AIMEX Board set for a strong year ahead

by AIMEX on 9 Dec 2010 On Friday 26th November the Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) held its Annual General Meeting at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, electing its new board for 2011.

The Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) is the peak body for the Australian Marine Export Industry. Its primary purpose is to develop and promote Australia's thriving Marine Industry to the world.

As part of the AGM the AIMEX board is elected. It was great to see a continuation of some very key experienced directors who will be supported by 3 new directors. It was a tribute to AIMEX that there is now so much interest in gaining election to this board.

The board for the 2010/11 year will be comprised of Alistair Murray – President (Ronstan International), Sean Griffin – Vice-President (GME) and Stephen Vincent – Treasurer (Austral Propellers), Directors re-elected include Richard Chapman (Coursemaster Autopilots/Hydrive Engineering), Barry Jenkins (Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show), Brian Gagen (PolyFlex Group), Jeremy Spear (Spear Green Design), Alan Steber (Steber International), Richard Ward (Seawind Catamarans), Leigh Berwick (Austrade) and Peter Hancock (Department Industry, Innovation, Science and Research – DIISR) .

The board welcomed new Directors Brita Fowler – Glowfast Marine, Brett Vorhauer – Marine Tech Industries Australia and Matthew Johnston – Muir Engineering.

Brita Fowler has been involved in the marine industry for the past five years. As International Business Development Manager for Glowfast Marine, Brita has launched the company onto the international market, developing successful sales and marketing strategy that has seen Glowfast gain international recognition in under two years of export.

Matthew Johnston is General Manager of Muir Engineering Pty Ltd (a founding member of AIMEX). Since his arrival at Muir in 1995 he has been actively involved in all aspects of the business and particularly the exports sales of the business. He is a regular attendance of many of the overseas boat shows, particularly Monaco Yacht Show and METS. He has an MBA (from Southern Cross University – NSW) and in his spare time he enjoys sailing and boating recreationally which he has been doing all of his life.

Brett Vorhauer is the owner and a Director of Marine Tech Industries Australia. Originating from Taupo NZ, MTIA moved to Australia in 2007 and recently relocated from the Gold Coast to Kilsyth in Victoria. Brett’s original involvement with both the boating industry and AIMEX was through Rae-Line Boat Seats. While no longer the owner of this company, Brett maintained an interest in boating and purchased MTIA in 2001.

Keen to grow our export markets, Marine Tech joined AIMEX in 2009 and currently exports to NZ, China and the UK. Brett is also the owner and Managing Director of Rae-Line Pty Ltd, a long term supplier of soft trim products to the heavy transport industry.

AIMEX President Alistair Murray presented the Presidents report to the board during the AGM, highlighting the strength of the organization despite the tough climate and the many benefits members reap from the organisation.
'It is with a great deal of pride that I present this report with AIMEX in such a strong position to go into 2011'
'Despite the industry experiencing what has undoubtedly been the toughest three year period of my career AIMEX membership continues to go from strength to strength.

Boat building worldwide has been particularly hard hit, and to compound this the Aussie dollar is trading at a level that is seriously challenging all exports. It is in trying times like this that an association such as AIMEX is most important. It brings Australian companies together to share experiences and to share advice.

This experience and advice from all sectors of our industry is necessary to enable us all to improve our products, our production techniques, our management systems, our customer service and our marketing, which continue to enable us to take on the world. It is this sharing of knowledge and the spirit of cooperation, the looking out for each other and the willingness to help fellow members that makes AIMEX very special.'

With a busy agenda in 2011 and many exciting new initiatives set to grow the global profile of the Australian Marine Industry AIMEX are really looking forward to yet another productive and successful year.

More at www.aimex.asn.au