The Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources has appointed Anna Willock to the role of acting CEO of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), commencing 24 November.
Replacing Dr James Findlay, who will be taking up the role of director at Parks Australia, Willock has over 20 years’ experience in marine fisheries management in Australia, through the Pacific region and internationally. She first worked for AFMA in its infancy in 1992, mainly in the then South East Trawl Fishery, later serving in a senior policy role.
According to AFMA, Willock is “looking forward to reconnecting across the many agencies and organisations that are key to fisheries management and compliance, both domestically and internationally, and to continue delivering sustainably-managed fisheries for Australia.”
Vast experience
Willock has previously been fisheries management advisor with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency. Based in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Willock was part of the team supporting the Pacific Island countries during negotiation of the treaty establishing the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
Other notable roles include marine fisheries advisor at TRAFFIC International and leading Australia’s international fisheries engagement through various regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) at the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR).
More recently, Willock has been working at the senior executive level in DAWR in various policy and programme roles, including drought assistance; concessional loans programs for farm businesses; reviewing legislation underpinning agricultural levies; and examining policy settings impacting the Australian dairy industry.
AFMA commented that with a career spanning more than twenty years in fisheries and resource management, aquaculture and marine science, Dr Findlay leaves AFMA in great shape, having achieved five consecutive years where all fisheries solely managed by the agency have not been subject to over fishing.
