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Producers mount challenge to AWI board
15 Aug 2002
Grower organisation WoolProducers says that its challenge to the board of Australian Wool Innovation has been sparked by a "lack of respect for wool grower levy payers". WoolProducers announced last week that it has a list of high-profile candidates to put forward, including Ian McLachlan, as it plans to overthrow the current AWI board. WoolProducers' chairman Simon Campbell said that his organisation does not intend to restructure AWI but to ensure proper governance and that producers are kept fully informed.
Other criticisms of the AWI by WoolProducers, according to Mr Campbell, include the board's failure to inform shareholders that this year's election had been found to be "invalid"; delays in formulating a strategic plan; some investments made without a public strategic planning framework; some projects which were of "dubious value" to growers, such as the $1.9 million investment in continuous filament development from wool keratin; and the lack of adequate company knowledge and necessary wool industry skills among board members.
Col Dorber, AWI's CEO, rejected Mr Campbell's criticisms but would not comment further in the lead-up to the board election. Such matters would be left to AWI's chairperson, Maree McCaskill, he said.
Weekly Times, 14/8/02, page 3.
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