Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers
Martin Byrne—Federal Secretary
Martin is currently the elected Federal President of the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE) as well as being the appointed Federal Secretary of AIMPE.
For over 35 years he has worked continuously for the AIMPE mostly based in the Head Office in Sydney.
Martin has dealt with seafarers’ compensation matters including being involved in lobbying for and participating in the drafting committee for the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992, and with health and safety matters including proposing and helping push through the Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993.
Martin also proposed the adoption of the name for the Seacare Authority to administer this new system and spent around 25 years as a Member or Deputy Member of the Seacare Authority.
Martin served as a Director of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority between 2008-2011.
For many years Martin was responsible within AIMPE for members working in the tugboat industry all around Australia.
Over a period of 20 years Martin held the position of Federal Treasurer of the AIMPE and he is responsible for the AIMPE’s monthly magazine “On Watch”.
Australian Marine Conservation Society
Diane Tarte—Director
Diane Tarte is Director of Marine Ecosystem Policy Advisors providing advice on policy and programs addressing research and management of marine, coastal and catchment areas with a particular focus on ecosystem-based management of catchments, waterways and fisheries.
Over the past 35 years she has been involved in the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef and Australian tidal wetland areas, the development of government planning and management policies and legislation focusing on integrated coastal zone management and Oceans Policy, and the involvement of the community in the management of marine protected areas, coastal wetland reserves and rehabilitation of riparian zones.
She has contributed to a range of shipping and ports forums, most recently the Water Space Working Group for the North-East Shipping Management Plan, and the implementations of the Queensland government’s Sustainable Ports Act.
Australian Maritime College
Michael Van Balen—Principal
The Australian Maritime College (AMC), at the University of Tasmania, is the national institute for maritime education, training and research.
AMC is one of the seven founding members of the International Association of Maritime Universities, which represents five continents.
AMC is globally recognised as being a centre for excellence. Our multi-million dollar suite of specialist teaching, learning and research facilities are internationally acclaimed and are used by Defence, industry and government organisations world-wide to answer leading-edge research questions. In addition, our experienced teaching and research staff have extremely strong industry links.
We offer a wide range of courses from vocational training through to bachelor and postgraduate degrees and doctorates, spanning the areas of: Maritime Engineering and Hydrodynamics, Maritime business and Global Logistics, Ocean Seafaring and Coastal seafaring and Vocational Educational Training Courses.
Our highly-skilled graduates are in demand worldwide, with alumni spread across over 50 countries.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia (Australasia and Asia)
Joel Katz—Managing Director
Joel Katz joined CLIA as Managing Director for Australasia and Asia in January 2017 bringing with him almost 30 years of international experience in the travel industry.
He previously served in Executive and Operational Leadership roles with small and expedition cruise lines in Europe and Australia, including Grand Circle Cruise Line, Orion Expedition Cruises and Lindblad Expeditions. He has also worked with both the Hyatt and Marriott hotel companies in Finance roles in Europe, Central Asia and Australia. Joel started his career in the cruise industry working both onboard and then shore-side for Orient Lines.
In his role as Managing Director at CLIA, Katz heads a Sydney and Singapore based team that is responsible for the promotion and development of the cruise industry in the region through trade relations, industry training, and advocacy activities on behalf of CLIA’s members.
This advocacy work on behalf of the whole cruise community is CLIA’s most important focus right now, and CLIA’s travel agent community is critical to the future prosperity of the cruise industry, as CLIA continues to advocate in members’ interests.
Maritime Industry Australia Ltd
Teresa Lloyd—Chief Executive Officer
Teresa joined MIAL in 2003 and has been CEO since 2008.
Teresa holds a degree in Naval Architecture from the Australian Maritime College and a master’s degree in Business Administration. Teresa is a member of a diverse range of industry advisory and management committees.
Internationally Teresa was the Australian shipowner (employer) representative at the United Nations International Labour Organisation during the MLC adoption; regularly attended the UN International Maritime Organisation meetings as an industry adviser to the Australian delegation; and chaired the International Chamber of Shipping, Environment Sub-Committee from 2006 - 2013. Teresa is the Secretary General, Australia, of the Asian Shipowners Association.
Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand
Dr David Goodwin—President
Dr David Goodwin is an Associate Professor at Victoria University in Melbourne and a practising Barrister at the Victorian Bar, with specialisations in transport law, international trade, alternative dispute resolution and corporate governance.
David is the current President of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand. Earlier in his career he held a range of senior executive roles in the logistics and steel industries, including with the APL, BlueScope Steel, BHP and ANL organisations.
David is affiliated with Victoria University’s College of Law and Justice and its Business School, where he is Head, Industry and External Engagement. He is also a Director of the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network and a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.
Maritime Union of Australia
Jamie Newlyn—Assistant National Secretary
Jamie Newlyn is the Assistant National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia with responsibility for shipping policy for the union.
