At least seven candidates, from Western Victorian, Tasmanian and South Australia, are believed to be standing for election, as supplier directors on the Murray Goulburn (MG) board.
Ballot papers to voters go out at the end of the month, with the election to be concluded by August 29.
Two of the candidates to declare their hand for the Western positions so far are Dairy Australia (DA) board member Lisa Dwyer and Bullaharre farmer Craig Dwyer, who is no relation.
There is also a position vacant in the Gippsland Region.
Ms Dwyer, who runs a herd of 290 cattle on a 344hectare farm at Hawkesdale, said she had nominated, after the recent dairy crisis.
“It’s always been an aspiration of mine to represent the suppliers Murray Goulburn at that level,” Ms Dwyer said.
The other candidate who has publicly declared an interest, Craig Dwyer, said he was standing to help bring trust and credibility back to MG.
“We need some generational change - without being rude to the rest of the board, most of them 55 plus and not many still milk a cow,” Mr Dwyer said.
A MG spokesman said director elections would be held in the Western and Gippsland regions, with nominations closing on July 4.
“Following a candidate assessment process, suppliers in these regions will be advised by 25 July of the candidates,” the spokesman said
“The eligible voters are the voting shareholders in these regions.”
A former WestVic Dairy chair, Ms Dwyer said she would step down from Dairy Australia, if she was elected to the board.
“I am under no illusions about time, effort, commitment and dedication that is required to restore MG to the position of first choice of suppliers – it would be in everyone’s best interests for me to step down from DA, if I was elected.”
Ms Dwyer said, as a farmer, she had experienced the volatility affecting the industry.
“I have a keen empathy and understanding about what my fellow suppliers are facing in the here and now,” she said.
She said mistakes had been made and the board needed to focus on governance and risk management.
Supplier relationships needed to be improved and MG needed to be restored to the position of “the pre-eminate dairy processor in this nation.”
Mr Dwyer has a herd of 220 cows at Bullaharre, near Cobden.
He said poor communication, during the current crisis, was letting the company down, particularly in the area of social media.
“MG need to improve communication... and learn to harness the power of social media,” Mr Dwyer said.
“They have to reconnect with their smaller suppliers, there is a lot of disconnect between the board and management, coming back to the mum and dad suppliers, who are not getting the message communicated simply and clearly enough,” Mr Dwyer said.
“They have got to bring them back into the fold, as they have lost faith and trust in the board.”
He said he had gone from share farming to ownership, which he felt meant he was “well versed” in representing the younger generation coming into the industry.
He said he had not sought current board endorsement.
“I am definitely not a serial board sitter, I just want to represent the next generation and bring a bit of passion to the board.”
