Leadership and Teamwork Commended at National Industry Awards

Maclab is pleased to announce the recent recognition of the Vanguard vessel crew, who received the Community Award sponsored by Aquaculture Direct at the Marine Farming Association Conference 2025. This accolade underscores the dedication and meaningful contributions of our team within both the aquaculture industry and local communities.

This success reflects the exemplary leadership of Stoney Bourke, Manager of Vanguard Operations, and his teams. Both Stoney and Callan Kotua, one of our highly skilled skippers, accepted the award on behalf of all Vanguard crew members. Their acceptance symbolises the collective commitment to excellence and community engagement.

The Vanguard crew prioritises community involvement—hosting school groups aboard, providing work experience opportunities for students, and participating in social media campaigns and other outreach initiatives that introduce young individuals to fulfilling careers in aquaculture. Under Stoney’s guidance, the teams consistently demonstrate readiness to support, educate, and inspire.

Through the combined efforts of every crew member, the Vanguard vessel continues to make a positive impact by building awareness of the industry and inspiring the next generation of marine farmers.

Congratulations to Stoney, Callan, and the entire Vanguard crew who demonstrate what can be achieved when professional passion aligns with a spirit of generosity and openness. We are proud to see their achievements recognised.

Furthermore, we would also like to congratulate some of our partners who also featured at MFA 2025. Alistair Simmons from Waimana Marine was recipient of the “Recent Entrant” award, while Alistair, on behalf of Waimana Marine and Julian Goulding of Channel Marine respectively presented talks on various MFA sponsored research projects they have led.