Baker calls for stronger CBH direction

He is one of three candidates running for the CBH board in District 3 and brings with him the experience of leading one of WA's largest grower groups.

The former WA No-Tillage Farmers Association (WANTFA) chairman believes CBH needs to modernise and change in order to succeed.

"We've got a magnificent company sitting there that's grown over the years," he said.

"It's now 83-years-old and it's done a marvellous job over those years but now we've got competition CBH needs to change with the times.

"They need to come to terms with the fact that there's competition there and if they don't address that very seriously then we may not be able to reach our 100th birthday."

Mr Baker is standing against District 3 director Kevin Fuchsbichler, Bruce Rock, who is seeking re-election for his fourth term and Bruce Rock grower Stephen Strange.

He was prompted to nominate in an attempt to address his own grievances with the co-operative that he believes is mirrored across his and other districts in WA.

"I'm frustrated and dissatisfied with the way CBH is going," Mr Baker said.

"It needs to grow and we need to grow and get it to make some money and work for us."

Mr Baker said the conversation should no longer be about CBH as a co-operative or corporate, but as a company for the good of the growers in WA.

"As far as corporate or co-operative CBH is concerned I'll support whichever concept is required to help this business go ahead," he said.

"There's no clear direction on where CBH is going, it seems to be at a stalemate.

"There doesn't seem to be any strategic direction plans, there's no tangible growth strategy, there's no real communication coming out of the board, it doesn't seem there is anything happening with regards to competition and competition is rife at the moment."

Mr Baker said while the "looming threat" of competition was a concern, he supported the concept.

He said external investments that return value to growers, such as Interflour, was a smart move.

"As a candidate without being on the inside of the business, it's very difficult to say what you're going to do right here and now," he said.

"I'll certainly be looking into ways and means of helping our wonderful CBH company that we all own to deliver more value to members, by continuing to excel in grain receivals and looking at ways to improve the ability of the company to meet market demand at premium times.

"It is a big business.

"It's been a good move for CBH to value add our products that we're growing but I will look at that if I get onto the board and make a decision as to which way I go, whether that's worthwhile pursuing or whether it's something that needs to be reassessed, in line with company strategy and returning value to the company.

"I'm certainly in favour of it and I would like to see it work.

"There is money in value adding, and the returns Interflour has made to CBH demonstrates that."

However, Mr Baker questions the local investment in fertiliser.

"There's too many people in the fertiliser marketplace at the moment," he said.

"I question the strategic direction behind the move and ask what tangible targets an investment like this is trying to achieve."

Mr Baker said while his experience with WANTFA was within a smaller organisation, the basis of his role was similar with a focus on corporate governance and strategic direction.

"I don't fully understand what is happening there but I do understand that there's a fair bit of nothing happening and I just want to see CBH get back on track and grow to be the company that it should be," he said.

He questioned recent strategic moves that cut staff and involved the moving on of senior staff with years of valuable experience.

"I agree with making the business more efficient and reducing our fees and charges for the grower if that's possible, but I don't agree with it by getting rid of key staff," he said.

"There's some really clever people there that have gone and I don't think that should be happening."

Mr Baker said keeping expertise and protecting CBH for the good of growers was his key focus and as a director he would work on communication between the board and the growers to keep everyone informed.