the role of
oYSTERs AUSTRALIA (oa)
Oysters Australia Limited (OA) is a national body that was formed in 2011 by Australia's community of oyster growers.
The primary purpose of OA is to manage a program of research, development, and extension for the benefit of the Australian oyster industry. This involves defining the needs of industry, identifying suitable entities to conduct the research, monitoring progress, and ensuring the results are implemented in a manner that benefits the end users.
Oysters Australia also has a representative responsibility to address issues affecting the whole oyster industry.
STAFF
PATRICK HUTCHINSON
PRESIDENT / CHAIR
Patrick Hutchinson is a nationally recognised leader in agribusiness strategy, sustainability, and trade. As Director of Gibraltar Strategic Advisory, he brings more than 25 years of senior experience across red meat, poultry, seafood, agrifood tech, and international trade. Patrick advises Australian and global clients on ESG frameworks, stakeholder engagement, market access strategy, and industry transformation.
He is Chair of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework, Chair of Dairy Australia Calfways Program, Chair of the AgriTrade Forum of the Australia China Business Council, Chair of Oysters Australia, Chair of Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) International Trade Committee and a Member of the Advisory Boards of ExoFlare and Leading Harvest Australia, and a former CEO of the Australian Meat Industry Council. Patrick has played leading roles in trade policy negotiation, Free Trade Agreements, and major bilateral agricultural initiatives across Asia, North America, and the Middle East.
With a reputation for strategic clarity, cross-sector leadership, and high-level diplomacy, Patrick’s board contributions span ESG, trade, stakeholder management, and innovation. He is a GAICD graduate and frequent keynote speaker and advisor to ministers, CEOs, and government departments. His work is grounded in trusted networks, systems thinking, and real-world impact.
ANDY MYERS
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Andy brings nearly two decades of dedicated service to Australia’s oyster industry. With a background in marine biology and coastal management, he is committed to ensuring research and development delivers practical benefits for growers.
Andy has led major industry development initiatives through roles at NSW Farmers Association and OceanWatch Australia, strengthening capacity, sustainability, and sector cohesion. A graduate of the National Seafood Industry Leadership Program, he has represented the industry across numberous key national and state forums including the National Aquaculture Advisory Committee, the NSW Shellfish Committee, the National Seafood Marketing Reference Group, and the Aquaculture & Wild Catch Industry Reference Group.
GRAHAM MARSHALL
COMPANY SECRETARY & FINANCE MANAGER
Graham is the Managing Director of Corporate & Business Development Services Pty Ltd, trading as RiskComply, specialising in finance, company secretary, risk management and compliance services . He was appointed to Oysters Australia as Company Secretary and Finance Manager in 2019, on a contractual basis. Graham is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was a member of the Board for nine years, a Fellow of CPA Australia, a Member of the Risk Management Institute of Australasia, and a Certified Risk Management Technician.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RYAN FREEMAN
NSW DIRECTOR
Bio coming soon
WARWICK ANDERSON
NSW DIRECTOR
Warwick has been involved in the NSW oyster industry since 2012 and operated a farm at Wapengo Lake in southern NSW producing Rock Oysters and Angasi Oysters until 2021. With tertiary qualifications in marine biology and considerable small business experience prior to the oyster farm he brings a wide skill set to the board of Oysters Australia. He is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Currently he sits on the board of Australia’s Oyster Coast as a non-executive director and is also a member of the NSW Aquaculture Research Advisory Committee.
CAMERON HALL
TASMANIAN DIRECTOR
Cameron joined the Tasmanian Oyster Company (TOC) as CEO in December 2024. TOC, founded in 1979 as Shellfish Culture, now operates hatchery, nursery and grow‑out sites across Tasmania and South Australia.
He previously served as CEO of The Pastoral Pork Company, one of Australia’s leading free‑range pork producers, and is an Owner/Director of Food and Agribusiness Services Group, delivering strategic and operational projects across meat, livestock, logistics, trade and investment.
His earlier executive roles include CEO of Rifa Salutary, General Manager of Trading & Livestock Exports at Elders, National Agency Director at Landmark and CEO of LiveCorp.
IAN DUTHIE
TASMANIAN DIRECTOR
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.
Ian 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, and member of the NSW Aquaculture Research Advisory Committee.
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GARY ZIPPEL
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DIRECTOR
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.
JOCEY POCOCK
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DIRECTOR
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.