The Board of AWI is comprised of a range of individuals whose talents and expertise provide a focused strategic direction for AWI and ensure our responsibilities to Australian woolgrowers.

Mr Walter B Merriman, Chairman
Member of the Marketing & Intellectual Property Committee, On-Farm RDI Scientific and Welfare Committee, Remuneration & Appointments Committee

Mr Merriman is Managing Director of the Merryville Stud. He oversees extensive commercial pastoral interests giving him broad farming and grazing experience. Mr Merriman has served on several industry boards, including National Woolgrower Forum, Major Woolgrowers Group and is past president of both NSW and Australian Stud Merino associations.

Mr Roger Fletcher, Deputy Chairman
Member of the Finance & Audit Committee, Chairman of the Remuneration & Appointments Committee

Mr Fletcher is the Managing Director of Fletcher International Exports Pty Limited (Dubbo Abattoirs and Wool Scour & Top Making Plant) New South Wales, and Fletcher International WA (Narrikup Abattoirs) Western Australia. He is also a wheat and wool farmer. He is Chairman of the National Export Lamb, Sheep and Goat Industries Council and Director of the Australian Meat Industry Council and former Director of Sheep CRC Ltd.

Mr George B S Falkiner BCom, OPM (Harvard Business School)
Member of the Finance &Audit Committee, Marketing & Intellectual Property Committee, Chairman of the OnFarm RDI Scientific & Welfare Committee

Mr Falkiner is the Principal and Managing Director of Haddon Rig P/L, an extensive cropping and grazing property in Central Western NSW, and home to the renowned Peppin Merino Stud. Through Haddon Rig, Mr Falkiner has assisted more than 300 professional woolgrowers in remaining industry-competitive, with a focus on market specifications and efficiency. Mr Falkiner is a member of the NSW Government Agricultural Ministerial Advisory Committee; and a past Board member of Sothebys auction house and George Brown electronics.

Mr Laurence Modiano
Member of the Marketing & Intellectual Property Committee

Mr Modiano is a director and shareholder of G. Modiano Limited, an international wool trading and processing company, owned and run by his family since 1957. Mr Modiano has spent his entire working career with the company, which has a respected name in the wool industry, as well as being a top-ten buyer of Australian wool in recent years. G. Modiano is the largest wool processor in Europe.

Mr Charles (Chick) Olsson, BEc., MAICD 
Chairman of the Finance & Audit Committee and Marketing & Intellectual Property Committee, Member of the Remuneration & Appointments Committee

Mr Charles (Chick) Olsson is part of the Olsson family group of companies, known for their agricultural and salt mining interests throughout Australia. His business career has essentially been involved in business management and marketing roles. Mr Olsson runs fine wool Merinos at ‘Royal Oak‘ Goulburn NSW.

Dr Meredith Sheil MBBS FRACP PhD
Member of the Marketing & Intellectual Property Committee and On-Farm RDI Scientific & Welfare Committee

Dr Sheil is a specialist paediatrician with over 20 years experience working in intensive medicine and research with children. She is also a commercial woolgrower and a Medical and Veterinary Research Scientist who has extensive experience dealing with the health and welfare of children and animals undergoing surgical and non surgical procedures. Dr Sheil was responsible for inventing / developing a wound anaesthetic for lambs undergoing mulesing and, in conjunction with Sydney University Veterinary School, is currently pursuing research into the development of similar practical and affordable pain relief medications for on-farm use in livestock industries. This work is supported by a linkage grant from the Australian Research Council. Dr Sheil is a local government councilor, and is an Honorary Associate of the University of Sydney Veterinary School.

Mr Brian P van Rooyen
Member of the Remuneration & Appointments Committee

Mr van Rooyen is currently Chairman of Australian Country Spinners Pty Ltd and a Director of  PFG Australia Pty Ltd and Power Farming New Zealand Ltd. He is a former Director of Australian Wool Testing Authority Ltd.

Mr David Webster
Member of the Finance & Audit Committee and Remuneration & Appointments Committee

Mr Webster has spent his working life putting together a wool growing, livestock and cropping enterprise. A keen student of economics, he is a strong advocate of private enterprise commerciality and competition. He has very strong views on upholding the rights of farmers without undue regulation and impediments to running their businesses. Mr Webster also places high priority on giving value to shareholders, particularly for compulsory levy payers. He is also a Director of Australian Wool Testing Authority Ltd.

Company Secretary

Susan Myers, BA LLB FCIS

Sue Myers was appointed as Company Secretary and General Counsel of Australian Wool Innovation Limited in May 2009.

Sue has extensive experience as a lawyer and as a company secretary for ASX listed companies. From 2005-2008, she was Special Counsel to Ridley Corporation Limited, and before that she was Company Secretary and General Counsel of the Mirvac Group. Before working in house with corporations, Sue was a solicitor in private practice, including with Freehills. She has also been a board member of the NSW Coal Compensation Board, and of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.