BRITISH topmaker Laurence Modiano wants to join the board of Australian Wool Innovation.

Mr Modiano is part of a five-member ticket challenging five of the AWI’’s incumbent directors including its chairman Brian van Rooyen.

The challenger ticket, which is being backed by the Australian Wool Growers Association, also includes Dr Meredith Shiel, a New England woolgrower, paediatrician and developer of the pain relief treatment Tri Solfen, and Merino stud breeders George Falkiner (NSW), Will Roberts (Queensland) and David Webster (Western Australia).

They are challenging Mr van Rooyen, Dr Chris Abell, Dr John Keniry, Ken Boundy and Robyn Clubb.

The postal ballot will be declared at AWI’s board meeting in Perth on November 19.

The challenge ticket is expected to re-ignite the mulesing deadline debate as it did last year, leading to the election of challengers Roger Fletcher and Chick Olsson.

The AWGA and supporters of the pain relief treatment Tri Solfen believe Australian wool growers should not abandon mulesing until viable commercial options are available. They believe those who continue to mules should use a pain relief treatment in the meantime.

But despite their push, most overseas retailers and manufacturers want Australia to abandon surgical mulesing as soon as possible.