Meet the two new CBH board candidates and find out why they decided not to do the Candidate Assessment Panel

CBH’s two newest board candidates have opened up about why they did not take part in the co-operative’s inaugural Candidate Assessment Panel, which aims to determine whether nominees have the “desired skills and attributes” for the role. Wagin farmer Phil Blight (District 4) said he was “deeply disturbed” by the process, which involves a panel interview to give candidates a confidential rating on how they would fit in the role before providing a report on each candidate to growers ahead of voting. Nokaning farmer Jules Alvaro (District 2) said she believed the panel was a good idea but the early November 4 deadline for those wanting to participate — two months earlier than the January 4 cut off for all nominees — had come at a busy time of year. Facing the CAP is mandatory for incumbents but new candidates have been encouraged to take part. Ms Alvaro said she was still weighing up whether to nominate by the time the first nomination deadline rolled around, after spending a lot of time away from home through her role as a Western Region Panel member with Grains Research Development Corporation. However, Ms Alvaro was confident she had the skills and attributes CBH desired, and would not have nominated if she did not. CBH grower members have until February 14 to vote, with one new director set to be revealed for CBH’s grower districts 2, 3, and 4. In District 2, Ms Alvaro is facing off against incumbent Jeff Seaby (Mukinbudin) and Chris Antonio (Southern Brook). In District 4, Mr Blight is challenging incumbent Kojonup farmer Helen Woodhams. In District 3, Barry West (Kulin), Dee Ridgeway (Beverley) and Tamara Alexander (Narrogin) are all vying to replace Bruce Rock farmer Kevin Fuchsbichler after his shock retirement announcement early in January after initially planning to re-stand. Countryman spoke to Ms Alvaro and Mr Blight to find out a bit about them and what they hoped to bring to the board. Jules Alvaro, Nokaning (District 2) Ms Alvaro farms 6200ha at Nokaning in the Shire of Merredin, growing a range of crops and running sheep. She has spent the past 25 years at Nokaning after growing up at Bonnie Rock, and previously worked in Perth as a farm consultant. Ms Alvaro said she had done a lot of thinking before nominating and fully understood the commitment. “I am a grower and I have industry experience, and I think that will help me be decisive and collaborative as a director,” she said. Ms Alvaro has a range of past board experience after serving on the board of Rural Edge (formerly Partners in Grain). She has also served as the former chair of the St Mary’s School board in Merredin, and has volunteered at many local organisations. Ms Alvaro completed the Australian Institute of Directors company directors’ course in 2015, an accolade that will become mandatory for CBH directors this year. “I felt that with my industry roles, I had the opportunity to listen to many of the industry issues that growers face,” Ms Alvaro said. “I have a very good understanding of the WA supply chain, strong governance experience, and sound financial literacy.” Ms Alvaro assured growers that she had the relevant skills, despite not going through the CAP process. “I went through the selection criteria and felt I met all of the credentials with my education, and my industry roles,” she said. “I think I am a strong candidate, and I would bring a combination of skills — from farming, governance, risk management, strategy, and innovation... through my role with GRDC, I have seen a lot of technology and innovation.” When asked what she believed CBH was doing well, Ms Alvaro said it was focusing on its core business. “But as with all large and complex businesses, I feel that there is always room for improvement,” she said. Phil Blight, Wagin (District 4) The well known farmer and Shire of Wagin president is going for a second tilt at the CBH board after more than 40 years of farming. He first nominated in May last year in a hotly contested four-candidate race won by Lake Grace farmer Royce Taylor. “I’ve been watching CBH for a while and using the services forever and I believe I have the skills and knowledge and capacity to add to the board and set it in the right direction,” Mr Blight said. “As a user of CBH for many years, many years as a local government elected member and after serving as the president of the Shire of Wagin and as a board member of the WA Local Government Association for eight years, I believe I have good board experience and plenty of life skills.” Mr Blight said he was “not a fan” of the Candidate Assessment Panel process, saying he was “disturbed” by it. “I did not to take part in the Candidate Assessment Panel as I do not support bad governance. It has the potential to leave the electoral process open to manipulation by the board,” he said. “Growers should be concerned about board interference in the election process with directors deciding on who sits on the Candidate Assessment Panel to make judgement on candidates. “Directors are elected to serve the members and it is for members to decide who they vote for.” Mr Blight said one of his biggest focuses would be on shifting grain to port as quickly and efficiently as possible. “There is potential for a large carryover of grain into the next harvest,” he said. “There must be as much effort as possible made to shift as much grain as possible, in the short term. “Long-term, the business needs to be a sustainable footing and low cost pathway from paddock to port.” Mr Blight said he believed the time was right for him to join the CBH board, saying he ‘probably” would step down as Wagin Shire president but would see out his term as a councillor. “I don’t like making a commitment and not sticking to it, but I believe I have the time and capacity to bring to the board,” he said. Mr Blight said also flagged freight costs as a concern, saying WA’s grain crop should be shifted by rail “where viable”. “There has been some undervaluing of the rail transport process. The damage done to our rural roads should be looked at from a whole community perspective, not just a CBH perspective,” he said.