Carter chooses Wool taskforce members

Agriculture Minister David Carter has appointed an eight-member taskforce to help steer the future direction of the wool industry. "The role of this group will be to build a cohesive, sector-wide strategy to lift the returns for NZ wool. Everyone from growers and processors to brokers and exporters is looking for a common solution. The taskforce will be chaired by Jeff Grant, former chairman of M&WNZ and the Meat Board. A report on progress by the taskforce is due with the Agriculture Minister by the end of the year and a second wool industry meeting will be convened in early 2010. The other members are: John Brakenridge, chief executive officer of the NZ Merino Company .Dr Scott Champion, chief executive officer of M&WNZ; Cliff Heath, chairman of Wool Equities and NZ Wool Advancement Group Inc. and a director of Primary Wool Co-operative Ltd and Textiles NZ; Derek Kirke, a director of Wool Services International Ltd; Colin McKenzie, chief operating officer of Cavalier Corporation Ltd;  Sam Robinson, chair of AgResearch and a director of AsureQuality; and  Keith Sutton, deputy chairman of the Animal Health Board and a director of Wool Partners International and Wool Grower Holdings. A report on progress by the taskforce is due with the Agriculture Minister by the end of the year and a second wool industry meeting will be convened in early 2010.