Marlborough - Te Tauihi-o-te-waka

I live in Renwick, Marlborough and work from Havelock South. I have worked in marine farming for more than 30 years.

I was brought up on a farm in South Otago and left school at 14 to learn the trade of shearing sheep. In 1988 I decided to let go of my farming dreams and start my mussel industry career as a deck hand on a mussel boat based out of Havelock. A year later I sat my Skipper’s Ticket and ended up skippering a mussel harvester through to 2007 when I was offered a job ashore as operations manager at Clearwater Mussels - a role I’m passionate about to this day. I manage all operational activities, from sustainability initiatives to compliance issues. I wear a lot of different hats to support six vessels and 45 staff.

In 2011 I was named Marine Farmer of the Year by the Marine Farming Association (MFA) - a tremendous honour for me and my family. I continue to be actively involved in several industry associations and bodies, acting as a voice for the marine farming industry.

I am fully aware of aquaculture’s significant contribution to regional economic growth and to the seafood sector as a whole. And I am also no stranger to the challenges and hardships people in the industry may face.

I know firsthand how things can easily tip over and become overwhelming, and that’s when people might need a bit of help to cope. I look forward to giving something back to the industry I’m so proud to be a part of. FirstMate navigators are here to enable a mental well-being check-in and to provide some comfort to help you deal with whatever might be troubling you.