Program Manager - Production Innovation - Dr Graham Mair

Graham Mair has been with the Seafood CRC since its inception, on secondment to the CRC from Flinders University where he holds a Professorship in Aquaculture. In from the start Graham has dynamically shaped the Production Innovation Program focusing on three key themes of Aquaculture Production Innovation, Breeding for Profit (Genetic Improvement) and Future Harvest (wild catch fishery production economics). He has successfully adapted his science based background and applied his major strengths of innovation, attention to detail and legacy building, to develop and implement a comprehensive portfolio of over 100 research projects valued at over $30M. Graham has adapted well to operating in the interface between researchers and end users and has built some great relationships with highly productive teams who have delivered over 60 tangible outputs which have been adopted by end users. The Program has met all its government mandated milestones and the CRC can point to multiple outcomes that will live on as a legacy from this research.

Whilst Graham’s focus has been developing the Australian seafood industry with the CRC he has maintained his reputation as an internationally recognised science leader specialising in aquaculture and genetic breeding programs, most recently recognised through his election to the Presidency of the World Aquaculture Society (2013-16) and his chairing/hosting of World Aquaculture 2014 held in Adelaide and attended by over 2,000 delegates. In addition to his role as a senior research leader Graham has also built his management credentials completing an MBA in 2013 (including a graduate certificate in Research Commercialisation) at the University of South Australia, for which he was honoured by inclusion on the prestigious Chancellor's List based on his top academic performance from over 1,000 graduates.

Post CRC Graham is hoping to continue in a research leadership role focusing on delivering real and tangible impacts from research in support of Australian industry. He also hopes to apply some of his learnings from his CRC role back to the field of international development where he spent a considerable part of his early career.

Program Manager - Product and Market Development - Jayne Gallagher 

Jayne Gallagher is the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre's Programs Manager for Research Program 2 (Product and Market Development)

For almost 20 years, Jayne worked for the Australian Government in Foreign Affairs and Trade and Agricultural portfolios. In this role, she was involved in the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum Fisheries Working Group and other international consultative forums. She was the first Australian Government Director of Aquaculture and was responsible for facilitating seafood industry development. Jayne has been President of IAFI - the International Association of Seafood Professionals since 2005.

Jayne's professional credentials include:

• Science Degree with a Psychology major
• Has a special interest in developing industry driven commercially viable and sustainable change programs
• Is a member of the Board of the International Association of Fish Inspectors (IAFI)
• Was elected as President of IAFI and hosted the 6th World Congress Seafood Safety Quality and Trade.

Program Manager - Communication, Education, Training and Extension - Emily Mantilla

Emily Mantilla is the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre's Program Manager forPrograms 3 and 4 (Communication, Education, Training and Extension).

Emily holds an Honours Degree in Science from the University of Adelaide where she majored in Environmental Biology and Zoology. Emily is well known in the seafood industry for her energetic and outgoing personality where she just loves shaking things up in the communication, extension and education world. She has done many a strange thing over the years to get the seafood research and development messages out there!

Emily's motto is always: "Let’s have fun while we communicate and educate!"

Emily came to the Seafood Cooperative Research Centre with a wealth of experience having been the Communication and Education Manager for four and a half years with the Cooperative Research Centre for the Sustainable Aquaculture of Finfish and before that she worked in local government with small businesses in an educational role, as well as a compliance role.  Emily is responsible for all the Seafood Cooperative Research Centre's public relation and media activities including the Love Australian Prawns campaign, the Retailer's Network, industry training and vocational education projects.  She also manages all the CRC research extension projects and looks after our PhD, Masters and Honours students (or her babies as she calls them) as part of the Higher Education Program ensuring young graduates are "industry ready".

Communications Officer - Andrew Scholefield

 Andrew Scholefield is the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre's communications officer. 

Andrew holds an Honours Degree in Science from Flinders University, majoring in Marine and Molecular Biology. He completed his Honours Degree through the Seafood CRC and is currently in the final stages of his PhD in Molecular Biology. Andrew is known around the office as the communications odd job man - anything that needs doing he will find a way to get it done. Andrew has experience in producing marketing and communications material, website content management, and anything else that needs to be done!

Business Manager and Company Secretary - Debra D'Aloia

Debra "Debs" D'Aloia is our hard-working number cruncher at the Seafood Cooperative Research Centre. Deb comes to us after a six year stint working as the Finance Manager for International Linen Service where she performed a large variety of business duties. Deb manages our project management system, all the finances and is the CRC's Company Secretary.

Deb has an Advanced Diploma in Accounting, a Certificate III in Information Technology, a Certificate IV in OHS, and a certificate in Governance Practice Administration

Events Manager - Alison Connelly

Alison Connelly is responsible for managing the many and varied events that the Seafood CRC facilitates and delivers. She is passionate about organising events like conferences, forums, meetings, social functions and staff/industry training retreats.  She takes great pride in ensuring all aspects of the event experience are planned to the finest detail and are hassle free, for both the facilitator and
the attendee. The CRC staff also really appreciate Alison's efforts each year in regards to their Christmas party!

Before joining the CRC, Alison held corporate administration roles in Human Resources, WHS compliance, Public Relations, Office Mangement and as Executive Assistant to several Managing Directors. She also has a Diploma in Human Resource Management and a Diploma in Business Management.

Alison looks forward to ensuring you have a memorable experience if you're coming along to a CRC event.

Office Manager - Leah Fergusson

Leah Fergusson brings a wealth of customer service experience and management skills from the retail sector. Leah’s role is to manage the CRC's office and provide support to the CRC's Managing Director and Program Managers.  She's a whizz with invoice payments, credit card reconciliation and project administration management!  Leah is also the friendly voice you hear if you call our main switchboard.

Leah joined us from the pharmaceautical industry, however spent most of her career working in Woolworths in roles such as people management, training and development responsibility.

Leah holds a Certificate III in Business and a Diploma in Management.