Election Results Announced for NSW Wild Harvest Fishers Inc. Inaugural Board

At approximately 6:00pm on 28 March 2025, NSW Wild Harvest Fishers Inc. announced the official results of its inaugural Board election via email to its members.

Elected Board Representatives by Region:

• Region 1 – John Joblin

• Region 2 – Troy Billin

• Region 3 – Gregory Eden, Geoffrey Blackburn

• Region 4A – Phillip Byrnes

• Region 4B – Ross Fidden, Allan Reed

• Region 5 – Paul Sullivan, Gary Howard

• Region 6 – Darren Mayer, Scott Westley

• Region 7 – Jason Moyce, Esmay Hropic

The results confirm representation across all designated regions, with multiple representatives elected in zones that met the 10-member threshold. However, no details have been provided regarding the vote tally, whether elections were contested, or if any nominees were elected unopposed.

Election Framework According to the Constitution:

The Constitution of NSW Wild Harvest Fishers Inc. outlines the structure and process for Board elections. Clause 14 specifies that each region may elect one or two Board members, depending on the number of ordinary members in that region. Nominees must reside in the region they seek to represent and have written support from at least three eligible ordinary members. Clause 33 permits elections to be conducted by postal or electronic ballot. For this election, the TrueVote platform was used.

Request for Transparency:

A formal request for transparency has been submitted to CEO Chris Melham and Chair John Wilson.

As a fully paid member of the Association, I have formally requested that full details of the election process be made available to all members. This includes information on how nominations were received and assessed (including any that were rejected), as well as how votes were submitted, counted, and verified. Transparency in these matters is essential to maintaining trust and confidence in the integrity of the process.