The Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), a not-for-profit Research and Development initiative for wool growers, reported a year of strong results for wool growers in 2015 and elected a new director at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) today, according to a press release. Jock Laurie, a former president of the NSW Farmers’ Association and the National Farmers’ Federation, replaced Brian van Rooyen, who had been serving as a director of AWI since 2002. Wal Merriam, who is also AWI chairman, and David Webster were re-elected to the seven-member Board of Directors, which stipulates every director to seek election every two years. Rooyen did not seek re-election. AWI reported on a year of strong results for woolgrowers across research, development and marketing. Addressing the AGM and via a webcast, its CEO Stuart McCullough highlighted the efforts to lift demand for Australian wool through ongoing marketing initiatives and new fabric innovations, protecting the national flock from issues such as wild dog predation and increasing productivity through programs such as Lifetime Ewe Management. “We appreciate that wool prices must lift to keep and attract more woolgrowers. The retail, brand and manufacturing partners joining our marketing programs are increasing as reflected in increasing revenue from Woolmark licenses. We will continue to find innovative fabrics using wool and seek new ways to exchange wool via the Wool Selling Systems Review,” said McCullough. AWI Chairman Wal Merriman told the AGM how his Board continued to set the strategic direction of the company.
