EOI to join the AWEX SustainaWOOL Expert Panel

The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) is seeking Expressions of Interest from experienced sustainability professionals to join the newly formed SustainaWOOL Expert Panel. The Panel has been created to provide advice and oversight for the Standards, Performance Criteria and data/evidence requirements that underpin the Australian wool industries’ on-farm sustainability assurance scheme.

About AWEX

The Australian Wool Exchange Limited (AWEX) is a not-for-profit member services organisation. Members include Australian and international wool brokers, processors, exporters, private treaty merchants, wool producers (growers) and industry associations.

The role of AWEX is to deliver services that strengthen, inform and increase confidence in the quality and integrity of Australian wool. AWEX delivers integrity programs, standards, information, and administrative services to all wool industry participants.

About the SustainaWOOL Integrity Scheme

The SustainaWOOL Integrity Scheme exists to link Australian wool growers with domestic and international wool brokers, buyers, processors, brands and retailers who share a common vision – of a wool industry that can aspire to the highest standards of sustainability, integrity, traceability, and clip preparation.

Owned by AWEX on behalf of the Australian wool industry, the SustainaWOOL Integrity Scheme provides assurance that on-farm practices for responsible environmental stewardship of the land and natural resources, wellbeing of the sheep, care for people, customers, community and industry and high quality wool preparation standards have been adopted. SustainaWOOL provides traceability from farm to first-stage processing.

About the Expert Panel

The SustainaWOOL Expert Panel has been created to assist AWEX by providing a forum for credible, independent review and oversight of the SustainaWOOL Standards, Performance Criteria and data/evidence requirements that underpin the scheme. Following a comprehensive review in 2023, AWEX has an ambitious plan to launch a refreshed SustainaWOOL program in mid-2024. The Panel is a core element to oversee this exciting plan. It is expected that the Panel will meet twice a year. Meetings will usually be conducted online. To support the relaunch of the program in July 2024 the Panel will also convene for two additional full-day workshops in early 2024 to develop new grower Standards.  A full Terms of Reference for the Panel is available here.

EOI process and requirements

AWEX is seeking Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified and experienced sustainability and/or industry professionals to join the 8 member SustainaWOOL Expert Panel to guide the development of wool grower Standards, Performance Criteria and data/evidence requirements that underpin the program. Members of the Expert Panel will be selected based on their experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Sustainability as it relates to the environment, livestock, people, community and/or the wool industry supply chain
• Industry sustainability, integrity or on-farm assurance programs
• Wool, sheep or livestock production
• On-farm data and evidence capture to support sustainability outcomes

Individuals wishing to submit an Expression of Interest are asked to supply the following:

1. Current CV or LinkedIn profile including contact details for 2 referees
2. EOI (maximum 2 pages) outlining suitability for the role

EOI Timeframe:

• EOI open: 12 February 2024
• EOI close: 15 March 2024
• Expert Panel selected and invitations sent: 20 March 2024
• SustainaWOOL Expert Panel announced: 22 March 2024
• SustainaWOOL Expert Panel Workshop: March/April 2024 TBC