AWI Director Nominee Update - Recommendation of the Board Nomination Committee

The BNC has recommended three director candidates it believes will contribute the most suitable blend of expertise and experience to serve on the Board of the company.

The BNC is confident that the three nominees recommended, if elected, will bring to the Board of AWI a high-level of complementary and relevant skills, commercial pragmatism and insight into the needs and opportunities for the Australian wool industry.  The BNC believes that the three recommended candidates would best ensure that the Board collectively has the appropriate and necessary balance of skills required by AWI. The BNC also considers the recommended candidates will deliver to the Board a diverse composition of backgrounds and outlook to support the company to fulfil its responsibilities to shareholders and stakeholders.

The independent BNC has recommended the following candidates for shareholders’ consideration listed in alphabetical order.

• Mr George Millington (nomination from more than 99 eligible shareholders)
• Mr Neil Jackson (nomination from more than 99 eligible shareholders)
• Ms Emma Weston (skills based candidate identified by the BNC).

The BNC received applications from four persons nominated by more than 99 eligible voters, all of whom are wool growers with a diverse range of skills and experience relevant to the wool industry.  Following interviews and background checks, the BNC has determined two of the four applicants, George Millington and Neil Jackson, to be the most suitable for the role as Director of AWI.

The BNC also undertook an executive search for specific skills identified to supplement existing skills on the Board; namely, digitisation, supply chain, corporate governance and international exposure.  Following interviews and background checks, Emma Weston has been identified as the preferred candidate based on this process.

A short outline provided by each of the three BNC recommended candidates for this press release is set out below and further information will be available in the Notice of Annual General Meeting.

The Notice of Annual General Meeting will also provide information about the two wool grower candidates who did not receive a recommendation by the BNC; Mr Steve McGuire and Mr Edward Storey.  A short outline provided by these two candidates for this press release is also set out below.

AWI shareholders are not bound by the recommendations of the BNC and will be entitled to vote for any of the five director candidates who are standing for election to the board at the AGM.  Of the five candidates set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting, the three candidates with the most votes from shareholders, in person and by proxy, will be elected to the three vacant positions.

The BNC are appreciative of the time, effort and enthusiasm shown by all candidates during the 2023 director nomination and interview process.  We were impressed by the dedication shown to contributing to AWI’s mission to further the Australian wool industry. 

About the 2023 Recommended Candidates

George Millington as the Director and owner of Collinsville Stud Merinos for the last nine years, has overseen its re- energisation into a thriving enterprise, unifying the iconic Merino studs of Collinsville and East Bungaree. Prior to owning Collinsville and East Bungaree, George gained a Bachelor of Economics and worked in the finance industry. He was then involved in the coffee industry where he built and expanded a wholesale coffee importation and roasting business (Monjava Coffee), which was eventually sold to San Remo Pasta. George then purchased a logistics company (APD Parcel Delivery) and is still involved in the management of this company today. George's commitment to bridging tradition and innovation, strategic insights and business experience, position him as an advocate for woolgrowers on the Australian Wool Innovation Board of Directors - offering a fresh perspective gained from outside the wool industry to help guide it into a prosperous and sustainable era.

Neil Jackson is a 3rd generation farmer with 38 years hands-on experience and extensive industry involvement at government and grass roots level. During this time he has also increased farm area fourfold and production fivefold through hard work, dedication and best business practices to now be one of the larger wool growers in the Great Southern of WA. Neil is acutely aware of the many on-farm challenges facing wool growers today, hence he is excited at the opportunity to advocate strongly for woolgrowers as an AWI Board member.

Emma Weston is the CEO of AgriDigital and a leader in digital innovation, she holds a MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, a LL.B. (Hons) and B.A. from the University of Melbourne, and has held a number of board and advisory roles in the digital, fintech and agtech sectors.  Emma was recently awarded the Pearcey Foundation 2023 NSW ICT Entrepreneur of the Year in recognition of her achievements in innovation in agtech. Prior to founding AgriDigital in 2015, Emma started her career as a lawyer before moving into various executive roles across the agricultural supply chain - her career focus over the past 25 years. Emma lives and farms with her family in Central West New South Wales and is passionate about ensuring rural communities are sustainable, that agriculture is a valued career choice and to build connection between consumers and their food and fibre.

About the Other 2023 Candidates

Steve McGuire is a woolgrower from Kojonup, Western Australia, after graduating with a Bachelor of Business (Agriculture) and a Diploma in Farm Management from Curtin University he returned to the family farm where has managed a mixed cropping/sheep operation for 30 years and developed a passion for sheep and wool research and development.  Steve through his involvement with WAFarmers Livestock Council, was appointed to the board of WoolProducers Australia where he served for 6 years until February 2023.  With his time on a national board of woolgrowers, as well as travel to China in 2017, he has gained a wide understanding of not just the wool producing industry across Australia but the upstream systems of handling, testing, processing and marketing of Australian wool.

Edward Storey is a woolgrower and experienced company director from the southern tablelands of NSW.  As well as a passion for growing the world's most sustainable fibre, he will bring over 20 years of community, philanthropic and agribusiness leadership to the AWI Board.

About the 2023 BNC

The BNC’s membership is:

• Ms Julie Cox, Independent Chair, appointed by the BNC following an executive search
• Mr James Morgan, retiring AWI Board Member
• Mr David Webster, retiring AWI Board Member
• Mr Michael Field, Independent member nominated by the Woolgrower Industry Consultation Panel
• Mr Michael Thomas, Independent member from an international executive search firm (Heidrick and Struggles)

About AWI’s 2023 AGM

AWI will hold its 2023 Annual General Meeting at 10am (AEST) on Friday 17th November at the Swissotel Sydney 68 Market Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 and online.

More details related to the election of Directors, together with the Nomination Form, Consent to Nomination Form and AWI’s Rules and Procedures governing the election of Directors are available from AWI’s website at www.wool.com/agm.