WAFIC News

A life of service sees Angus Callander receive esteemed WA Seafood Industry leadership award

Angus Callander’s exceptional leadership, innovation and unwavering dedication were celebrated last night as he clinched the esteemed Michael and Patricia Kailis Leadership Award, sponsored by MG Kailis, at the 2024 Western Australian Seafood Industry Awards.

The Awards event, recognising excellence in the WA seafood industry, was held at The Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle and opened by Minister for Fisheries Hon Don Punch MLA in front of an audience of industry participants and representatives of various stakeholder groups.

Angus Callander is one of the unsung champions of the WA Seafood Industry. He is a man who personifies the commercial fishing industry and has a passion for the fishers and their families that has endured for decades, yet goes about his work in a quiet and unheralded manner. His resume confirms a lifetime around the fishing industry, spread across multiple states and numerous fisheries.

Throughout almost 40 years in the industry, Angus has managed seafood businesses generating revenues of more than $100 million; transformed the operations of remote fisheries in the Northern Territory; built Kailis’ Dongara-based fishing operation into a formidable, innovative and competitive operation, and created downstream opportunities, while winning over the local community through genuine engagement, including as an Irwin shire councillor for many years.

While his capacity to develop, innovate and manage businesses is well documented, it is his capacity to bring along the fishing families and coastal communities that is at the centre of his passion, and this is demonstrated through his numerous volunteer projects to build social licence and drive community-based initiatives.

WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) CEO, Darryl Hockey said Angus Callander has  made a substantial positive difference to the seafood industry over many years and has been a highly effective and respected seafood industry leader.

Angus has a special ability to generate ideas, and through leadership and innovation, can translate these ideas into positive changes for the seafood industry.

WAFIC CEO Darryl Hockey remarked, Ängus’ passion, leadership, enthusiasm, and dedication have driven transformational change throughout the Australian seafood and food industries for more than 40 years. Throughout this time, Angus has come to be recognised as a respected industry leader and a passionate supporter of the fishing industry and the fishing families,” said Mr Hockey.

“As an industry body, we recognise the importance of acknowledging those individuals and organisations who make a substantial contribution to benefiting our industry, and Mr Callander is certainly incredibly worthy of this Award,” Mr Hockey concluded.

About Michael & Patricia Kailis

The thought of entrepreneurship is terrifying for most, but for the late Michael Kailis it was merely a fleeting word for opportunity. When there was nothing in this State, the late Michael Kailis identified opportunities – he was a pioneer to the WA fishing industry.  His curiosity, drive and creativity lead him and his wife, the late Dr Patricia Kailis, to create The MG Kailis Group – one of the leading Marine Corporations specialising in seafood, pearl jewellery and marine engineering in Australia and throughout international markets. But before the empire, it was humble beginnings where the young man from Greece, with the world at his feet, started out in the rock lobster trade in Dongara before moving into harvesting prawns in Exmouth Gulf and then producing pearls in the Kimberly.

Sadly Michael passed away in 1999 and Dr Patricia passed away in 2020 – a great loss to our wonderful industry.

About the Michael & Patricia Kailis Leadership Award

Presented to a person who has made a substantial positive difference to the seafood industry over at least twenty years, often beyond the bounds of the person’s enterprise or employment.  The person has been highly effective and is a respected seafood industry leader.

Judging criteria:

The person:

• has made a substantial and sustained positive difference to the seafood industry
• has effected positive change through leadership and innovation
• is highly respected by industry colleagues

Previous Michael Kailis Leadership Award winners:

About the Awards Event

The event is supported by a number of partners including;

• Wester Rock Lobster (Gold event partner), Taylor Marine (Gold event partner), Sunderland Marine (Silver event partner), Fins Seafood (Silver event partner), as well as partners for each of the individual awards, including Aquarius Lawyers, Austral Fisheries, Baker Refrigeration, Bendotti Exporters/WA Chip, Chevron Australia, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Endeavour Foods, Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC), Francis A Jones, MG Kailis Group, Sea Harvest Australia, Ward Packaging, Woodside Energy and Western Rock Lobster.
• Award event attendees enjoyed an array of fresh, local and sustainably caught Western Australian seafood prepared by celebrity chefs and kindly donated by sponsors including; Albany Sardines, Archipelago Octopus, Austral Fisheries, Bellbuoy Seafoods, Bowithick, Brown Dog Fishing Co, Endeavour Foods, Esperance Seafoods, Fins Seafood, Fremantle Octopus, Fremantle Seaweed, Huon, Leeuwin Coast, Lobster Shack, Ocean Wild Tuna, Paspaley, Rare Foods Australia, Sabea Fishing Co, Seafresh, Sea Harvest Australia, Shark Bay Cockles, Two Rocks Tentacles, Bendotti Exporters/WA Chip, Westmore Seafoods & Wollaston Fish & Chips all served in compostable packaging provided by Ward Packaging.
• Highly regarded “celebrity”’ seafood chefs cooked at the event including; Brad Adams (Rare Foods Australia – Producer Chef), Liam Atkinson (Le Rebelle & Bar Rogue), Damien Bell (Bellbuoy Seafoods – Producer Chef), Scott Bridger (Bib & Tucker), Steven Finch (Indigo Oscar), Neil Forbes (Black Pearl Oyster Shucking), Danny Matthews (The Seasonal Brewing Co), Leigh Nash (Norfolk Hotel), Leigh Power (Shui Subiaco), Navarre Top (Double Rainbow Eating House), Sam Vial (Wollaston Fish & Chips) and Chase Weber (Gorilla BBQ & Consultant to Kaarla Restaurant – Singapore) prepared an array of delicious food at the event.
• The event was held on Friday 3 May, 2024 at Fremantle’s Esplanade Hotel with Karl Langdon (Former West Coast Eagle and 6PR Radio presenter) who played the role of Master of Ceremonies.