elected as they can receive proxy votes held by the chairman.

“I have always acted in the best interests for growers and I would be able to do that on the AWI board, but I certainly would not toe the line for the sake of it,” Mr Storey said.

“It is not the role of AWI directors to vote for their own pet projects and it is a very important position and responsibility to spend growers’ money wisely.”

Mr Storey said if growers were not happy with the way their levy money was being spent, they should vote for different directors rather than a lower levy.

“The industry has been voting on the performance of the board by how much they have as a levy amount, and it’s meant that levies keep going down as they have not been happy with the way their levy money has been spent,” Mr Storey said.

“The best way to correct levy spending is to elect a board that will spend it wisely, on important issues and challenges.”

Australian Wool Innovation has their upcoming board elections, and Ed Storey is a favoured candidate. Picture: Supplied

Four candidates received the required 99 levy-payer signatures to qualify to stand for the AWI board but two of these could miss out on representing their industry.

AWI’s board nomination committee selected two of the four growers and sourced a “skills-based candidate” to fill its third recommended position for the three vacancies.

“The BNC has recommended three director candidates it believes will contribute the most suitable blend of expertise and experience to serve on the board of the company,” BNC independent chairman Julie Cox said.

The two levy payers selected were George Millington from South Australia and Neil Jackson, from the Great Southern area of Western Australia. Mr Storey, from Yass, and Steve McGuire, a wool grower from Kojonup, WA, missed out.

The skills-based appointment is Emma Weston, the chief executive of AgriDigital.

The BNC was appointed by AWI and included two retiring directors of the board.

WoolProducers Australia has made its own recommendations to assist voters in the election - its selected candidates are Mr Storey, Mr McGuire and Mr Millington.

WPA president Steve Harrison said its three recommended candidates “will compliment the existing skill set on the current AWI board”.

As in previous years, WPA wrote to each of the nominees seeking responses to what it considered were key issues pertinent to the industry.

The AWI annual general meeting and elections will be held on November 17 in Sydney, NSW.