 Board of Directors and Management
Philip Ridyard - Managing Director
A journalist, Philip was regional editor of the Morning Advertiser, the world’s only daily liquor industry newspaper, from 1984-1990, when he set up Philip Ridyard Public Relations, a specialist consultancy to the brewing, hospitality and drinks sector.
Among his clients were Guinness Brewing; Allied-Domecq; the Rank Group; Vaux Group; Eldridge Pope, and a number of regional family brewers.
His most notable achievement was devising a branding and public relations strategy for the start-up Tom Cobleigh family restaurant chain which enabled the founders to float on the London Stock Exchange - at $140m - in three years. Within 12 months the business had been sold for $250m.
In 1991 he was engaged by Merlin Associates (Europe) to promote the launch of Bushman’s Australian Vodka into the UK. He has a record in the successful brand building of new products and concepts.
Since arriving in Tasmania in 1999, Philip has been public affairs manager with the ASX-listed Forest Enterprises Australia Ltd and a consultant to a number of food brand and processing businesses in Tasmania and Victoria.
Throughout his career, he has built an enviable record of successful delivery. His skills have been much sought after and he has helped raise millions of dollars and add value for clients with his clear, proactive, and often unique strategies.
Michael Turner - Non-Executive Chairman
Mike is an executive and non-executive director of a number of Australian and overseas businesses. He is managing director of the Polymeric Group of companies and International Director of Poly Systems Pty. Ltd., a research and development company. He is currently in his fourth consecutive term as National President of the Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN) and was a member of the Region North Economic Development Group, in Tasmania, from 1996-2004. Mike has enormous experience in establishing and servicing export markets coupled with a manufacturing background. Bill Carbray - Production Director - Non-Executive
Director of Australian Finance and Insurance Pty. Ltd., Bill was responsible for developing a unique, proprietary software package enabling the consolidation of personal finances.
A former teacher with a degree in Applied Physics from Curtin University, Bill has established, built and sold a number of start-up businesses in Western Australia and Tasmania. He moved to Tasmania in 1988 as a financial and insurance advisor with National Mutual and Legal & General before founding AFI in 1993. Donna Ridyard - Trade Relations Donna’s primary skills lie in customer liaison, event management and hospitality. She was managing director of her own contract catering business in the UK for many years, with international pharmaceutical, accountancy and consultancy firms among her clients. Donna has extensive experience in retailing, tourism, customer service and market research, and re-developed, and ran, an award-winning hotel in the UK. Michael Fruin - Production Mike will oversee production at The Tamar Distillery, Beauty Point. He has joined Strait Brands after five years as co-ordinator of a Federal Government-funded employment programme selecting, training and mentoring clients in the small business sector. His previous experience includes supervising production in chemical plants and the management of risk, human resources and occupational health and safety. He is a former executive director of the Tasmanian Logging Association. |
