Our Directors

The Board comprises nine directors who are appointed, in accordance with sections 17 and 77 of the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 (the PIERD Act), as follows:

• The Chair and the Government Director are selected and appointed by the Minister (currently the Parliamentary Secretary).
• The Executive Director is appointed by the Board on terms and conditions determined by the Board.
• The other six directors are appointed by the Minister (currently the Parliamentary Secretary) on the nomination of a selection committee. The Minister appoints the selection committee based on the nominations of the representative organisations.

Directors are selected on the basis of their expertise in one or more of the following fields:

• commodity production,
• commodity processing,
• marketing,
• conservation of natural resources,
• management of natural resources,
• science,
• technology and technology transfer,
• environmental and ecological matters,
• economics,
• administration of research and development,
• finance,
• business management,
• sociology, and
• government policy and public administration.

Directors are appointed for a term not exceeding three years, except for the Government Director, who holds office at the Minister´s pleasure, and the Executive Director, who holds office at the Board´s pleasure. All directors other than the Executive Director are appointed on a part-time basis.

List of current Directors

Mr Stuart Richey, AM: Director (non-executive), Deputy Chairman

Dr Patrick Hone: Executive Director from 21 April 2005

Dr Ray Johnson

Professor Paul McShane

Mr Frank Prokop

Mr Richard A. Stevens

Mr Richard N. Stevens

Mr Peter Neville

Mr Stuart Richey, AM

Director (non-executive), Deputy Chairman

Appointed as a director from 1 September 2003 until 31 August 2006.

Member of the Remuneration Committee and Business Development Committee.

Stuart Richey has been actively involved in the fishing industry for more than 30 years and has considerable experience in most fishing methods. Stuart is also Chairman of the Northern Prawn Management Advisory Committee (NORMAC) and a Director of Marine and Safety Tasmania. He holds Skipper Class 1 (fishing) and Master Class 4 (trading) qualifications.

Dr Ray Johnson

Director

Appointed from 28 September 2006.

Ray Johnson has combined a research career with high-level business achievement in the agribusiness and retail sectors. He has traveled extensively and has intimate knowledge of the Australian and international agriculture and agribusiness sectors, and the commercial application of R&D.

Stuart Richey

Director

Stuary Richey is Managing Director of a private fishing company and Richey Services in Tasmania. He is a member of the Federal Government’s Quarantine and Exports Advisory Council along with numerous industry organisations. He is Chairman of Seafish Tasmania and the Northern Prawn Management Advisory Committee and was the Deputy Chairman of the outgoing FRDC Board. Stuart brings extensive experience in fisheries production, processing and marketing and business management to the Board.

Paul McShane

Director

Paul McShane is a research scientist and Vice President of International and Development at the Australian Maritime College, Tasmania. He has held senior management positions in marine research agencies in Victoria, South Australia and New Zealand. Professor McShane brings to the Board skills and experience in technology transfer, conservation and management of natural resources, environmental and ecological matters and administration of research and development.

Frank Prokop

Director

Frank Prokop is the Executive Director of Recfishwest and former member of Recfish Australia. He has served on numerous State and Commonwealth fisheries advisory bodies. He has strong recreational fishing knowledge as well as expertise in fisheries and aquaculture production, conservation and management of natural resources, science, technology transfer, environmental and ecological matters, administration of research and development, business and financial management and economics and sociology.

Richard A. Stevens

Director

Richard A. Stevens consults to private and public sector clients. He is a member of the Board of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Director of the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority and serves on several Queensland and NSW Standing and Advisory Committees. He has a wealth of experience in conservation and management of natural resources, technology transfer, environmental and ecological matters, administration of research and development, business and financial management and economics.

Richard N. Stevens

Director

Richard N. Stevens is R&D Manager with the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, a Director of Seafood Services Australia and former Chair of The Food Centre of WA. He has experience in marine biology, fisheries management and managing private and public enterprises including owner/operator of seafood businesses. He will contribute broad skills including experience in fish production, processing and marketing, science, technology transfer, administration of research and development and business and financial management.

Dr Patrick Hone

Executive Director from 21 April 2005.

Member of the Business Development Committee from December 2004.

Patrick Hone has extensive knowledge of all sectors of the fishing industry. Over the last eight years he has played a key role in the planning, management and funding of fisheries related research and development in Australia. He has PhD in the development of Aquaculture feed for Abalone and has been involved in the development of several significant aquaculture industry developments including Southern Bluefin Tuna, Pacific oyster, abalone and mussel aquaculture.

Peter Neville

Appointed as Chair on 1 September 2007

Peter Neville is a former Deputy Director-General of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and was actively involved in introducing reforms into fisheries management in Queensland. Peter now consults on fisheries management, business analysis, environmental and strategic planning. Peter is the Chairman of the Southern Bluefin Tuna Management Advisory Committee and Chairman of the Queensland Biosecurity Advisory Council. He is also a director of Ocean Watch Australia, a private company dealing with fisheries related environmental matters.