AWGA represents the priorities of all growers at the highest levels.
Our Board
Robert McBride, Chair
Robert brings extensive knowledge of pastoral grazing practice to the board, being a private landholder in the western division of NSW for over twenty-five years.
In addition to his directorship of AJ & PA McBride Ltd, Robert is the Chairman of the Australian Wool Growers Association and a former member of the (then) AWI Woolgrower Industry Consultative Committee.
Robert has studied Economics and Accounting and holds a diploma through the Securities Institute of Australia and is an Associate of CPA Australia.
Tom Moxham
Tom Moxham is a lawyer and third generation woolgrower. His family founded the Nyngan-based Mullengudgery merino stud which will celebrate its centenary in 2023.
Tom was admitted to the bar in 1987 and has decades of experience in high-value arbitration, practising in Australia, Europe and Asia. In parallel with his legal practice, he has extensive experience in agriculture and agribusiness, including dispute resolution, financing, production, government policy and environmental management.
He has a particular interest in addressing the worsening shearer shortage and the increasing chemical resistance of flies to conventional flystrike treatments.
Dr Sabrina Lomax
Sabrina is Senior Lecturer in livestock behaviour and welfare with the Faculty of Science at The University of Sydney, and a lead scientist in the Livestock Production and Welfare Group with the Faculty of Science.
Her research aims to promote best practice livestock production, with a focus on pain mitigation and objective measures of welfare, through the integration of technology with animal behaviour and welfare science.
Sabrina and her research team have made significant contributions to a change in practice regarding practical pain mitigation for cattle and sheep undergoing livestock husbandry procedures. She works closely with industry to improve adoption and secure the sustainability of the livestock industries.
Chick Olsson
Charles ‘Chick’ Olsson is an experienced businessman and board director with national and international commercial interests in the agriculture, mining and pharmaceutical sectors. He has formal qualifications in economics and accounting.
He is a champion of Australian wool and believes that its message of sustainability needs to reach every consumer and that farmers’ rights should be protected
Sam Stephens
A professional livestock and farming veteran with over 30 years' experience in the industry, Sam is a merino specialist, with strong credentials in breeding plain skin genetics for productivity and fly resistance.
He is an advisor to industry on genetics and research issues. Sam represents AWGA on the WoolProducers Australia - Health and Welfare committee and is AWGA’s animal welfare liaison officer.