WAFarmers vice president Steve McGuire has declared his AWI board intentions.

WAFarmers vice president and WoolProducers Australia director Steve McGuire has declared his intention to run for the Australian Wool Innovation board.

And reminded wool levy payers to register as shareholders of AWI so they can vote at the 2023 annual general meeting and in the director election.

The WA Farmers vice-president, and WoolProducers director for the past six years, said he has long had a passion for research and believes that the future of the Australian wool industry depends on increasing productivity.

Mr McGuire follows Collinsville Merino stud principal George Millington and Western Australian grower Neil Jackson who last month also declared their intention to run for a seat on the Australian Wool Innovation board.

Western Australian director David Webster and South Australian director James Morgan are retiring from the board this year and it has not been confirmed which directors will seek re-election. This is expected to be finalised by the AWI board by the end of August.

WA growers have seen the benefits of research in grain

Mr McGuire said most Western Australian wool growers are also grain growers and have seen the benefits of technology and innovation in recent years.

“The sheep industry in general and wool industry in particular must make significant gains in productivity to keep wool growers profitable.”

Mr McGuire said as a fifth-generation wool grower with 30 years on the farm at Kojonup, combined with my time with WoolProducers Australia, he has gained a solid understanding of the wider industry.

“I have been fortunate enough to meet wool growers from around Australia and those involved in processing and support of the wool industry.”

Mr McGuire said AWI must continue to provide value for levy payers.

“The current chairman and chief executive officer have made significant governance improvements and I note the chairman’s comments last year that AWI is closely watching its spending.

“This is what those contributing levies to their research and development body want to hear” he said.

“It has been noticeable, to myself as a board member of WoolProducers Australia, the much greater and meaningful engagement with the wider wool industry of AWI under the current management and I am very keen for this to continue.”

Mr McGuire said one of his great joys in his time in industry advocacy has been meeting so many young men and women who work on and off farm in sheep and wool.

“They are passionate, capable and intelligent.

“My nomination for the board of AWI is motivated by the need to ensure that we can have a wool industry in which they have a future,” he said.

Mr McGuire reminded levy payers to register as shareholders of AWI so they can vote at the AGM and in the director election.

“Currently only about 40 percent of those eligible have done so.

“Instructions how to this can be found at the AWI website, under the About AWI tab then Shareholder Information.”