Dr Jeremy Helson
Chief Executive
Dr Jeremy Helson joined Seafood New Zealand following six years as chief executive of Fisheries Inshore New Zealand where he represented the interests of the inshore finfish sector.
Prior to working in the seafood industry, Dr Helson spent 10 years in fisheries management at the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Earlier in his career, he was a post-doctoral fellow at Tokyo University of Fisheries and spent time as a consultant marine biologist and lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington.
Dr Helson also holds a Bachelor of Laws and is an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court.
Karen Olver
GM Business Operations and Service Delivery
Karen has worked in the seafood industry since 1987. She has held various roles at the Ministry of Fisheries and Fishserve including five years as a Fisheries Compliance Officer, work as a Senior Registry Officer, Fisheries Private Secretary to Hon John Luxton and Senior Business Analyst working on the implementation of the 1996 Fisheries Act.
Karen now works to support the Seafood New Zealand organisation and the wider industry.
Cathy Webb
GM Seafood Standards and Market Access
Cathy started her career in the seafood industry in 1989, primarily involved in shellfish quality assurance. This led to a move into provision of seafood consultancy services in the areas of food safety, risk management programme development and evaluation, and training services.
At Seafood New Zealand, Cathy is the executive officer of the Seafood Standards Council, facilitating dialogue between the industry and the regulator in the food safety and market access space and providing advice to the seafood industry. Cathy’s role also includes assisting the industry with workforce development.
Cathy currently holds a director position on the board of the Primary ITO and Muka Tangata, People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council.
Fiona MacMillan
GM Communications and Marketing
Fiona MacMillan is a communications professional who comes from a background in broadcast journalism that includes roles at TVNZ, and Newshub and global leadership experience at international business news outlet CNBC. Fiona has a deep passion for the ocean which was fostered by her time at New Zealand's largest and oldest seafood company Sanford.
Fiona is experienced in crisis communications, government relations, investor relations, stakeholder engagement, internal communications, industry relations and media relations. She has led teams large and small, in newsrooms across New Zealand and diverse international teams spread across EMEA, the US and Asia.