AIMEX Board of Directors and Management
Jeremy Spear – President
Jeremy Spear has been involved in marine design for over thirty years. He started designing marine interiors for private yachts in London and then formed award winning marine design consultancy Spear Green Design in Sydney in 1991. SGD is a multidisciplinary marine design studio which has produced specialised interiors, styled vessels and managed many commercial and private newbuild and refit projects from 30 feet to 30,000 tonnes in over thirty countries. He has previously managed business units for other design companies and has designed other significant transport interiors in Europe. Jeremy holds a degree in Industrial Design and is also qualified in Naval Architecture.
Peter Dowdney – Vice President
Peter Dowdney has had over 30 years experience in the marine industry with the past 23 years being spent in various sales and management roles with Ronstan International. Peter has worked closely with retired AIMEX board member Alistair Murray for the past 20 years and has participated in many major international boat shows, trade missions and marine industry events both within Australia and abroad. He is an active member of the Australian Marine industry having previously held a board position with the BIA of QLD. He is a passionate sailor with extensive sailing experience in everything from off-the-beach dinghies to the America’s Cup. He has managed and participated in numerous International Sailing Summits over the past decade and continues to promote the sport of sailing at every possible opportunity. His current goal is to expand Ronstan’s business base throughout Asia, with a particular focus on the rapidly growing sailing market in China.
Stephen Vincent – Treasurer
Long term AIMEX Board Member Stephen Vincent is the current Honorary Treasurer and a Director of Austral Propeller Co. Pty Ltd. Mr. Vincent has been involved in international boat shows and marine exporting for over 25 years, and has a degree in Commerce. Stephen is also a BIA (NSW) Hall of Fame award recipient. Austral Propellers has been a leading Australian propeller manufacturer and repairer for over 75 years and currently regularly exports to over 30 countries. Austral Propellers is also the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Island’s distributor of VEEM fully CNC machined propellers.
Carl Amor
Carl Amor, Director of Aqualuma LED Lighting was elected to the board in 2012. Keen to develop their global network and export business Aqualuma has been an active member of AIMEX since 2005. Aqualuma is an established marine export business and has had considerable success in combating the challenges of the current economic climate through dedication and drive, implementing innovative business strategies and product diversification. Aqualuma has strong presence in UAE, Asia, USA and Europe and has been a key sponsor of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Carl has been self-employed from the age of 21 and is an automotive and marine trimmer by trade. His interests include revolutionizing the LED experience, restoring classic cars, boating and generally having fun. Carl and his brother Grant established Aqualuma in 2004.
Richard Chapman
Richard Chapman has an extensive involvement with the marine industry spanning over 40 years. As Managing Director of Coursemaster Autopilots Pty Ltd and HyDrive Engineering Pty Ltd, Mr Chapman has spent many years attending international boat shows focusing on exports. He is an AIMEX founding director and has been on the AIMEX board since its establishment. He is currently Commodore of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron where he has been a director for 20 years.
www.coursemaster.com www.hydrive.com.au
Kane Bygrave
Kane is a director of Aurora Global Logistics, a privately owned freight and logistics company, specialising in the transport and barrier clearance of boats and yachts. Kane began his career in the logistics industry in 1987, performing various roles within the Customs division of a German multinational organisation. He obtained his Customs Brokers qualifications in 1993, and in doing so achieved highest national exam results in Australia for that year.
Kane progressed into management roles within the logistics industry, before opening the doors as a partner and director at Aurora Global Logistics in 2001. Today Aurora employ 15 staff, 6 of whom specialise in logistical services and advice to the boating sector. Everything from trailer boats to superyachts.
Services include shipping to and from all parts of the world, in house Customs and Quarantine clearance and consultancy services, advice regarding immigration and crew visas, taxation, temporary importations, free trade agreements, establishing a yacht for charter, berthage, delivery crew, shipping cradle fabrication and supply, survey reports and various other services.
Kane chaired Superyacht Base Brisbane for 2 years from 2005 to 2007 and continues to maintain an active role within Superyacht Australia, AIMEX, and other industry advocate groups.
Aurora are the official agents in Australia for Peters and May, a global leader in world boat transportation.
Steve Fisher
Steve has pioneered strategies in the marine industry in development, design and management of large yachts. Steve has over 30 years’ experience in this field. This international position within Rivergate sees Steve co-ordinate and manage superyacht refits, which rival refits carried out anywhere in the world. Steve is responsible for ensuring all major projects are completed, on time, on budget and to the highest quality.
In recognition of his industry experience, Steve was awarded the 2014 Superyacht Industry Champion of the Year award.
Sean Griffin
A long standing AIMEX supporter, board member for 16 years including two terms as Vice President, Mr Griffin has been actively involved with export and business development for more than 30 years.
With extensive experience in global sales, marketing and technical product development, Mr Griffin currently operates as a Commercial Consultant within the Australian marine electronics industry. Prior to establishing his own consultancy in 2013, he held various senior management positions with GME, Australia’s largest marine and LMR manufacturer / distributor.
Qualifications include BSc, MBA and FAICD
Brad Marsden
Brad Marsden is the founder and director of Marine Airflow International. A niche Gold Coast based business specialising in the design and manufacture of Engine room Ventilation Systems. Brad originally hales from WA and a commercial boat building background. He has built and sold several successful commercial businesses over the last 30 years, the last PROFAB having been based in Cairns FNQ which was sold in 2004 in a astounding 3 weeks.
Marine Airflow International – MAFi exports globally to a wide variety of sectors and clients with projects ranging from 8 m to 188 m from Recreational, Commercial, Defence and Super Yachts sectors.
Brad takes great pride in creating a true balance of business and pleasure for the entire MAFi team – starting back in 2005 with a 4 day work week for all, which is still the standard 15 years later and 100% staff retention.
He enjoys the design and creative process and is frequently off on a tangent building a new proto-type of some sort. This creative streak has paid dividends with MAFi recently being awarded Junior Exporter for 2020.
Brad recently retired from racing jet boats on the Australian National circuit in his 650 Hp Group A boat “Transformer” After close to a decade he has sold of the race craft to concentrate on further development of MAFi and sharing his experience with a young but very passionate team. While new to the board of AIMEX he has served on several boards over the last decade predominantly in V8 superboats.
Alan Steber
Alan Steber is the General Manager and Director of Steber International. An original AIMEX Board member and former AIMEX President, Mr Steber recently received a Centenary medal as well as an Industry Achievement award for Outstanding Service to the Marine Industry. Steber International exports to Mauritius, Seychelles, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. The company has won numerous Australian Design Awards, Boat of the Year Awards and many Business of the Year Awards. Alan recently won the Commercial Manufacturer of the year award and the Commercial Industry Champion of the year at the Australian Superyacht, Marine Export & Commercial Marine Industry awards. Alan is also on several Maritime committees further supporting the industry.
Eli Green
Eli Green is the founder and director of Sydney based company Greencorp Marine. Greencorp Marine specialises in the development & manufacture of marine coatings and cleaners. Greencorp Marine has grown from start-up to have a strong distribution network worldwide. Eli has been an active exporter and has regularly attended many of the major international boat shows since 2013.
Eli enjoys the challenges of innovating with product development and solving customers technical and practical coatings wishes.
