New WoolProducers Australia president Ed Storey

NEW South Wales wool grower Ed Storey is the new president of peak body WoolProducers Australia and his new deputy as senior vice president is Gippsland grower Steve Harrison.

The announcement followed WoolProducers’ annual general meeting in Sydney last week, where immediate past president Richard Halliday stood down after completing his maximum four-year term.

Mr Storey is a fourth-generation wool producer and runs a superfine Merino flock with his wife Nicki, and their three children near Yass, NSW. He is also chairman of the NSW Farmers Association Wool Advisory Committee.

Mr Harrison, with his wife Lisa and three daughters, runs the Bindawarra Merino Stud and a commercial sheep flock at Giffard West in Gippsland. He is a life member of the Gippsland Sheep Breeders Association and has been a Victorian Farmers Federation livestock councillor for several years. He was appointed an independent WoolProducers director in 2011.

Mr Storey thanked Mr Halliday for his service to WoolProducers and the wider wool industry.

“Richard has contributed immensely to the wool industry over his tenure and oversaw a number of essential policy decisions to take the industry forward.

“Some of these issues include the establishment of a Wool Industry Trust, pain relief, the end of a restrictive approach to Ovine Johne’s Disease management, industry structural reform and ongoing input into wild dog management,” Mr Storey said.

Mr Storey said he looked forward to working with Mr Harrison, the WoolProducers board and staff to continue advocating in the interests of all Australian wool growers.

A WPA statement today said a key priority of WoolProducers is to ensure that all wool industry service providers and representative organisations are working together to serve the industry in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

Mr Storey said WoolProducers believed that the implementation of the recommendations from the Review of Performance of Australian Wool Innovation is of crucial importance to the success of this cohesive approach.

“WoolProducers welcomes the appointment of Ms Collette Garnsey to the role of Chair and we look forward to working with their new leadership team to ensure positive outcomes for woolgrower and the wider industry.”