Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (QLD)

Gareth Phillips — Chief Executive Officer 

Gareth is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO). AMPTO is an industry peak body for tourism companies that operate in marine parks, mainly the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef.

He has strong interpersonal and organisational skills, engages successfully with all levels of government and sits on over 30 committees, workgroups, and forums.

Gareth has a Master’s degree in marine science, is a current Master and Engineer. He is the owner/director of Marine Discoveries, a marine research, training and consulting company.

Australian Shipbuilding & Repair Group

Liz Hay—Chief Executive Officer

Liz Hay is the Chief Executive Officer and also a Director of the Australian Shipbuilding & Repair Group (ASRG). Ms Hay co-ordinates a 24/7 emergency voyage repair service in all Australian ports for shipowners and operators, and also through an arrangement of some years with the US Navy. Over recent years Ms Hay has co-ordinated internationally recognised ASRG Dockmaster Courses throughout the Australasia and South-Pacific regions.

Other areas of training include the implementation of a Joint Training Scheme for boat-building as a subject for secondary students. Ms Hay co-ordinates industry input for AMSA submissions and representations to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and also regarding domestic issues and legislation. Over several years, Ms Hay has led Australian delegations and participated at many overseas and domestic trade exhibitions promoting Australia’s marine sector capability.

Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors

Stacey Taylor - General Manager Operations

The Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors is the peak industry body for marine surveyors in the Southern Hemisphere and represents more than 85% of marine surveyors in our region. AIMS have established the standards for marine surveyors in all sectors of the industry and actively works to maintain and enhance this specialised discipline.

Stacey Taylor is the General Manager and is responsible for the development and implementation of the strategic plan as well as overseeing the organisation’s operational management. With 20 years’ experience in business and financial management, she has managed many projects and operations across the transport sector, joining the maritime industry in 2019. She works closely with marine surveyor members in advocacy and support of their specialised profession within the wider industry.

Australasian Marine Pilots Institute

Ricky Rouse - Deputy President, Director

Ricky Rouse is a Director and Deputy President of the Australasian Marine Pilots Institute, representing over 250 marine pilots across Australia. He is an active Marine Pilot in New South Wales with a diverse seagoing background including cruise ships, superyachts, offshore support ships and general cargo vessels. He is also actively involved in The Nautical Institute and has spoken at international conferences on maritime technology and automation.

The Australasian Marine Pilots Institute is a professional association that represents the largest group of active Master Mariners in Australia. We regularly hold conferences and develop position papers for the improvement of safety and operations in ports and pilotage waters. Our membership and board includes mariners with a wide variety of seagoing experience including superyachts, passenger ships, tankers, offshore support and navy.

AMPI regularly brings together professionals, regulators and industry leaders to develop standards, guidelines and promote safety. We have developed the Australian Maritime Mentoring Program, a Continuous Professional Development Program and a Peer Assistance Network to support the mental health of our members. We actively contribute to seafarer welfare organisations.

Australian Commercial Vessels Operators Association

Amanda Brew — Communications Manager

The Australian Commercial Vessel Operators Association, or ACVOA is a not-for-profit organisation representing Australian commercial vessel owners and operators. ACVOA promotes a safe and responsible domestic commercial vessel sector, advocates for effective regulation and promotes improvements to the industry through efficiencies, innovation and the development of technology and skills. Amanda commenced working for ACVOA in 2020 and works across all aspects of the association. Amanda is a maritime professional with over 20 year’s of experience in the industry and holds an Unlimited Masters ticket.

Through her career, Amanda has served on a variety of domestic and international vessels, both in passenger and cargo sectors. Amanda brings a strong operational focus to maritime projects, along with shore-based experience in harbour operations and safety management, as well as maritime education. She is an active member of the Nautical institute.

Australian Commercial Marine Group

Jeremy Spear—President

Jeremy Spear is a Naval Architect and an Industrial Designer who has run Sydney based international marine design practice Spear Green Design (SGD) for over 30 years. SGD specialises in design of commercial passenger vessels. Works include design, specification, documentation and compliance of many facets of commercial vessels.

SGD has been engaged by governments, owners and operators from over 30 countries. Jeremy Spear has sat on the Board of marine industry peak body AIMEX - the Australian Marine Industry Export Association for over ten years. He now chairs this group.

He is also a founding member of sub group ACMG - Australian Commercial Marine Group.

Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers

TBA

Australian Maritime Officers Union

Brent Warhurst — National Vice President

Brent started his seagoing career with BHP Transport as cadet in 1997. He has worked with the Australian Customs service National marine unit and various shipping companies on all types of vessels, including the search for MH370 on Ocean shield and sea trials for delivery of the first Air warfare destroyer for the RAN. Brent is an associate fellow of the Nautical Institute and honourable Company of Master mariners. Brent has also been a maritime studies teacher for domestic commercial vessels with TAFE NSW.

