About us

The Sea Forest team is dedicated to fighting climate change by being the first in the world to cultivate Asparagopsis at a commercial scale and producing SeaFeed™ livestock supplement. Our scientists have now replicated the bioactives found naturally in this seaweed.

Composed of industry’s best scientists, the Sea Forest team is producing the highest methane abating supplement in the world by using the most effective production facilities and methodologies. Sea Forest is now producing more SeaFeed™ than ever, and as our farming, manufacturing and production operations continue to grow, so too will our positive impact on the planet.

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Stephen J Turner | Executive Chair

Stephen Turner has a record of delivering large scale greenfields projects. He co-founded International Ferro Metals; a mining and smelting company which produces 4% of global ferrochrome supply and was listed on the LSE. For seven years Stephen was its CEO. He was also a founding director of South American Ferro Metals, a Brazilian iron ore producer that was listed on the ASX where he was CEO for three years. Until 2014 Stephen was also a non-executive director of Iluka, the world’s biggest producer of zircon.

Sam Elsom | CEO

Sam Elsom is a passionate environmentalist with over 15 years experience in sustainability. Having founded one of Australia’s first sustainable apparel businesses to measuring social and environmental impact across supply chains as well as implementing a satellite factory in India to support poor communities with income, training, clean water and education. Sam was drawn to explore seaweed cultivation for its impressive capacity to sequester CO2 as a potential solution to reverse Climate Change.

Dion Cohen | CFO

Dion is a chartered accountant with an investment banking and private equity background. Over the past 15 years, he has specialised in CFO roles with a focus on assisting companies to reach the next level in their growth life cycle, though effective capital raisings, outstanding financial modelling and professional corporate reporting, as well as the establishment and maintaining of effective, streamlined finance functions to support growth.

 

Professor Emeritus Rocky de Nys | Chief Scientific Officer

As the Chief Scientist and Emeritus Professor within the College of Science and Engineering at James Cook University in Nth QLD, Rocky works broadly across the fields of algal biology, chemistry, and aquaculture. An advocate for building sustainable organisations to address real-world problems, Rocky has played an instrumental role in the discovery of Asparagopsis for methane abatement having either authored or co-authored seminal scientific papers on Asparagopsis. Rocky brings leadership, experience and practical know-how to the Sea Forest team.

Dr Marie Magnusson | Science Lead

Dr. Marie Magnusson has over 10 years of experience in the fields of applied algal biology, biochemistry, and product development. Specific research interests are algal product development for food, feed, and human and animal health applications in circular bioeconomy models, and the use of seaweed for enteric methane mitigation in ruminants. She is the Program Leader for the Macroalgal Biotechnology Enterprises at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, where she leads a team focussing on the development of a sustainable seaweed aquaculture industry in NZ.

Shane McHugh | General Manager

Shane has spent over 30 years working in and around the ocean in commercial diving, wild catch fisheries and aquaculture. Having studied at the University of Tasmania, Shane has worked with a myriad of species across his career bringing to Sea Forest significant expertise across many facets of commercial aquaculture. Experienced in hatchery techniques, production, harvesting, processing and product development, Shane is uniquely skilled in production and processing across both marine and land-based farming systems.

Dr Masa Tatsumi | Head of Research and Development

Before joining Sea Forest as the head of research and development Masa spent many years as a researcher for the University of Tasmania studying ecological impacts of climate change as well as the rehabilitation and conservation of coastal and estuarine environments. Masa brings a wealth of seaweed knowledge having completed his doctorate on dynamic resilience and stability of Ecklonia as well as having spent years cultivating Macrocystis to restore Tasmania’s kelp forests at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.

Teresa Garces | Financial Controller

Teresa brings to Sea Forest over 15 years of experience as a Group Financial Controller. Having worked in financial leadership roles across various industries, including companies listed on the ASX and LSE. She is a dedicated and passionate advocate for the environment, having worked on other sustainability ventures.

Erica Maginnis | Head of People and Culture

Erica is a passionate environmentalist who for the last seven years has developed her skills working as the people and development manager at the Wilderness Society. She has a strong track record across the full range of HR generalist functions, including the development and delivery of strategic HR initiatives.

Dr Louise Edwards | Head of Product Development and Regulatory Affairs

Louise as Head of Product Development brings a wealth of knowledge across the feed to food supply chain. She has significant experience across multiple functions including applied research, regulatory affairs, quality management and technical business development. Louise is agile in her approach having worked across diverse commercial environments, including companies listed on the ASX and private enterprises.

We’re making waves.