The Australian Wagyu Association is pleased to announce that the new Board for 2020-2021 was sworn in at the Annual General Meeting held 4 November, 2020.
In a year where industry has risen to the challenges of the pandemic, the AGM for the first time was held principally online, with voting conducted virtually.
Following strong support for Board renewal form the AWA membership, newly appointed Board Directors are Scott de Bruin and Laird Morgan; while Charlie Perry and Selwyn Maller have been re-elected. Consistent with the member support, the Executive Committee has been empowered through selection of office bearers for the 2020-21 period as follows:
President: Charles Perry
Senior Vice President: Selwyn Maller
Junior Vice President: Laird Morgan
Treasurer: Scott de Bruin.
Scott is the principal of Mayura Station and has served as President and Board member previously for the Association, in the era of the introduction of the Collaborative Genetic Research Project. Mayura Station is a vertically integrated business based in South Australia, and has been a successful entry in the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition each year since its inception.
Laird is the owner/operator of Lillyvale Feedlot and Arubial Wagyu. A fourth-generation beef farmer, he is a graduate of Marcus Oldham and will bring to the Board an understanding of Wagyu strengths in comparison to the beef industry.
Association chief executive, Dr Matt McDonagh would like to extend on behalf of the organisation his thanks to outgoing President and Board Members, Mike Buchanan and Lorna Tomkinson for their contributions to the AWA through their service on the Board.
President Charlie Perry said that: “There is no doubt that 2020 has been a difficult year for the industry with environmental conditions and COVID-19. I am looking forward to working with the Australian Wagyu Association Board in 2021, with a renewed energy and focus on inclusivity and embracing the diversity within our global membership.”