Veteran rural industry lobbyist and agribusiness executive, Ron Cullen, has been appointed independent chairman of a new consultative body which will provide high-level advice to Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).
Mr Cullen, a former chief executive of the Sheepmeat Council of Australia (now Sheep Producers Australia) served on the administrative committee which assisted global financial advisory and accountancy firm, Ernst & Young, conduct a major review of AWI's governance and performance last year.
Among the review's sweeping list of 82 recommendations was the need for AWI to significantly improve its consultations with grower stakeholders.
In its new three-year strategic plan released last month AWI outlined a new model to improve consultation with woolgrowers to give them more say on the future of the Australian Merino industry.
Two consultation forums were unveiled to replace AWI's existing Industry Consultative Committee (ICC) - a core Woolgrower Industry Consultation Panel (WICP) and a broader group of the AWI Woolgrower Consultation Group (WCG).
AWI chairman, Colette Garnsey, said Mr Cullen had been unanimously endorsed by ICC members as the new independent chair of the WICP.
"AWI believes to be effective, accountable and productive, genuine consultation is essential," Ms Garnsey said.
"We believe we have a way forward that strikes a balanced position, meeting the expectations of woolgrowers, our levy payers, woolgrower representative groups, government and AWI's business needs."
Ms Garnsey said the expanded WCG would ensure AWI received feedback from a wider range of regional and organisational perspectives while the WICP was a core group that AWI could engage more regularly on specific issues.
"Having somebody of Mr Cullen's calibre with his strong chairing skills, extensive experience and knowledge of industry and good understanding of AWI's corporate governance framework will ensure the WICP is a genuine consultative forum that will give woolgrowers a real say in the future of our industry," Ms Garnsey said.
WoolProducers Australia nominated Mr Cullen for the job due to his proven agribusiness and governance knowledge and experience.
Its president, Ed Storey, said WoolProducers was keen to find someone that could be considered independent but knew the workings of the industry and also had strong chairing and governance skills.
"Mr Cullen certainly ticks all of those boxes," Mr Storey said.
"The establishment of the WICP and the WCP replaces the former Industry Consultative Committee (ICC).
"WoolProducers has long been critical of the ICC process as it was essentially meaningless, so we have much higher expectations for the new industry consultation mechanisms within AWI."
Mr Cullen said it was privilege to be appointed inaugural chair of the new committee.
"Having been actively engaged in agriculture throughout my career I believe I can make a positive and productive contribution as chair of the WICP and I look forward to the challenge."
Mr Cullen is a former chief executive and non-executive director of the Sheepmeat Council of Australia, former senior manager in the federal Department of Agriculture, former chairman of the National Farmers Federation's biosecurity taskforce and a former member of the NSW Farmers' executive council.
He is the current chairman of the National Sheep Genetics Advisory Committee and chairman of Animal Health Australia's sheep health program steering committee.
His appointment is effective for 12 months from July 1, 2019.
It is anticipated that the WICP will meet three times a year and the WCG annually.
The expanded WCG is expected to be finalised at the first meeting of the WICP.
The members of the WICP are:
- Independent Chair
- Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders
- Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association
- Australian Wool Growers Association
- Broad wool representative
- Commercial Merino Ewe Competitions Association
- Pastoralists and Graziers of WA
- WoolProducers Australia
- Department of Agriculture representative
- Two AWI board representatives.