Presently, he is a senior technician and Master on an FPSO in the offshore oil and gas sector. He is the current national vice president of the AMOU and rotating deputy chair of maritime IRC.

Boating Industry Association Ltd

Neil Patchett—General Manager

Neil Patchett is currently the General Manager for the Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA). His primary role is advocacy and policy. The BIA is a not-for-profit industry body that represents the interests of boating in Australia.

BIA is an advocate for boating and the boating lifestyle, and supports safe, responsible, and enjoyable boating. Neil has over 50 years of practical experience in recreational boating across paddle, power and sail. He has owned, cruised and raced boats inshore and offshore, including internationally. Neil currently owns several boats which includes a gaff-rigged cruiser and an Aero 7 single-hander for club racing. He supports his friend Wallace Nichols in the latter’s commitment to Blue Mind and shares Nichols’ proven theory that being on, in, by and under the water is good for health and wellbeing.

Neil also has over 25 years of senior level experience in government spanning regulatory, standards, policy, strategic, advocacy and operational roles including being directly involved in advocating for and promoting a culture of safe, responsible and enjoyable boating, as well as maritime event and incident management. The latter ranges from issues management related to hundreds of recreational boating incidents to some of the largest shipping incidents in Australian waters over the past 20 years. He has also had a senior role in boating issues management regarding the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games and its regatta on Sydney Harbour. Immediately prior to joining BIA in late 2019, he was head of the Centre for Maritime Safety in NSW. Which had the lead within Transport for NSW on data analysis, policy setting, State-significant strategies, legislation and major behaviour campaigns for NSW. Neil has over 20 years of experience in state and national boating regulatory-based committees, including many as Chair.

This experience spanned engaging with maritime regulators across Australia and New Zealand, along with non-government organisations in boating and water safety. He has built upon international relationships related to boating that range from close neighbours New Zealand and Papua New Guinea to those further afield such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, USA, and the World Health Organisation re: drowning prevention. Neil is a member of several International Council of Marine Industries Association (ICOMIA) committees including as Chair of the Climate Change Working Group. ICOMIA is a collective of boating associations of some 40 countries. He has led in the delivery of major behaviour change campaigns over a number of years, which have contributed to a significant increase in lifejacket wear rates and downward trends in preventable boating fatalities. Neil’s work ethos is solution focused through collaboration, with the customer at the centre.

Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

Mark Anderson—Central Division Manager

Mark is employed as the Central Division Manager with the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, which is Commonwealth Corporate entity established under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Act 2005. Working with first nations people to build economic, cultural, social, and environmental benefits from land and sea country through the ILSC’s “Our Country Our Future” funding programme. He is responsible for Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Current and future projects from proponents will see an increasing interest in commercial fishing operations across Australia.

Mark has been actively involved in the Maritime Industry for more than 3 decades. In previous roles, Mark has played a key role in the development of Industry accredited maritime training for Indigenous people with the Growing Our Own Maritime Programme targeting Senior Students at Tagai and Northern Peninsula Area Colleges. The TSRA coordinates and funds the Torres Strait Maritime Pathways Programme (TSMPP) that has delivered training to over 300 people across the Torres Strait for Coxswain through to Master 24 and Marine Engine driver qualifications.

The TSRA was the founding member of the Torres Strait Marine Safety Programme (TSMSP), a partnership with AMSA, Maritime Safety Queensland, Queensland Police Service, PNG National Marine Safety Authority to reduce the incidents impacts of lost seafarers in the Torres Strait. Previously Mark has managed the Torres Strait Land and Sea Ranger Programme, State Compliance Manager for Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ), Field Operations Coordinator for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and Officer in Charge of Whitsunday Water Police for seven years where he was the Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator.

He is passionate about marine safety and is a strong advocate for training and improved safety in the maritime industry. Mark holds a Master 24 and MED II and has also completed a Masters of Public Administration (MPA), an Executive Masters of Business Administration (EMBA) and Diplomas of Compliance Management and Search and Rescue.

Maritime Industry Australia Ltd

Angela Gillham—Chief Executive Officer

Angela is MIAL’s CEO and has worked for the organisation for over 19 years. Over that time, she has covered the breadth of roles and issues across the organisation and possesses a depth of knowledge about the range challenges faced by the Australian maritime industry as well as the opportunities that exist in the sector.

Angela holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and is MIAL’s specialist in environment, safety and operations across the Australian domestic commercial vessel, offshore and trading ship sectors.

