Advocacy

Mr Stephen Barnard is an experienced senior executive with over 20 years in senior leadership roles in the services and agricultural sectors. 

Stephen’s specialist experience includes senior leadership roles in the agricultural sector, financial services and industrial services sectors along with consulting roles specializing in organizational turnarounds and customer focused business change programs.  

His recent roles include as Chief Executive Officer at AniMark implementing their Livestock Global Assurance Program (LGAP) for the Live Export Industry, as Chief Executive Officer at Qld Fruit and Vegetable Growers (Growcom) and Chief Executive Officer at ACO Certification (organic produce sector). Stephen has particular expertise in advocacy, stakeholder management and implementation of programmes and systems. 

He was also previously a senior consultant at KPMG, Senior Executive at international environmental services group Transpacific Industries (now Cleanaway) and Chief Executive at YCU, Your Credit Union. 

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Business degree, is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Company Secretary. Stephen is also a member of the Governance Institute of Australia and Institute of Company Directors.  

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.

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).

Claudia is a fifth-generation family member of Etherington, a quality fruit and vegetable wholesaler in the Perth Markets, and is responsible for its technology practices and strategic planning oversight. Claudia is President of The Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries in Western Australia and Director of Perth Markets Group Limited 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.

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.”

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 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.