The Wool Chair "The Man in the Mirror", Wal Merriman, resigns and claims that AWI is responsible for soaring prices – ABC Rural

Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) president Wal Merriman has resigned.

Mr. Merriman has been involved in a number of scandals in recent years, including the man-in-the-mirror incident in which he watched a newsgroup without his consent behind a duplicate mirror meaning.

He also asked an ABC journalist to run away and recently said that AWI would be insolvent if a wool ballot had not taken place.

In a statement announcing his resignation, Mr. Merriman said he was proud of the work done during his tenure as president, claiming that the organization was responsible for the current surge in wool prices.

"We have invested record amounts in research and development, making advances that will ensure the future of the wool industry.

"Our increased focus on marketing, including the re-establishment of the Woolmark International Award, has ensured that Australian wool is once again on the radar of leading designers and brands around the world."

Vice-president appointed in replacement

Mr. Merriman joined AWI's board of directors in 2004 and has been its president since 2008.

He will remain administrator of AWI for at least a year. At that time, his position may be re-elected at an Annual General Meeting in November 2019.

AWI appointed Vice President Colette Garnsey to replace Mr. Merriman with immediate effect.

Colette Garnsey is the first woman to be elected president of Australian Wool Innovation.

She stated that Mr. Merriman had not been forced to resign.

"It was a total decision of Wal," she said.

"He proved that he would always do what was in the wool producers' interest, but I think Wal thinks the time has come for a new leadership."

Ms. Garnsey testified that Mr. Merriman would not receive any compensation for his early departure. His legacy has put him alongside two pioneers of the wool industry, John and Elizabeth Macarthur.

"I sincerely believe that history will judge AWI's Wal-Merriman presidency and its role in industry very favorably," she said.

"His vision was to take the company abroad, invest in marketing, talk to the world's leading brands and retailers about the benefits of wool and the beauty of its fiber, which would become a specialized fiber. in designer clothes. "

She would not comment on the scandals surrounding Mr. Merriman's term as president.

Years of experience in various sectors

Ms. Garnsey spent her childhood growing sheep in the west of New South Wales.

She has 39 years of experience in the retail, wholesale, distribution and marketing sectors. She has worked with David Jones for major brands in Australia and around the world.

Ms. Garnsey served on the CSIRO Advisory Board and joined the AWI Board of Directors in 2010.

She badumed the role of Vice President in 2017 and is the first woman to chair AWI.

Ms. Garnsey said the organization would continue to focus on the priorities set out in its three-year plan, while responding to the recommendations of an independent review.

Key recommendations included moving to a competency-based board, a 10-year term limit for directors and a greater independence of the committee to evaluate director nominees.

Minister thanks Merriman for his services

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud thanked Mr. Merriman for his services in the wool industry.

"He will leave an inheritance that few people will forget, he has chosen a logical moment to withdraw," he said.

"The new leadership will take on new challenges for AWI."

AWI will soon announce the results of its WoolPoll vote, which will determine the amount of taxes paid to producers.

A total of 13,634 wool levers voted on the November 2nd deadline and the countdown continues.