Staff

Melissa joined WAFIC following 10 years as Executive Director at Forest Industries Federation (WA) where she oversaw the industry’s restructure following the protection of old growth forests and a period in private consultancy.

Melissa brings with her an extensive background in resource management, sustainable development, primary industries and a passion for renewable and sustainable industries.

Her forestry experience follows a similar trajectory to commercial fishing, where she has developed programs to support issues, including sectoral closures, compensation, resource security and membership engagement.

Executive Assistant

Angela boasts a 20-year track record of providing strategic and operational support to C-suite executives, along with an ability to optimise office efficiency, anticipate needs and drive organisational success.

In her role as Executive Assistant, Angela provides a broad range of support for the WAFIC team, with a particular focus on the Chief Executive Officer and the Board.

Laura initially joined the WAFIC team in 2021 in the role of Industry Development Manager. Laura is well qualified and holds a Bachelor of Science at UWA majoring in Environmental Management and Marine and Coastal Management and has more than a decade of experience in the fishing industry.

Laura joins WAFIC from DPIRD where she worked across a wide range of positions and responsibilities including policy, strategy, project management, biosecurity and compliance areas, as well as serving as a Fisheries Management Officer. Laura also holds a commercial skipper’s ticket (Coxswains).

Laura’s roles have provided her with a detailed insight into fisheries legislation and policy development and she has an extensive understanding of legislative framework, interpretation of legislation and the application of natural resource management across both commercial and recreational sectors.

Like most in the WAFIC team, Laura is a keen fisher and camper and has a passion for our commercial fishing sector and comes with an enviable network of industry contacts.

Craig joins WAFIC’s communication unit after several years with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, where he managed communications for projects including the shark response strategy, the Sea Sense campaign and Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone.

Matt, as WAFIC’s Senior Resource Access Officer, supports the work of the Executive Officer Resource Access, Mannie Shea, and liaises extensively with WAFIC’s members and others within the commercial fishing, pearling and aquaculture sectors as well as with government regulators.

Matt who holds a doctorate degree in fish biology from Murdoch University took on his resource access role with WAFIC after working for many years in WA’s Department of Fisheries – most recently specialising in Western rock lobster research.

Outside of WAFIC, Matt likes to spend time walking his family’s Golden Retriever along the river. He also enjoys cooking, makes his own sausage and enjoys travelling.

With science and research becoming a larger part of WAFIC’s advocacy, the WAFIC team have welcomed Liv Mickle onboard in the role of Industry Liaison Officer.

Liv holds a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Marine Biology, and minoring in Sustainable Development and has a strong background in fisheries research and working in the marine environment.

Liv boasts some hands-on experience, having worked as a deckhand on a commercial charter boat, and also spent time with DPIRD as a Technical Officer Assistant, where she assisted with stock assessments for Western Rock Lobsters.

Grace is the quiet achiever who beavers away behind the scenes to ensure the smooth financial operation of WAFIC. As Finance Officer she has primary responsibility for providing a range of timely and integrated financial information which is a keystone of the reporting required by the CEO to support the WAFIC Board’s decision making.

Duties include managing all accounts (payable and receivable), payroll, reconciliation, journal entries, BAS and FBT preparations, end of year audit preparation and developing and maintaining financial relations with external stakeholders. Transparency and accountability are more than buzz words to Grace – they are standards she upholds on a daily basis.

When not at work, Grace enjoys travelling, gardening, film and interacting with her iPad.