Rodney Missen: Business Owner and Managing Director

Master of Science (Aquaculture), Graduate Diploma (Aquaculture), Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) Hons. (Integrated Aquaculture) with over 20 years’ aquaculture industry experience.

Rod started his career as an Aquaculture Research Scientist for the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute in Snobs Creek, Victoria specializing in the domestication of native fish species, intensive recirculating culture systems and the integration of waste management solutions utilizing aquaculture practices for nutrient stripping.

Rodney moved into the private sector, developing RADAQUA consulting services and establishing the first commercial barramundi culture facility pilot plant in Pakenham, Victoria.

After numerous successfully integrated commercial aquaculture projects, Rodney relocated the business to a site in Glenview, Queensland and took on the role as Managing Director of Ecofish International, growing the business up to 100 tonnes per annum of multiple premium species.

As Managing Director of RADAQUA, Rodney has gone on to consult for government agencies and research institutes to improve their aquaculture processes and facilities by utilizing his knowledge, experience and technology. RADAQUA has also constructed several commercial production facilities in Australia & overseas

Attilio SPANO: Aquaculture Hatchery & Operations Manager

Attilio has over 20 years aquaculture experience specialising in hatchery operations including three years as Hatchery Manager and Aquaculture Advisor for the K21 public hatchery in Alexandria (Egypt) for the project MADE (Marine Aquaculture Development in Egypt). Attilio will manage the new 2 million tail marine hatchery in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with effect from mid 2018.

Attilio has extensive knowledge and experience with phyto-zooplankton production techniques, use of intensive and mesocosms larval rearing techniques for several marine species (Sea Breams, Sea Bass, Mullets, Grouper, Amberjack and Bluefin Tuna reproduction), brood stocks management (from photo-thermo period to hormonal treatments), nursery procedures, use of laboratory equipment, microscopes and histological staining techniques for larval quality monitoring.

Attilio’s experiences also include the redesign and restructuring of hatchery operations to improve fingerling production, organization for international co-operations for fishery and aquaculture, responsibility for the production of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), grey mullet (Mugil caephalus) and meagre (Argyrosomus gygas) in the hatchery and training of local Egyptian staff in hatchery operations to assume roles as managers, supervisors and aquaculture technicians. He has been the institutional support for dissemination of European Regulations and Best Mediterranean Practices for a fishery project in Myanmar.

Attilio has a Bachelor of Science (Biology) degree, has completed an internship at the Aquaculture and Experimental Ecology Laboratory, University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and conducted research for the Ministry of Agriculture and University of Rome, Italy.

Robby MORT: Aquaculture Operations Manager

Robby has over 20 years’ experience in the aquaculture / public aquarium industries both in Australia and overseas. Having commissioned three large public aquaria utilizing the latest technologies in water filtration, to managing prawns ponds in semi-intensive systems, to working in fisheries research including seafood sales and marketing helps bring a range of experiences to the RADAQUA team.

He has also completed a Masters of Aquaculture (Deakin University), Bachelor of Commerce (University of Queensland), and Associate Diploma in Aquatic Resource Management (Central Queensland University).

Robby was an accreditation officer for the Australian Regional Association of Zoos and having a special interest in water quality he has studied plankton dynamics in prawn ponds in North Queensland, presented at the Aquality Symposium in Portugal and installed custom built & designed denitrification units in public aquaria.

Rohan SHELL:  Commercial Business Manager

Rohan is a Certified Practising Accountant with a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) qualification from RMIT in Melbourne.

Rohan has over 20 years’ commercial business experience with exposure to a wide range of industries (aquaculture, education, IT, media, franchising, retail, publishing, licensing, distribution, marketing and events) and a variety of business ownership structures including privately owned, publicly listed, private equity investor and family trusts.

Rohan has experience in a broad range of roles with hands on and management responsibilities across accounting/finance, HR/Payroll, IT, legal and administration functions working with stakeholders across all levels of organisations including shareholders, Boards of Directors, entrepreneurial business founders/owners, executive and non-executive management, cross functional business managers, finance and operational staff.

Rohan’s experience has been gained in a range of business sizes (specialising in small to medium business with revenues of $20 - $200 million) across domestic and international markets worldwide.