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New face at the top for Cotton Australia Board

18 Aug '10

2 min read

Second generation Boggabri cotton farmer, Andrew Watson has been elected to chair the Cotton Australia board during the Cotton Australia AGM on the Gold Coast.

Assuming his new role after seven years on the Cotton Australia board, Andrew Watson says past chair Joanne Grainger did a remarkable job, guiding Cotton Australia during some very hard years in a long drought and was then presented with the challenge of a global financial crisis.

Andrew Watson says tough decisions made during those tough times have allowed Cotton Australia to be more financially robust and better able to weather future financial challenges.

“The successful merge of ACGRA and Cotton Australia stands as one of the crowning achievements from Joanne Grainger's time chairing the Cotton Australia board, with the significant benefit from that complex reorganisation clearly displayed during the 15th Australian Cotton conference.”

The incoming chair says his focus would continue to be on the next big issue facing cotton growing communities - water security and ensuring all those affected by changes proposed in the Murray Darling Basin plan have a collective voice.

He promised to fight on behalf of dedicated cotton industry researchers, defending already scarce research and development funds from future budget cuts as governments seek to trim their bottom line.

Mr Watson says he is really looking forward to getting out into the valleys and talking with cotton growers.

Cotton Australia

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