WoolProducers Australia has praised the contribution to the wool industry of former Australian Wool Innovation chairman, Ian McLachlan, who is standing down altogether from the AWI board.
WPA president Don Hamblin said Mr McLachlan faced difficult circumstances when first elected to the AWI board.
"Mr McLachlan was originally encouraged to stand for the board of AWI by woolgrowers to help improve the governance of the company, which back in 2003 was in very poor shape," Mr Hamblin said.
"We must remember that AWI was in such a state that it culminated in a Senate inquiry, and Mr McLachlan and his fellow directors are to be congratulated for subsequently turning the company around."
Mr Hamblin also noted the move by AWI to bring innovation and marketing functions closer together, the fight against animal extremists and the integration of the Woolmark Company into AWI as other key achievements during Mr McLachlan's term.
"AWI needed strong leadership in some very difficult times, which Mr Lachlan provided," he said.
"I think growers can be satisfied with the knowledge that Mr McLachlan leaves AWI in much better shape than when he assumed the Chairmanship of the company."
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