WoolProducers Australia has announced Steve Harrison as their new President and Stacey Lugsdin as Vice-President.
The announcement follows WoolProducers’ AGM held in Sydney on Thursday, 10 November where immediate past President Ed Storey, stood down after completing his maximum four-year term as President.
Mr Harrison thanked Mr Storey for his service to WoolProducers and the wider wool industry “Ed has contributed immensely to the wool industry over his tenure and oversaw a number of essential policy decisions and industry good programmes to take the industry forward”.
“Some of these issues include the development of the Trust in Australian Wool campaign and the Sheep Sustainability Framework, both livestock and wool traceability reform, the end of a restrictive approach to OJD management and industry structural reform”, Mr Harrison said.
Mr Storey was farewelled at an industry dinner, with representatives from every sector of the domestic supply chain and all industry service providers from around the country, which is reflective of the high regard in which he is held.
The election of both Mr Harrison and Mrs Lugsdin set a number of new precedents for the organisation, with Mr Harrison being the first independent director of WoolProducers to be elected as President, the first time the President and Vice-President have both been independent directors and Mrs Lugsdin being the first female Vice-President.
Mr Harrison said he looked forward to working with Mrs Lugsdin, the WoolProducers Board and staff to continue advocating in the interests of all Australian woolgrowers.
A key priority of WoolProducers remains ensuring that all wool industry service providers are working together to serve the industry in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
An example of this collaboration is the establishment by WoolProducers of the Wool Traceability Working Group, which has been convened to oversee the implementation of the recommendations from the 2021 Wool Traceability Report and has already seen tangible outcomes from collaboration between service providers in the
traceability space.
Mr Harrison said “I look forward to positively contributing to industry decisions and representing growers in key discussions with industry and other stakeholders.
ENDS
About Steve Harrison
Steve lives in Gippsland, Victoria with his wife and three daughters. Steve owns Bindawarra Merino Stud and runs a successful commercial sheep flock of 4000 ewes. Steve is a Life Member of the Gippsland Sheep Breeders Association and has been a VFF Livestock Councillor for a number of years with the VFF Livestock Group and has recently been President of this group. He was appointed an independent WoolProducers director in 2011.
About Stacey Lugsdin
Stacey is a commercial wool producer from Hay in southwestern NSW. Stacey manages the family’s self-replacing Merino enterprise which averages 19-20 micron. Stacey’s husband Ian and their six children are all involved in various parts of the family businesses: Lugsdin Farming, Lugsdin Toyota and Hay Motors. Stacey has a passion for genetic improvement in their flock to produce a product that is sustainable both economically and environmentally for future generations.
ENDS
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WoolProducers Australia contacts:
Steve Harrison, President
0427 468 303
Jo Hall, CEO
0488 554 811
About WoolProducers’ Australia WoolProducers plays a critical role in working closely with companies and entities funded by woolgrower funds including compulsory levies or fees for service.
Our mission is to develop constructive and profitable outcomes for woolgrowers nationally.
The agency is responsible for appointing a director to each of the Australian Wool Exchange and the Australia Wool Testing Authority, promoting good corporate governance and ensuring that the interests of growers are met.
WoolProducers maintains a working relationship with Australian Wool Innovation as the voice of woolgrower shareholders. It aims to contribute to AWI’s programs for the benefit of growers, promoting responsible use of levy funds and ensuring good corporate governance.
WoolProducers is the sole wool industry member of Animal Health Australia, and as such, carries a significant responsibility for decision making on behalf of the industry in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak.
As the only wool grower organisation with membership of the National Farmers’ Federation, WoolProducers is responsible for providing key policy advice on behalf of our members, and other wool growers, to Australia’s peak farm body.
As the only wool grower organisation with membership of the National Farmers’ Federation, WoolProducers is responsible for providing key policy advice on behalf of our members, and other wool growers, to Australia’s peak farm body.
WoolProducers also works closely with the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on key issues such as animal health and welfare, biosecurity, pest management control, natural resource management, drought preparedness, emergency animal disease outbreak preparedness and industry development, including research and trade.
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