The industry body Fresh Markets Australia (FMA) appointed directors at their annual general meeting on November 28. Shane Schnitzler was unanimously re-elected as Chairperson. Additionally, Carlo Trimboli of Freshmark was named the new Deputy Chairperson. This appointment follows Hamish Montague’s resignation from his roles as Deputy Chairperson and Brismark representative. FMA extends its congratulations to Carlo Trimboli on his new role and expresses sincere thanks to Hamish Montague for his valuable contributions to the FMA board since 2014.
“We are fortunate to have a distinguished board composed of directors from across the nation, each a leader in their respective fields within the wholesale sector and the broader industry. I congratulate Carlo Trimboli on his appointment as Deputy Chairperson, who brings his expertise to our board. Additionally, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Hamish Montague for his dedicated service and significant contributions during his tenure,” stated Shane Schnitzler, FMA Chair.
FMA has a representative board of ten, with two directors appointed from each of the state fruit and vegetable wholesaler representative bodies, Brismark, Freshmark, Fresh State, SA Chamber of Fruit and Vegetables Inc., and Market West.
Shane stated, “As a board, our commitment is to remain dynamic, robust, and strategically focused, striving to achieve exceptional results for the industry. I urge our industry partners and stakeholders to maintain active engagement with us, fostering collaboration that will make the coming year even more successful than the previous one. – Furthermore, FMA highlights its ongoing relationship with Toyota Material Handling and its strong collaboration with market owners/operators”.
FMA Board:
- Shane Schnitzler – Chairperson (Fresh State)
- Carlo Trimboli – Deputy Chairperson (Freshmark)
- Mark Brougham (SA Chamber of Fruit & Vegetables Inc.)
- Trish Skinner (Market West)
- Jason Cooper (Fresh State)
- Andrew Young (Brismark)
- George Giameos (SA Chamber of Fruit & Vegetables Inc.)
- Rod McPherson (Market West)
- Meegan George (Freshmark)
Additionally, FMA is delighted to announce a significant organisational restructuring, including key internal promotions. We are pleased to appoint James Patrick as the new General Manager, effective from the 1st of January. James has previously served as the Head of Marketing and Engagement at FMA, where he notably led the nationally acclaimed retail program, ‘A better choice!’ for the past three years. The Board extends its congratulations to James on his well-deserved appointment and eagerly anticipates a collaborative and fruitful working relationship.
In another notable transition, Gail Woods, who has admirably served FMA for the past decade as FMA General Manager since 2020 and before that as FMA Executive Officer and was honoured with the prestigious FMA Meritorious Service Award at Hort Connections earlier this year, will continue her invaluable contributions to FMA and the industry in her new position as Special Projects and Advisor. The Board expresses it’s gratitude for Gail’s remarkable dedication and commitment to the industry and the Central Markets and looks forward to continued collaboration in her new capacity.
“As Chair of FMA, I am thrilled to witness these pivotal changes within our organisation. The appointment of James Patrick as General Manager marks a new chapter of leadership and innovation. James’s outstanding track record, particularly his leadership in the ‘A better choice!’ program, assures us of dynamic and forward-thinking management. Additionally, we are profoundly grateful to Gail Woods for her years of dedicated service as General Manager. Her transition to Special Projects and Advisor is a testament to her invaluable expertise and ongoing commitment to our industry. These strategic appointments are a reflection of FMA’s dedication to excellence and continuous growth in serving our industry.” – Shane Schnitzler, FMA Chair.
Image taken at the Perth Markets, from left: Trish Skinner (Market West), Andrew Young (Brismark), Jason Cooper (Fresh State), Rod McPherson (Market West), Shane Schnitzler – Chairperson (Fresh State), Mark Brougham (SA Chamber of Fruit & Vegetables Inc.), Gail Wood’s (FMA), Carlo Trimboli – Deputy Chairperson (Freshmark), Hamish Montague (Brismark) and James Patrick (FMA).
For enquiries, please contact:
James Patrick
General Manager, Fresh Markets Australia
Phone: 0425 757 777
Email: [email protected]
