Board of Directors & Management

Shane is dedicated to advancing the longevity and sustainability of Australia’s fruit and vegetable industry, particularly the independent sector. With a profound commitment spanning over 35 years, including 13 years in retail, Shane brings a rich expertise to his leadership roles. He holds a Bachelor of Business and has presided over Fresh State Limited for more than eighteen years. Since 2006, Shane has chaired the FMA, where he is recognised as a strategic leader. He played a pivotal role in the launch of the “A Better Choice!” program, designed to support independent retailers and sustain the central market system.

For nearly thirty years Carlo has walked the floors of Sydney Markets selling produce and supporting fellow wholesalers. It has put him in a strong and influential position that has allowed him to take on the role of Freshmark Chairperson since 2019. “I am extremely passionate about our industry and its prosperity and being a part of Fresh Markets Australia allows me to achieve this goal for the betterment of my fellow wholesalers and the fresh produce industry.”

Claudia joined the Board in November 2024. She is a fifth-generation family member of Etherington, a quality fruit and vegetable wholesaler in the Perth Markets, responsible for its technology practices and strategic planning oversight. Claudia is President of The Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries in Western Australia, Director of Perth Markets Group Limited, Etherington’s Company Secretary, and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Matthew has been an integral part of the fresh produce sector since 2008, offering a breadth of experience across various facets of the industry. His expertise spans wholesale and supermarket trade, logistics, as well as import and export operations, further complemented by his hands-on experience in overseeing growing operations. This diverse exposure has equipped Matthew with a deep understanding of the industry’s complexities. As a fourth-generation family member of the Carter & Spencer Group, established in 1936, Matthew currently serves as the Director of Group Operations, demonstrating his commitment and leadership within the family legacy. Additionally, since 2023, he has extended his leadership skills and industry insights as a director of Brismark, further cementing his role as a key player in the fresh produce arena.

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.

Mark Gummer has more than 25 years’ senior executive and board experience across commercial and not‑for‑profit organisations, spanning aged care, health, disability services, medical research, education, IP commercialisation, and pharmaceutical wholesaling. He brings deep expertise in governance, strategy, and advocacy, with a strong focus on delivering value for members and positive outcomes for the broader community. Mark is Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Fruit & Vegetable Industries in Western Australia Inc (trading as Market West) and FPAA Pty Ltd (trading as Market West Credit Service).

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.

Jason Cooper, Managing Director and CEO of Fresh State Limited, brings a wealth of expertise in relationship management and stakeholder engagement to his role. With a remarkable background encompassing over 30 years in senior positions within various industry sectors, such as Telecommunications and Leisure and Entertainment, Jason possesses extensive knowledge and skills vital for driving organisational success.
With almost 10 years experience in the Fresh Produce industry, Jason also serves as an Executive Director on the Board of FSL Members. His multifaceted leadership roles across different sectors further enhance his ability to guide Fresh State Limited towards sustained growth and excellence.

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 Managing Director and CEO of Brisbane Markets Limited. Andrew is also a Director of 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 teams responsible for what became the successful bids to purchase both the Brisbane Markets and the Perth Markets, and as Managing Director and CEO of Brisbane Markets, coordinated the seamless transition of ownership of the Brisbane Markets site to BML.

Meegan has more than 25 years’ experience in organisational leadership. As a fierce member advocate, she creates value through an understanding of end-to-end operations and a deep appreciation for customer/market engagement and listening to stakeholder needs. As CEO of the NSW Chamber of Fresh Produce Ltd (trading as Freshmark), Meegan has led a suite of transformational initiatives including the delivery of a new strategic direction supported by clear policy positions and strong advocacy focus. She is an executive director of Fresh Markets Australia and the Sydney Markets Foundation and was previously a non-executive director of Sydney Markets Limited. She also sits on a wide range of industry committees.

Brett is Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Markets Australia and brings more than 30 years of experience across the fresh produce industry and central markets supply chain. He combines extensive senior leadership experience with practical operational understanding of the Horticulture Industry gained through applied and strategical expertise.

Gail has worked on behalf of the wholesalers for over a decade, as General Manager for Brismark and General Manager of FMA, and now working with FMA in a Special Projects and advisor capacity. Gail is a CPA with over 35 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.