Restanding AWI director Dr Michelle Humphries.

RESTANDING Australian Wool Innovation director Dr Michelle Humphries supports the current director skills process, maintaining the AWI board’s size and promoting wool produced from sheep mulesed with pain relief to brands via on-farm and virtual farm tours.

The New South Wales-based veterinary consultant has responded to Sheep Central’s questions in the lead-up to the 14 November AWI ballot.

Dr Humphries said AWI shareholders are recommended to vote for the resolution in their voting papers so the board size remains the same at seven directors “and this can be followed with confidence.”

She said the AWI constitution states that the number of positions must be not less than five and not more than 10, which the board may determine.

“This rule in the AWI Constitution is subject to the operation of the Corporations Act 2001 (C’th) and so the decision is put to the AGM when there is an election of directors.

“In 2025 this is Agenda Item 3, and Resolution 3 is “To approve a board limit of seven (7) directors,” she said.

“The board has seven directors, this being big enough for a range of views and skills, but not so large that it becomes inefficient (with, for example, increased costs).”

Dr Humphries did not directly answer a question on whether the AWI board is dominated by Merino breeders and growers or should encourage more directors with a diversity of off-farm skills.

But she said wool growers pay levies to help fund AWI, so the board needs wool growers’ perspectives on the use of those levies.

“Typically, wool growers on the board also have additional skills which add value to the board.

“For example, I am a wool grower but also a veterinarian, have run my own sheep reproduction technology business for 40 years, and am extensively networked with the scientific and research community,” Dr Humphries said.

“Other wool growers on the current board have additional skills in business, finance, political engagement and wool broking.”

Dr Humphries said the board nomination committee has the power to seek candidates external to the wool industry to give a diversity of off-farm skills.

“In the last two elections, directors (Georgia) Hack and (Emma) Weston were recommended to shareholders and voted onto the board for skills in marketing (director Hack) and digital supply chain technology (director Weston).

“In the 2025 election, Mr Chris Mirams has been recommended by the BNC for his corporate governance skills and experience on similar boards to AWI.”

Dr Humphries said the BNC has a structure that was demanded by the industry.

“It is chaired by a person external to the industry, it has another member external to the industry, and it has a member selected by the industry.

“It does a thorough investigation into all candidates,” she said.

“It makes a considered recommendation to shareholders and to the board, and its recommendation can be followed with confidence.”

Mulesing and AWI

Dr Humphries said though mulesing is a highly effective procedure used by the majority of Australian flocks for valid animal welfare reasons, it will continue to be relevant to some European and North American customers where there is a demand for certified wool.

“The priority for certified wool is not nearly as high in China, particularly for the large Chinese domestic market.

“AWI needs to continue to be aware of both customer and woolgrower perspectives on the issue,” she said.

“Continued research on flystrike and novel wool removal are imperative for producer confidence in a non-mulesed production system, if there were to be market drivers for such.

“The Woolmark+ program should be promoted to brands, especially the opportunity for brands to support wool growers in management changes through the Nature Positive Impact Program,” she said.

“Scientifically supported welfare benefits of using analgesic and anaesthetic products for husbandry procedures should be communicated to growers, certification bodies and brands.

“Good animal welfare practice and environmental stewardship can be communicated through the Australian Wool Traceability Hub (now managed by AWTA) and AWSS ResponsiWOOL (which allows mulesed wool with AA), and these should be promoted,” Dr Humphries said.

“It is important that the sustainability managers of brands are brought to Australia to visit wool farms so that real-life challenges and management solutions can be explained and the genuine welfare concern of wool growers is (are) demonstrated.

“There is an opportunity to reach out to a greater number of brands via virtual farm tours.”

Dr Humphries, along with fellow candidates, Chris Mirams and Anthony Uren, has declined to share her responses to WoolProducers Australia questions around industry threats, priorities and opportunities; and strategies for an effective relationship between AWI and WPA and for effective consultation between AWI and industry.

“My answers to the WPA specific questions will not be available for Sheep Central to publish,” Dr Humphries said.

WoolProducers Australia advised the AWI director candidates that WPA would not be releasing their responses to its questions and told Sheep Central it would have to ask each candidate for the responses. Candidates Dr Paul Swan and Drew Chapman have provided their responses to the WPA questions.