About Us : Board of Directors

Grahame Turk (SEA Spokesperson)

Grahame Turk is the Managing Director of Sydney Fish Market. He has many years experience in the seafood industry leading the industry consortium to privatise Sydney Fish Market (SFM) in 1994.Grahame was founding Chairman and was appointed Managing Director in November 2000. Grahame is Deputy Chair of the Australian Seafood Industry Council, a Director of the National Aquaculture Council and serves on several industry and Government advisory bodies. Previously Grahame has held senior management positions in Australia and the United Kingdom in industries such as oil and gas, construction, steel and heavy engineering before joining the food industry in 1990 as Chief Executive of Manettas Limited and subsequently Managing Director of Bidvest Australia Limited. He holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from The University of Sydney and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Bob Cox

Bob Cox is CEO of Southern Cross Marine Culture which is a substantial oyster aquaculturist in Tasmania (Little Swanport, Pipeclay Lagoon, Blackman Bay and Southern Pitt Water), South Australia (Ceduna and Coffin Bay) and NSW (Big Swan Bay in Port Stephens).  He is extensively involved in industry activities and holds appointments to the boards of the Tasmanian Oyster Research Council and Australian Seafood Industries (Thoroughbred Oysters breeding program) and has worked with bodies such as the South Australian Oyster Research Council and the NSW Selective Oyster Company in the pursuit of product enhancement. Bob has only been in the oyster industry for twelve years.  Prior to seeing the light he held senior positions in a number of Federal Government departments and agencies and was a Senior Audit Manager with Price Waterhouse.

Chris Dockray

Chris Dockray is the current Company Secretary of the Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association. As a legal practitioner in private practice he works as a consultant to provide advice in the areas of employer liability, occupational health and safety, industrial relations law and workers compensation law to various Tasmanian corporates. In addition to this, Chris sits on many Boards including the Tasmanian Aquaculture Council and Springfield Fisheries.

Ron Edwards (Chair)

Ron Edwards is currently involved in a wide range of activities in relation to the Australian fishing industry. He is Chair of the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee for the Western Rock Lobster Industry, Project Coordinator for the Yellow Fin Tuna Aquaculture project and consults on a variety of key industry research projects including negotiating tariff reductions in Europe for prawns and lobster. Ron is a strong supporter of the Marine Stewardship Council certification process for fisheries. The Western Rock Lobster Industry was the world's first certified sustainable fishery. Building on degrees in Economics and Education Ron recently completed a Doctoral Degree in Education following his ten year service as a member of the Federal Parliament. Ron currently serves on many Boards, as a director. A significant role has been as the Chair of the Seafood Enterprise Alliance (SEA), a representative group of the fishing industry that has worked on the early development of the Seafood Experience Australia – Australia’s Seafood Promotion Corporation.

Deb Ferguson

Deb Ferguson has many years experience in the seafood industry. Deb is currently the International Marketing Director – Ferguson Australia Pty Ltd, producers of a prestige range of gourmet lobster products for 5-star hotels and up-market restaurants around the world, Deb has gained a solid understanding of numerous international seafood markets. In 2005 Deb was the winner of Telstra South Australia Business Owner of the Year, an award which recognises the high level of dedication to not only Ferguson’s but also the Australian seafood industry. Debra is also an active member of various food, seafood and hospitality industry bodies.

Peter Fraser

Peter Fraser serves as the Executive Director and COO of Marine Produce Australia. Until recently Peter was the Managing Director of Lobster Australia, part of the broader Kailis & France Group. Peter’s experience of general management and marketing has seen him become a leader in the Australian seafood industry. Peter's global marketing experience has seen him establish numerous new markets around the world for Australia's premium seafood products. Other achievements include leading his company to several awards including recently being awarded the Western Australian Exporter of the Year and the Monash Rabobank Australian Exporter of the year.  Peter is also a Director and Vice Chairmen of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council and sits on Australia’s peak Food body, the National Food Industry Strategy's Council.

John Jenkin

John Jenkin is the current Chairman of the National Aquaculture Council, a position which has provided him with a broad understanding of all sectors of the aquaculture industry. In particular John has a strong link with the Western Australian pearling industry for the past fifteen years and is currently the Vice President of the Pearl Producers Association (PPA). John has vast trade experience having served as an Australian Government Trade Commissioner in Asia and Europe for over ten years. John has experience on a number of Boards, having been the chair of the Dampier Port Authority and Association of Australian Port and Marine Authorities as well a Trustee of the Allergy Research Foundation.

Alex Kailis

Managing Director, MG Kailis Alex Kailis is the Managing Director of the MG Kailis Group, a second generation family business, involved in the Australian fishing and pearling industries. Founded in 1960 by the late Dr Michael Kailis CBE. AM. Cit. WA. Hon. DSc, the MG Kailis Group has an annual turnover in excess of $150M with approximately 500 direct employees and support contractors. The MG Kailis Group are involved in the tuna, prawn, lobster and pearling industries with regional operations in many states, including WA, QLD, NSW, SA and the Northern Territory with product being sold worldwide to major international markets across Asia, North America and Europe.

Mark Hancock

Mark Hancock is the CEO for Seafarm. The position at Seafarm has provided Mark an understanding of the Australian aquaculture industry as it is a fully integrated Aquaculture operation with full control of its activities from the hatchery stage though to marketing. Previously Mark worked as the Group Managing Director – The Mildura Co-operative Fruit Company Ltd. Mark has experience on numerous committees and boards including being Chairman for Sunbeam Foods, Sunraysia Rural Water Authority and Deakin Irrigation Development Committee.

Tim Hess

Tim Hess is the General Manager for Sales and Freight Logistics for the Petuna Group. Working in the family seafood business for 18 years and an apprenticeship in Fisheries Administration developed Tim’s interest in logistics, sales and marketing.  Tim comes to the APSC with a background in marketing with ACTA shipping and various managerial roles in the shipping industry. Tim was the recipient for the 2003 Austrade Agribusiness Export Award. He is a current board member for the Tasmanian Freight Logistics Council.

Tony Murray

Tony Murray is a Managing Director of Murray Trading Co. Pty Ltd. Since entering the seafood industry as a cadet on Japanese fishing vessels in 1970, Tony has worked primarily in the Northern Prawn Fishery as an owner/operator. Tony has focused on the promotion and sale of prawns to Japan, as a result he has a strong understanding of that export market. He is also currently the Hon Chairman of Ocean Shrimp (Australia) Pty Ltd, and a Director of Harbourside Services Pty Ltd.