Safety and Wellbeing Committee

Troy is a commercial fisherman with 27 years of experience operating along the NSW North Coast. He works across both the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery and the Estuary General Fishery. A dedicated advocate for industry advancement, Troy has served on the board of the Professional Fishers Association and contributed to a number of other community and industry groups. He is passionate about the future of the Australian seafood industry and is committed to supporting a strong, sustainable, and positive future for all those working within it.

Daniel, representing Southern Bluefin Tuna, was appointed CEO of the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association in 2023. Daniel has a lifelong connection to primary industries and the seafood industry, growing up in a commercial fishing family, and after completing a fisheries science degree, he has worked in fisheries research, extension, policy and program management roles in government. Daniels’ extensive government executive leadership roles, combined with industry connections, afford a unique insight into the importance of strong partnerships, governance, and strategic foresight, underpinned by good science, data, and decision-making.

Dr Michelle Grech is the Manager of Vessel Operations at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), where she leads national programs focused on vessel and crew safety, seafarer welfare, marine incident management, and safety engagement and education. A Chartered Engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the maritime sector, Michelle holds a PhD in Human Factors and degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology. Her international career has included key roles in Malta, the UK, and Australia, contributing to both operational safety and the development of global safety standards. 

She has played a pivotal role in several initiatives within the International Maritime Organization, including a review of the International Safety Management Code, the revision of the guidelines on fatigue, and the development of human-centred design guidelines for navigation systems.  Michelle is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland and a frequent guest lecturer. Her research and publications have advanced understanding of systems safety and seafarer wellbeing, reflecting her strong advocacy for human-centred approaches to maritime safety. 

Oliver has worked with Austral Fisheries as the Occupational Safety and Risk Manager since 2015. He brings experience from the minerals and resources industry, where he worked as the Safety Manager for Boart Longyear, and international drilling organisation based in Utah. Oliver was involved in the original foundation of SeSAFE, through the development of online training modules, and he represented the fishing industry in the Maritime Industry Reference Committee on industry skills and training needs. Oliver is a current member of the Sea Safe Steering committee, has a passion for all things loud and fast, and a good steak. 

Karen’s professional story is one of true passion for the wild-caught seafood industry, a deep commitment to her community, and a dedication to sharing the provenance and stories of Australian seafood. Her journey is not just about running a successful business; it’s about nurturing a family legacy, supporting local industry, and ensuring the future of quality, wild-caught seafood in Australia. 

Safety and wellbeing are priorities in Karen’s commercial fishing business with her partner and son being generational fishers working both Gulf Estuary and Reef Line industries, their safety and that of their crew is of utmost importance.  Similarly, on land in their award-winning seafood retail shop, Karen and staff maintain vigilance of those everyday habits and procedures. Raising a family and working full time with a partner at sea requires preparedness and highlights the mental health aspects for all sides of the industry.  

Karen’s participation in numerous groups highlights her desire to continuously grow and contribute more significantly to the industry, such as participating in NSLIP and volunteering time on SIA’s Wildcatch Advisory Committee, Futures of Seafood Project, GBRMPA Reef Authority LMAC Cairns Region, Director on the board of QSIA and as a Mentor with Women in Seafood Australasia, guiding and inspiring other women in the industry. 

Brad is a Senior Manager for Australian Longline Fishing, which operates two Australian flagged vessels operating in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters, Owner-Director of Coaldale Walnuts,  a fisheries consultant and is on the board of Tasmanian Produce Collective. 

Since finishing a marine biology degree, he worked in both aquaculture and wild catch sectors before spending a two decades in Commonwealth and state governments. His areas of work included scientific data collection, fishery management and maritime safety, also serving on and chairing many committees during this time. 

He is passionate about improving community understanding of fisheries and is a strong believer that we can be safer on the water without additional regulation. 

