About us

Michael has over 25 years experience in the financial services industry. His career began with an opportunity to build a financial planning business, which became one of Australia’s leading independently owned advice businesses. In 2008, he successfully navigated this business through a 14 way merger creating Shadforth Financial Group, now part of one of Australia’s largest listed financial services businesses, IOOF. In 2012, Michael co-founded Peloton Partners, a business that uses his practical experience to advise other businesses on growth strategies. Michael has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2001 and Chairman since 2012.

As the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of Mainstream Aquaculture Group (Mainstream), Boris is responsible for strategic management of a large scale vertically integrated producer and supplier of Barramundi. Mainstream is one of the largest suppliers of Barramundi table fish products in Australia and is the global market leader in the provision of juvenile fish (seed stock) to the Barramundi aquaculture industry, exporting to 27 countries across five continents. Mainstream operates a multi-site business which includes the world’s largest aquaculture production facility of its type in Melbourne, Australia, three pond farming operations in far north Queensland, a pond farming operation in Arizona, USA, along with three hatcheries, including the world’s largest. Boris has been MD and CEO since 2012 and under his stewardship, company value, revenue and profitability have all increased by more than a factor of fifty.

Boris’ background is in financial services. He commenced his career in funds management business, Boutique Development and Marketing Direct and more recently, spent five years at Macquarie Group, the last two as a Director of Macquarie Global Investments. He performed multiple roles across agricultural asset management, private equity, investment banking and traditional funds management, with his final position Global Head of Sales for Macquarie’s Alternative Investments division. During his tenure, he was appointed to the Macquarie Global Investments leadership team and held a position on Macquarie’s Global Deal Assessment Committee.

Boris is a Director of the Wyndham City Refuse Disposal Facility, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association. Boris demonstrates historical experience in governance across a range of sectors and organisational types. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University and is a Deans Scholar in Finance (top 1% of graduates). He also holds a Diploma in Natural Resource Management and a Masters of Applied Finance with majors in Corporate Finance and Investment Management.

Rocky is Emeritus Professor of Aquaculture at James Cook University and Chief Scientist at Sea Forest, an Australian environmental technology company delivering world-leading production methods and products from native seaweed to materially reduce methane emissions in ruminant livestock and decarbonise the agriculture sector. He has broad research experience in aquaculture and marine and environmental biotechnology,  and algal biomass and bio-products, with a focus on commercialisation and direct and foreseeable outcomes for industry. Rocky has extensive engagement across the aquaculture industry and is actively involved in Mainstream’s program of commercially focused research and development.

Peter is an experienced strategic advisor and corporate finance practitioner with extensive strategy development and transactional experience.  He is a partner in Melbourne based boutique advisory business, Tooronga Advisory providing M&A and strategy advice to a range of clients.  Most recently Peter was CFO and Chief Development Officer or ASX-Listed, Mayne Pharma, and prior to that a Managing Director at Credit Suisse covering middle market and founder owned companies.   He has an established track record of value creation across a wide range of industries and deal contexts.

Peter is a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Spotless Group Limited, a large services company with turnover of in excess of $A3 billion. He has had extensive Australian and International experience in all aspects of management of industrial based businesses. Peter is now the principal of PAGA Consulting and an advisor to numerous private companies. PAGA Consulting, in addition to a broad range of business consulting and support activities, has specialised in the development of markets for products and services. The focus being on technologically advanced solutions at the leading edge of environmental impact. Peter also demonstrates a tenure of over 20 years as a Director and Vice-Chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and is a presiding member of the foundations Finance & Audit Committee.
Peter has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2012.

Anthony founded ASX listed company McMillian Shakespeare in 1988. Having commercialised the novated lease concept for employees to salary package a motor vehicle, Anthony was instrumental in the development of the outsourced salary packaging administration in Australia. Anthony was named the 2012 Ernst & Young Australian Entrepreneur of the year. Anthony is a fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. During Anthony’s time at McMillan Shakespeare (up until February 2014) the company grew from Anthony, as the sole employee, to an ASX 200 listed company with a market capitalisation of in excess of $1bn.
Anthony has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2015.

Stewart Baron is the owner and Managing Director of Baron Corporation.
He is on the board of Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and is Chairman of its Finance Committee He is a board member of Peter Scanlon’s private family group, Taverner, and a board member of Kaplan Equity Limited which has a particular focus on water agricultural assets Stewart belongs to the Young President’s Organisation, Melbourne Chapter as well as CEO He is also a board member of Mount Scopus Memorial College Foundation.
Stewart is married with four children.

Mark is a Chartered Accountant and currently works for PGA Management, a private family investment company, as its Commercial Director. In this role, Mark manages PGA’s corporate office, its share portfolio and provides support as an independent director to the group’s various operating businesses. Mark is also a member of PGA’s Investment, Property and Commerce Committees. Prior to joining PGA, Mark has held various senior financial executive roles in a variety of industry sectors in both listed and unlisted companies.
Mark has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2015.

Paul is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience as a business advisor and also as CFO and Company Secretary of ASX listed company, McMillan Shakespeare. Paul is currently CEO of eCapital Australia, which provides support and invests in businesses at various stages of their life cycle. Paul’s chartered accounting experience included holding the position of Partner in a leading accounting firm where he provided advice on mergers and acquisitions, taking companies to IPO, company secretarial services, statutory reporting, corporate governance practices, taxation planning and strategic planning. During Paul’s time at McMillan Shakespeare Limited the company grew from a market capitalisation of less than $50m to over $1bn.
Paul has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2015.