Jamie Newlyn was an Australian Merchant Seafarer from 1988-1998, followed by a 5 year stint as a Stevedore before being elected to South Australian Branch Secretary of the MUA.
Other roles include:
- Director of Maritime Super
- Deputy Member Seacare
Minerals Council of Australia (Economic Policy)
Dr Matthew Steen—General Manager
Dr Matthew Steen is General Manager – Economic Policy at the Minerals Council of Australia, having joined in 2013.
Matthew obtained a PhD in economics from the University of Sydney in 2005 and subsequently worked as an economic policy adviser for NSW Business Chamber, Industry Super Australia and the Australian Coal Association.
Matthew also served as a senior adviser to the Hon Tony Abbott MP when he was Leader of the Opposition.
Ports Australia
The Hon. Mike Gallacher—Chief Executive Officer
Mike became the Chief Executive Officer of Ports Australia in April 2017 following over two decades as a Member of the NSW Parliament. During his Parliamentary career Mike was appointed Leader of the Government (NSW Legislative Council 2011-14) Minister for Police and Emergency Service and Vice President of the NSW Executive Council. He has also served as Minister in a number of other portfolios including responsibilities for the Hunter Valley, Central Coast and Industrial Affairs.
Mike served as Leader of the Liberal/National Party Coalition from 1999 – 2014 and has also held numerous Shadow Ministerial portfolios, including transport and ports.
Prior to entering Parliament, Mike served as a member of the NSW Police Force from 1980 to 1996 and performed a variety of duties including Detective and HWP. A large portion of his career was spent investigating corruption matters at Police Internal Affairs.
Royal Australian Navy
Rear Admiral Chris Smith—Deputy Chief of Navy
Rear Admiral Smith assumed the role of Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Navy on 11 September 2020.
Rear Admiral Smith joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1989. His seagoing appointments have included HMA Ships Stalwart, Parramatta (III), Brunei, Perth (II), Ipswich, Geraldton, Canberra (II), ANZAC and Command of HMA Ships Gladstone, Darwin and Canberra (III). His shore appointments have included staff officer to the Chief of Defence Force, Deputy Director of Sailors’ Career Management, Director Navy Warfare Professional Requirements, 2015 Force Structure Review team, Commander Surface Force and most recently, Director General Littoral.
His operational deployments have included Operation HELPEM FREN in 2003, Operation CATALYST as the Australian Liaison Officer to the US Central Command Forward Headquarters in 2008 and the inaugural LHD operational deployment in Canberra (III) providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in support of Operation FIJI ASSIST 2016.
Rear Admiral Smith completed the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2004 and the US Naval War College in 2013. He holds a Masters of Management in Defence Studies, a Masters in Maritime Studies and a Masters of Arts (International Relations)
Shipping Australia Limited
Melwyn Noronha—Chief Executive Officer
Melwyn is a Master Mariner (class 1) who has decades of seafaring experience on a wide range of cargo ships.
He joined Shipping Australia in 2015 as the General Manager Technical Services and Industry Policy and has progressed to Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
In addition to providing a wide range of policy and maritime advice to industry, ministers and officials, Melwyn is well-known to the shipping industry having organised and run a wide range of Shipping Australia committees, briefings, functions and events.
A former shipping and ports administrator at state and federal government, Melwyn has brought a wealth of shipping policy and administration experience to Shipping Australia and its membership. He is also a graduate of the Australian Maritime College.
Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF)
Margy Osmond—Chief Executive Officer
Margy Osmond is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism & Transport Forum and has been in this role since October 2014.
Margy has extensive experience in media, policy development and advocacy, politics and government relations, membership organisations and public affairs.
Margy is the co-Chair of the Tourism Group of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum [ANZLF] and co-Chair of the Safe Border Group established to assist both governments to create the Trans- Tasman ‘bubble’. She has actively led the visitor economy industries through the bushfires and Covid- 19.
Margy has a wide range of Board experience, she is currently on the Boards of TTF, Sydney World Pride 2023, UITPANZ and sits on the Federal Government’s Biosecurity Futures Group and a range of State Treasury groups focused on restarting the wider economy.
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA International)
Alison Cusack—Australian President
Alison is an influential force in the maritime community, appointed as the WISTA Australia President in 2018. She also contributes her knowledge as a committee member of MLAANZ and a member of MMIF.
With Alison’s expert knowledge and industry experience, she also currently teaches as a Master’s Lecturer in Business and Company Law.
Alison founded the Maritime Law Firm, Cusack & Co in 2018 with a decade of industry experience and academia behind her. Alison provides the industry with a values based legal firm designed to provide its clients with the flexibility to do things differently. She enables her clients to not only solve their immediate issues but to help their business manage their risk for the long term.