Angela has managed several shipping related R&D projects with a focus on the improving industry’s environmental performance and efficiency and represents the interests of the Australian industry in international forums, including the International Chamber of Shipping and as industry adviser to the Australian delegation to the International Maritime Organization.

Maritime Union of Australia

Paul Garrett—Assistant Secretary, Sydney Branch

Paul Garrett has served as an elected Officer of the Maritime Union of Australia for over 17 years. As an advocate of workers in the maritime community, Paul is required to maintain a detailed understanding of the maritime industry and work as part of the collective to ensure the functionality of an industry that delivers safe, dignified and secure employment to MUA members.

Representing the interests and needs of maritime workers in many forums, Paul is required to liaise with various Government groups including the Industry Reference Groups for Marine Orders 505 with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority as well as participating in the Technical Advisory Committees for several marine qualifications for workers aboard Domestic Commercial Vessels. Before working for the Union, Paul worked in the tugboat industry for many years as well as on bunker barges and charter vessels before that.

Paul is a Director of the industry superannuation fund Maritime Super, securing and improving the retirement benefits of maritime workers whilst upholding the highest standards of corporate governance in a highly regulated sector.

Port of Brisbane

Michaela Moss - Senior Manager, Marine Compliance and Training

Michaela has recently joined the Port of Brisbane as Senior Manager – Marine Compliance and Training. 

With a background in maritime training and auditing with Svitzer and Maersk, running her own business and 10 years with Maritime Safety Queensland and AMSA, Michaela brings a practical background to maritime safety, learning, certification, competency frameworks and career pathways.

Michaela is a leader in promoting diversity and inclusivity in all her endeavours including speaking on the topic at workforce forums, recruitment strategies and practical on-the-ground and at-sea change initiatives. Michaela is also passionate about new and emerging technologies, basing her research on immersive virtual reality and fixed bridge simulation activity design, earning a Masters of Digital Learning Leadership.

Safer Together (WA)

Alastair Martin—Member of the Marine Working Group

Nearly 25 years of experience in the maritime industry, all spent working in various capacities within the Maersk Group of companies. Background as a Marine Engineer on gas tankers and container ships before coming ashore some 15 years ago.

I have filled several different safety related roles within Maersk including HSEQS Manager of Maersk’s global tanker division in Copenhagen and currently Head of Marine Standards and DPA for Svitzer in Australia.

As Australia’s largest maritime employer, Svitzer currently operates over 70 DCV’s around the Australian coast.

Seafood Industry Australia

Veronica Papacosta—Chief Executive Officer

Veronica is the CEO of SIA and the Managing Director of the Sydney Fresh Seafood group, and a third generation seafood retailer. Veronica was a member of the Leadership Task Force that was formed to develop the case for a new peak-body for the Australian seafood industry. She then took on the role of Chair and communications driver of the Implementation Group to build industry support to form Seafood Industry Australia.

In April 2020 Veronica accepted the role of Acting CEO for SIA. Veronica brings an extensive network of seafood industry contacts with a holistic understanding of the industry and its full spectrum of participants. Veronica has extensive experience in designing and executing effective communication and marketing strategies.

Sealink Travel Group Pty Ltd 

Chris Ha—Head of Marine Standards

Chris is the Head of Marine Standards for SeaLink Travel Group, which comprises of the oversight of their 120 domestic commercial vessels including work boats, RoRo, RoPax, and passenger vessels of up to 78m.

He is responsible for ensuring SeaLink’s ten operations around Australia have current and effective safety management systems including areas such as compliance, training, audit, investigations including continual improvement and managing the strategic direction for vessel safety. 

Smit Lamnalco Towage Australia

Neil Hall— Regional SHEQ Manager

Neil has worked in the maritime industry for over 25 years. He is the Regional SHEQ Manager for Smit Lamnalco Towage Australia and PNG.

Neil is responsible for the safe and compliant operation of over 40 tugs, ROPAX, transfer and pilot vessels, along with the company’s internal audits and investigations, ISO accreditations and eLearning packages.

Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishermen’s Association

Karl Krause—Incoming President

I am a generational fisherman/boat builder with 40 years fishing experience in the Tasmanian fishing industry in a range of sectors including Rock Lobster, scallop, shark and Blue eye Trevalla. I’m the owner/operator of f/v KARMIN which was built at my boat building facility in Launceston Tasmania.

Currently I’m in the process of building a 24m replacement vessel in the same facility. I have 2 sons actively involved in the fishing industry and boat building industry.

One is a Marine Design Engineer and the other a qualified Fitter and Welder, Master 5 and MED2. Both also fish aboard the KARMIN. I have recently become President of the TRLFA.