Paul co-founded Mainstream Aquaculture in 2001 with a vision to create an environmentally sustainable “business for the future” based on best practice aquaculture technology. Paul has worked in Australia and abroad, he holds a PhD in aquatic biology and is uniquely qualified with a strong track record in fish production across multiple species, fish hatchery operations, and research and development both in aquaculture and more broadly in marine biology. Paul has designed and commissioned numerous recirculating aquaculture systems, has an excellent understanding of the biological requirements for aquaculture, and a demonstrated capacity to merge these skills into successful commercial ventures.

As the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of Mainstream Aquaculture Group (Mainstream), Boris is responsible for strategic management of a large scale vertically integrated producer and supplier of Barramundi. Mainstream is one of the largest suppliers of Barramundi table fish products in Australia and is the global market leader in the provision of juvenile fish (seed stock) to the Barramundi aquaculture industry, exporting to 27 countries across five continents. Mainstream operates a multi-site business which includes the world’s largest aquaculture production facility of its type in Melbourne, Australia, three pond farming operations in far north Queensland, a pond farming operation in Arizona, USA, along with three hatcheries, including the world’s largest. Boris has been MD and CEO since 2012 and under his stewardship, company value, revenue and profitability have all increased by more than a factor of fifty.

Boris’ background is in financial services. He commenced his career in funds management business, Boutique Development and Marketing Direct and more recently, spent five years at Macquarie Group, the last two as a Director of Macquarie Global Investments. He performed multiple roles across agricultural asset management, private equity, investment banking and traditional funds management, with his final position Global Head of Sales for Macquarie’s Alternative Investments division. During his tenure, he was appointed to the Macquarie Global Investments leadership team and held a position on Macquarie’s Global Deal Assessment Committee.

Boris is a Director of the Wyndham City Refuse Disposal Facility, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association. Boris demonstrates historical experience in governance across a range of sectors and organisational types. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University and is a Deans Scholar in Finance (top 1% of graduates). He also holds a Diploma in Natural Resource Management and a Masters of Applied Finance with majors in Corporate Finance and Investment Management.

Matthew co-founded Mainstream Aquaculture in 2001 with a vision to become a world leader within the aquaculture industry. Matt has been integrally involved in Mainstream’s operations having project managed the construction and commissioning of Mainstreams current plants and continues to play a key role in the future direction of operations. Matt also has extensive sales experience managing all sales and customer relations for Mainstream Aquaculture between 2003 – 2015.

Marty Phillips joined Mainstream in October 2018 when Mainstream merged with PEJO Enterprises, which he built with his wife Linda, over the last 20 years. Marty has a background in agriculture: having gained an associate diploma and degree in applied science, he worked in the sugar industry as an extension officer. He also grew sugarcane, bananas and papaya on the family farm near Innisfail in North Queensland.
Two cyclones in three years prompted the diversification into aquaculture. This quickly become the main focus of the business, operated over two sites. One was developed from a ‘green field’ site 20 years ago. The other site was a rundown prawn farm purchased in 2013 and has recently completed the first stage of expansion. Marty has continually refined the way he produces Barramundi. This has resulted in numerous awards, including champion, for the quality of their fish at the prestigious Sydney Fine Food show in recent years.

Marty has been an active member of the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association (ABFA), as an executive for over 10 years, including president for 7 years. In 2010, Marty was awarded a Nuffield scholarship. In 2012 he attended the Worshipful Company of Farmers Challenge of Rural Leadership Course in the United Kingdom. Marty is looking forward to working with Mainstream through his continued compassion for growing Barramundi.

Rick joined Mainstream Aquaculture Group in early 2016 as its first CFO, his arrival timed to coincide with the construction of the landmark Wyndham RAS facility.

Rick started his career in his native Melbourne, where his first professional role was as an Industrial Engineer working for Kraft Foods in Port Melbourne, however it wasn’t long before he found his way into Finance where he worked variously over several years as a Management Accountant, Property Manager and eventually as an Internal Auditor. He then left his FMCG roots behind and went on to cut his teeth in a more structured finance role as the Corporate Accountant at the then large conglomerate Amcor Ltd, consolidating over 200 subsidiaries and taking care of complex group treasury functions. Needing new challenges Rick then packed his bag and set sail for Europe where he spent the next ten years working as a Forensic Accountant, Group Controller, head of M&A and eventually as a Finance Director. During that time he has variously based in London, Paris and Brussels with extended stints elsewhere in Western Europe and eventually the States. Initially working in logistics, the largest assignment was with the world’s largest drinks company Diageo, where he was working as head of Group FP&A at the moment that Diageo was formed through the merger of Grand Metropolitan and Guinness PLC. He then moved back to Melbourne and served as Mayne Health’s Finance Director for its sixty hospital network, was Head of FP&A for Coles Myer’s $23Billion Food, Liquor and Fuel Group, Finance Director for Linfox’s $1.2Billion ANZ Operation and CFO and then acting CEO for the Korda Mentha owned Greyhound bus lines based in Queensland.

Never one to follow a conventional path Rick has always committed himself to his passions, family being the highest of these, he took an extended sabbatical over several years to care full time for his young family. Community is also important and this has led to roles as Treasurer for the local school, Secretary for the local football club, coach for the local cricket club and Vice President, umpire, coach and chairman of selectors at the local baseball club, all of which his two children Jack and Lauren participate in.

Jess joined Mainstream in 2018, bringing hands on experience building industry leading brands and sales and marketing teams from the ground up, and selling high value products in complex, fast paced entrepreneurial environments. Jess’s work history includes building a pharmaceutical patent intelligence company from 2 to 35 people, and stints in product development, management and marketing consulting. Working for Mainstream represents the ideal juncture of his skills and passion for sustainability, aquaculture and all things fishy.