Hort Connections 2022 Wholesaler Registrations Now Open

Shane is committed to ensuring the longevity of the fruit and vegetable industry and independent sector in Australia. Shane has extensive experience in the fruit and vegetable industry with over 35 years’ involvement, 13 of those years within the retail sector. He holds a BBus. and has been the President of Fresh State Limited for over 13 years. Shane is the FMA Chairman, holding the position since 2006. He is a strategic leader and played an active role in the creation of the A better choice! program, which drives support to the independent retail sector, ultimately sustaining the central market system for years to come. Since 2014, Shane has jointly owned and operated Produce Time P/L, a wholesaling business at the Melbourne Market.

Hamish has been involved with the fruit and vegetable industry for over 25 years and has been an Executive Director of Montague since 2004. He has held Directorships on various industry bodies and is currently a Director of Brismark, private companies and is General Manager of Montague Queensland a leading wholesaling, logistics and pre-packing business in the Brisbane Markets.

Rod joined Market West as CEO in 2015. Initially, he played a leading role in the successful industry bid to buy the Perth central markets from the State Government. Prior to that he spent 5 years at the Perth Market Authority as Manager Finance and Administration. Rod works closely with Perth Markets Group Ltd on site and industry matters, serving on a number of sub-committees. Rod spent many years in community sport including appointment as an inaugural District Chair by the WA Football Commission. He also served a term as Acting CEO of the WA Turf Club. Rod has extensive experience within finance and management roles in the private sector focussed on stakeholder relationships and industry development through a changing environment.

George has over 30 years employment in the fruit and vegetable wholesaler industry. He is the General Manager of the SA Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries Inc, SA Produce Credit Pty Ltd and a director of Market Fresh SA Pty Ltd.

Whilst relatively new to the fruit and vegetable industry, Jason has brought to his role considerable knowledge in relationship management and stakeholder engagement, with over 25 years’ experience in senior roles in industry sectors including Telecommunications and Leisure and Entertainment. Jason is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Fresh State Limited and Executive Director on the Board of Fresh Start Holdings.

Andrew has a history of employment at a senior management level with extensive experience in policy and strategy formulation, service development, Market operations and development and industry representation. He is currently CEO of Brismark, and Brisbane Markets Limited. Andrew is also a Director of both Brisbane Markets Limited and Perth Markets Group Limited. His experience in the fresh produce industry includes engaging with relevant stakeholders at a State and Federal level and addressing national issues through both FMA and CMAA. He has had an active involvement in addressing issues impacting on the wholesaling sector of the horticultural industry and has conducted extensive research on Central Markets in Australia and parts of Asia, Europe and the USA. He played a leading role as part of the project team responsible for what became the successful bid to purchase the Brisbane Markets and as CEO, coordinated the seamless transition of ownership of the Brisbane Markets site to BML.

Meegan has more than 20 years of international experience in global custody, financial planning, insurance and superannuation, with the last ten years specialising in membership associations.  Meegan is a fierce member advocate and has led a suite of transformational initiatives in commercial and not for profit environments that help organisations grow and maintain relevance despite competitive, ever-changing market conditions.  Meegan’s current role is the CEO of NSW Chamber of Fresh Produce (trading as Freshmark).

General Manager of Australian Produce Brokers in the Perth Markets, a leading fruit and vegetable wholesaler since 1996. President of The Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries in Western Australia, Director of FPAA Credit Service Pty Ltd, Deputy Chair of Perth Markets Group Limited and a director of FMA.

Harry is a second generation fruit and vegetable wholesaler with over 25 years in-market experience and a near 50-year family contribution to the industry and holds the position of Director and Head of Operations at Akropol. Harry has been a member of the Market Industry Committee (MIC) for over 10 years serving for the former NSW Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries, and is a current Freshmark Board member and representative for Freshmark on a national level. Harry is committed to protecting, promoting and growing the Australian fresh produce industry.

Mark operates a provedore business in SA Produce Markets as Managing Director, M & C Brougham Pty Ltd since November 1992.
Over the course of the last decade he has been involved with the SA Chamber as Committee member of SA Chamber since 2009; Director Credit Service (SAPC) since February 2012; Vice President of SA Chamber 2013 – 2017 and President of SA Chamber 2017.

Gail has worked on behalf of the wholesalers for close to a decade, as General Manager for Brismark and now General Manager of Fresh Markets Australia. She is a CPA with over 30 years’ experience operating within executive management teams in multidisciplinary corporate positions with extensive experience in the functions of financial and management accounting; human resources; facilities and asset management; information technology; operations; risk and project management. Gail is a Freshcare Director and Chair of the Freshcare Finance Risk and Audit Committee and company secretary for various companies.