Paul McLaughlin (Chair)
Paul is the Managing Director of Desert Farms and BIG RED Produce, and took on the Chair responsibility of Melons Australia in 2020. Paul has been growing melons for 25 years, currently producing seedless Watermelons in Ali Curung, NT. Paul has been on the Melons Australia Board for 15 years and is also an active Director of NT Farmers.
Matt Ryan
Matt is a melon farmer in Red Cliffs, Victoria, and growers rockmelon, honeydew, Piel de Sapo, Dino melons and a number of other varieties throughout the summer months. Matt has been growing melons for 22 years and joined the Melons Australia Board in late 2020 as a grower member.
Leith Plevey
Leith is a secondary sector member of the Melons Australia Board, and has been with Syngenta Australian and New Zealand for over 16 years. Leith has been on the Melons Australia Board for 4 years, and since 2016 has been Syngenta’s Product Development Specialist for Cucurbits (including melons).
Sam Clayfield
Sam joined the Melons Australia Board in September 2022 following his appointment at the AGM. Sam is the Customer Marketing Manager at BASF Nunhems, leading the strategy and marketing for their ANZ business as well as working with partners throughout the value chain to successfully bring Nunhems varieties to market. Sam brings years of knowledge and experience across the horticulture sector and previously worked at both AUSVEG and PMA, bringing Peak Body experience to the Board.
Steven Skruzny
Steven Skruzny is the Executive General Manager of Melons, Pumpkin & Soft Vegetables at Premier Fresh Australia, one of the nation’s leading fresh produce supply chain companies.
With over 25 years of experience in the Australian fresh produce industry, Steven has built a comprehensive understanding of the sector from farm to retail. His background spans roles in commercial account management, retail, and end-to-end category management, complemented by extensive leadership across sales and operations.
Since joining Premier Fresh Australia in 2008, Steven has led several positions through each aspect of the supply chain. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and remains passionate about advancing the Australian melon industry for the future.Luca D'Arsié (Treasurer)
I became a member of the Melons Australia Board in late 2023 following the AGM. I have been with SMA Marketing for four years. Currently, I serve as the Sales Development Manager at SMA, concentrating on sales and strategic planning to optimize returns for our growers across their whole crop.
Shaun Jackson
Shaun Jackson may be a latecomer to farming but he’s making up for lost time. He exports specialty melons to Japan, is passionate about on-farm sustainability, and is one of the first melon growers to join a world-first initiative that lets consumers pre-buy fruit in return for a slice of the profit.
Shaun grows watermelons and honeydew on around 200 hectares of drip line plastic at Lakeland on the southern end of Cape York Peninsula, with weekly plantings of 4-7 hectares per week.