With over 25 years of expertise working in the seafood industry, Heidi has held wide and varied roles giving her a broad and deep understanding of all sectors within industry. Her roles have incorporated Quality, health and safety management; hatchery; growout; research and development; project management; people development; facilitation; systems management; extension and engagement. Heidi is currently the Chair of the Tasmanian and Northern Territory Research Advisory Committees, Deputy Chair of Seafood and Maritime Training Board; a member of the FRDC’s Capability an Capacity Steering Committee and SIA’s Safety and Wellbeing Committee. 

Brett has over 44 years of experience in the commercial fishing, pearling and aquaculture industries.  

The majority of that career has been as CEO of two major peak fishing industry representative groups – the WA Fishing Industry Council and the Pearl Producers Association and more recently a fisheries consultant. 

Brett is a past Deputy Chair of the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation. 

Brett was inducted into the National Seafood Industry Hall of Fame in 2022 for his services to industry. 

He has represented the commercial fishing industry in a number of state and federal government working groups and committees. His expertise covers commercial fisheries management, government policy setting, natural resource management, consultation, economics and business management.   

He has held senior managerial positions with several leading Australian fishing, pearling and exporting companies including the MG Kailis Group, Broome Pearls and Lombardo Seafoods.  

He is currently: 

• Commissioner for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority,  

• Chair – Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Research Advisory Committee (WA),  

• Consultant – Safety and Training – WA Fishing Industry Council; and,  

• Director of a private fisheries consulting business since November 2015. 

Brett has a strong belief in inclusiveness and a passion for empowering industry stakeholders through providing them with the necessary information to make informed, responsible decisions about their industry. He actively encourages younger people in industry to take on leadership roles – often mentoring them along the way.  

Jim is a commercial fisher based in Cairns, operating prawn trawlers in the Queensland and Torres Strait prawn fisheries. 

Jim has had roles as a Skipper and Fleet Manager of prawn vessels, Environmental extension officer with the SeaNet Program (2003-2006) and has been a vessel owner since 2016. 

Jim gained a Master’s degree in Marine Resource Management from UTAS in 2009. 

He has been involved in various management committees, including GBRMPA LMACs, Torres Prawn Fishery MAC and Queensland Trawl Fishery Working Group.  

He is focused on Industry advocacy, fishery management and improving the effectiveness of communications between fisheries stakeholders. 

Michael has dedicated more than 52 years to the Australian fishing industry, building a career defined by experience, leadership, and a commitment to industry best practice.

He began his journey as a cadet skipper with Markwell Fisheries, later taking the helm of vessels operating in the Northern Prawn Fishery. In 1995, Michael transitioned into fisheries management — a field in which he continues to work today as the General Manager of Australia Bay Seafoods, based in Darwin.

Throughout his career, Michael has remained a strong advocate for safety and mental health at sea, championing initiatives to support the wellbeing of those working in Australia’s commercial fisheries.

Steve is a motivated safety practitioner with more than 35 years’ experience in safety management across electrical infrastructure projects, mining and smelting. 18 months ago, Steve moved to the aquaculture industry and joined Huon as their Safety and Wellbeing Manager.

Steve has a passion for delivering integrated and pragmatic solutions to health and safety and developing non-bureaucratic systems. At a foundational level, Steve believes safety and risk management solutions lie within our workforce’s knowledge, experience and expertise. The challenge in Steve’s mind is how do we to tap into this knowledge, how do we effectively engage our workers to solve problems, how do weinstil trust, how do we move forward in this ever-changing landscape?

Recognising there is no silver bullet in safety, Steve continually seeks opportunities to learn and improve, to recognise opportunities for change, and encourages people to display initiative and to break boundaries.

Sally is driven by inspiring, enabling and unlocking individual and collective potential through developing people. Sally previously worked at Dairy Australia, leading research and development projects focusing on attracting, retaining and transitioning people to enable a capable workforce and safe, positive workplaces by transforming behaviour and practices. 

Prior to dairy, Sally has worked in a variety of roles at the Department Education & Training Victoria and lived in London during the global financial crisis, working for a large charity to support civil society to navigate change, access funding and explore new business structures.