A field of eight candidates including two incumbent directors will jostle for three vacant seat on the board of Australian Wool Innovation.
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The names of the eligible candidates were officially released on Monday after nominations closed last Thursday (September 26).
Two long-serving directors - the former chairman Wally Merriman and David Webster from Western Australia - will stand again but their board colleague Meredith Sheil will retire after AWI's annual general meeting on November 22.
Mr Merriman has indicated he would serve one more term if re-elected and then hand the reins to the younger generation.
He said recently he had decided to stand again because of the support he had been given.
The other candidates are Paul Cocking, George Falkiner, Noel Henderson, Janelle Hocking Edwards, Philip Holmes and Michelle Humphries.
Paul Cocking, a producer from Mangoplah near Wagga Wagga and founder of Riverina Wool Testers, and George Falkiner, owner of Haddon Rig Merino stud at Warren, are both former directors.
But the bid by another former director, Chick Olsson, to return to the board failed when AWI scrutineers ruled he didn't have the required support of more than 99 eligible AWI shareholders.
He supplied 137 signatories to his application but only 97 were judged valid which has enraged Mr Olsson who is seeking legal advice.
Mr Olsson firmly believed some of the rejected signatories were legitimate shareholders and suggested a Senate inquiry was needed to investigate the matter
Meanwhile, a strong field of candidates will contest the ballot featuring a strong mix of sheep breeding, research, management and wool production talent.
Dr Michelle Humphries is founding director of Livestock Breeding Services at Jerilderie in the NSW Riverina.
Noel Henderson is a first-generation wool grower and co-owner of Avington Merino stud, Sidonia, Victoria, which is renowned for its innovative and technologically enabled approach to wool production.
Dr Janelle Hocking Edwards is a director and hands-on manager of her family's property near Lucindale, South Australia, which produces finewool Merinos and crossbred lambs.
She also has had a notable career as a livestock scientists and researcher.
Phillip Holmes, now based on the NSW South Coast, has 40 years' experience as a veterinarian and a farm management consultant, advising and working with some of the most profitable and progressive wool producers across Australia.
The results of the board ballot will be announced at AWI's annual general meeting on Friday, November 29, in Sydney.
The board nomination committee - consisting of independent chair Dr Mary Corbett, independent industry representative Simon Cameron, managing partner from international executive recruitment firm Heidrick and Struggles Sydney, Guy Farrow, and AWI directors Dr Meredith Sheil and James Morgan - has assessed the candidates to identify necessary and desirable director competencies.
The committee's non-binding recommendations will be provided with the notice of meeting which will be sent to shareholders in October ahead of the AGM.
All shareholders can vote at the company's AGM - either in person or by proxy - on who they want to represent them on their company's board.
Vernon Graham
Former editor of The Land, former Fairfax Media Agricultural Editor
Former editor of The Land, former Fairfax Media Agricultural Editor
