Our Company – Ornatas Tropical Rock Lobster

The people at Ornatas drive change and focus on the future.

Ornatas is led by a team driven by building a sustainable future for seafood. We are dedicated to doing this, whilst creating real opportunities in global communities, and taking care of our environment.

Collectively the skilled team offer a wealth of enthusiasm and experience in science and innovation, a deep knowledge and understanding of the ocean environment and aquaculture systems, as well as financial, strategic and creative thinking to drive the company forward.

Chief Executive Officer

Scott Parkinson

Scott is passionate about science and the sea. He has worked in aquaculture for over 30 years, across research and development, commercial operations and sales. Scott is dedicated to a sustainable future for aquaculture, building the skills and expertise of the Ornatas team and engaging with communities to reach this goal.

Senior Management Team

Tony Barton

General Manager

Tony is the Ornatas General Manager. His role is to oversee core services that enable our workplace to function efficiently and our team to thrive. He is also responsible for business administration and risk management. Tony has a collaborative approach, working with his team and across all levels of the business to build the best processes and ensure the right resourcing is in place to get everything done safely and effectively.

Jennifer Blair

Hatchery And Research & Development Manager

Jen oversees the commercialisation of the lobster hatchery technology developed by UTAS at our Toomulla Beach site. As our Hatchery and Research and Development Manager, Jen manages special projects and takes the lead on our strategic research and partnerships, while also focusing on the establishment of Ornatas’ grow-out operations, which has become a top priority for the company’s future.

John Breen

Farm Manager

Armed with over 18 years of farm management experience, John is perfectly suited as our Farm Manager. He oversees the production planning and commercialisation of nursery and grow out operations of the Tropical Rock Lobsters at our Toomulla Beach site.

Brandon Panebianco

Hatchery Manager

Brandon overseas the core operations of the Hatchery. Brandon is responsible for the construction of RAS systems and supporting infrastructure around the farm. He also plays an important role in assisting with managing the operation of RAS systems, animal husbandry and health management, water quality management and feeding.

Lachlan Davison

Nursery Manager

Lachlan coordinates activities with our juvenile lobsters in the nursery. He works across all areas of our hatchery operations including juvenile production, larval rearing, broodstock and systems maintenance. The major focus of his role is managing the juveniles in our hatchery which includes the operation of the recirculating aquaculture systems, animal husbandry and health management, water quality management, and feeding.

Sandra Villamil

Research & Project Manager

Sandra is our Project Manager for the CRCNA project. As our Research Officer she participates in the scientific aspects of the project, including experimental design, data analysis and communication. She also contributes to implementing our biosecurity and TRL health monitoring plans, which all underpin the provision of quality juveniles for raft grow-out research.

Ornatas Board

Executive Director

Martin Rees

Until 2015, Martin was a partner in KPMG Tasmania for 25 years specialising in corporate finance and commercialisation of new technologies. He was responsible for the establishment of In-tellinc, a Hobart based IT incubator/seed investor which over the past 15 years has invested in over 40 start-up companies generating a number of national and global successes.

Martin has been a founding Director of a number of these ventures and brings these skills to Ornatas. He is also a Director of Foundry Pty. Ltd, TasmaNet Pty. Ltd, St. Lukes Health Ltd and Pets Domain Ltd. Martin and his family own and operate a vineyard and wine business in Relbia and he is currently Chair of Wine Tasmania.

Director

Brian Kohl

Brian is the shareholder represenative on the Board. He is a born and bred Tasmanian with a long history in community and environmental areas of work. He has an Economics degree from the University of Tasmania, and has worked in all levels of Government before moving to private industry. He is currently a shareholder and Director of a number of Tasmanian companies and spends much of his time sailing throughout the South East Asian region.

Brian’ s professional career has included roles of Senior Economic Advisor to both the Labour and Greens parties. Brian is currently the Director and CEO of one of Tasmania’s largest private equity hedge funds.