Anna is a second-generation oyster farmer based in Pambula Lake on the Far South Coast of NSW. She’s been on oyster leases in Pambula lake since she was a kid, and has been actively farming herself for over 10 years. She has also served as the Industry Support Officer for Sapphire Coast Wilderness Oysters since May 2022. Prior to taking on the farm, Anna spent over a decade working for the Department of Agriculture in various agricultural policy, stakeholder engagement and communication roles. She also served as a Departmental Liaison Officer within a Minister's Office.

Warwick owned and operated Kingfisher Oysters at Wapengo Lake on the south coast of NSW from 2012 until 2021 producing award winning Sydney Rock Oysters (multiple gold and silver medals at the RAS) and Native Oysters. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in marine biology and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Through extensive previous experience running several small businesses he brings practical and commercial skills in communication and relationship building. Warwick continues to maintain active connections with many oyster farmers both within AOC and independent farmers along the NSW coast.

Fisheries stock assessment, Research, Business and Technology Development - Tim brings with him a suite of commercial and technical skills, along with experience built on a background of R&D and business development. This includes the successful development and commercialisation of scientific software and aquaculture products overseas into more than 30 countries. He co-founded Echoview, working for fifteen years as Director of Technical and Business Development. Echoview develops and distributes the world’s leading fisheries hydroacoustics visualization and analysis software suite. At the Australian Antarctic Division, he ran their marine acoustics stock assessment program for ten years, and represented the Australian Government at numerous international meetings. For five years he studied and worked as a research associate participating in a wide range of projects at the Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University.

Ian is Managing Director of SeaPerfect Pty Ltd a new shellfish hatchery business.  He was there at the birth of the selective breeding program running the larvae for the then University of Tasmania project, and has maintained a strong interest in the program since that time.  He has worked extensively within the shellfish aquaculture industry establishing a small grow out farm, but predominately within the hatchery sector, including Cameron of Tasmania, Marine Shellfish Hatcheries, Geordy River Aquaculture, Shellfish Culture and Spring Bay Seafoods.  He has also travelled extensively with a Nuffield Scholarship investigating shellfish businesses around the globe, and consulted to enterprises within Australia and internationally.  His previously held the position of Chair of TSEC and TORC, and is currently a director of Oysters Tasmania.

Gary Zippel has been involved in the Oyster Industry for over 30 years and is a Director of the family company Zippel Enterprises. He began work on the family wheat sheep farm at Mudamuckla on the west coast of South Australia. In 1989 the family decided to diversify and settled on oyster farming at Smoky Bay as an addition to the enterprise.  The family land farm was sold in 2000 and Oyster farming became the sole focus of the family.

Gary and his two brothers Ashley and Bruce have been Oyster farmers at Smoky Bay for over 30 years and continue to evolve their oyster growing business. 

Gary is currently the Vice Chairman of the South Australian Oyster Growers and is on the Oysters Australia board.  He has previously been a director of Australian Seafood Industries (ASI) and a chairman of South Australia Oyster Research Council. 

Jo is the co‑owner and General Manager of Smoky Bay Oysters in South Australia, actively leading her family’s farming operation. She has served as a Director of the South Australian Oyster Growers Association since 2020 and represents Western Zone growers. Jo has also contributed as a Director of the South Australian Oyster Research Council and as a member of Oyster Australia’s RD&E Committee (2022–2025).

Holding a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and qualifications in business and education, Jo brings deep experience in planning, governance, and strategic policy. She was previously recognised as Queensland Planner of the Year. Jo is driven by her family’s primary production heritage and inspired by the resilience and collaboration of the oyster industry.