Our Team

The AFANT Executive, Committee and Staff…

A driven and effective team

Our Committee (Board) are volunteers elected by the members of our association, and are collectively responsible for the strategic direction, governance and oversight of the organisation. Our Chief Executive Officer and Administration Officer comprise our dynamic, and highly effective office team, and their operational capacity is complemented by skilled volunteers from our Committee and broad membership.

A message from our President…

I would like to acknowledge that over a period of four decades, AFANT’s legacy and accomplishments are in no small part due to the dedication and commitment of our incredible community and our members. It requires no exaggeration on my part, to say that here in the NT, we are the envy of so many Australian recreational fishers. This is not only because of the high quality and diverse fishing experiences we have on offer, but also due to the genuine community leadership of our sector. I pay tribute to all the volunteers, the individuals from all walks of life, our staff, the businesses, and the fishing clubs that have contributed to a history we can all be very proud of.  -AFANT President, Warren de With

The AFANT Executive Committee

Warren de With

PRESIDENT

Life Member Warren de With is the long serving President of AFANT, having first been elected to the position in 2001.  Warren is successful businessperson, fishing tackle store owner, and active community member.

Warren not only presides over the AFANT Committee, he is an active representative on the RFAC, water advisory committees, as well as a representative role to  NT Government and other organisations.  Warren has a regular guest role on the ABC radio program ‘Tales from the Tinny’ where he provides updates to listeners.

When he is not busy with AFANT, Warren can be found chasing trophy barramundi at the Roper or Victoria Rivers, or competitively camp-drafting

 

Dennis Smart

VICE PRESIDENT

Dennis Smart is a Life Member and long serving Executive member.  He has been Vice President since 2016, he served as Treasurer from 2007-2013, and prior to this volunteered as a committee member and PGFC representative. 

Dennis brings with him a wealth of knowledge in finance and governance as the owner and operator of a financial services business.

Dennis is an active member of the Palmerston Game Fishing Club and participates in their many events including the ‘Buddy Boats Day’ and the ‘Barra Nationals’.  He also volunteers his time to help enable fishing for therapy groups.  Dennis enjoys varied fishing experiences with a particular love of off-shore reef fishing as well as chasing barramundi.

Rocky Edwards

TREASURER & PUBLIC OFFICER

Roxsean “Rocky” Edwards is a long term Territorian with broad experience in Executive Management in media, television and news production.

For many years, Rocky has  proactively volunteered on various community based committees and boards. Rocky is also a member of the NT Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, the Offshore Net and Line Advisory Group and the Aquarium Fishery Management Advisory Committee.

As an avid local angler, Rocky has enjoyed success in competing in a range of recreational fishing tournaments in the Northern Territory, as well as in Victoria and Queensland.

Evan Dixon

SECRETARY

Evan Dixon is an experienced educator with the Northern Territory Government and has been teaching in primary schools for the last ten years. 

Evan brings with him skills in communication, organisation, and creativity. He is an important part of the AFANT Research Tagging Program, as the sub-committee coordinator and active fish tagger.  Evan has taken a lead role with various junior fishing clinics with customised educational opportunities.

When he isn’t working or with his young family, Evan is likely to be knee deep in the mud at Shoal Bay chasing barramundi or perhaps heading across Fog Bay to fish the bluewater.

Josie Short

ASSIST. SECRETARY & TREASURER

Josie Short is a civil lawyer with a passion for social justice. Josie currently works in Hobart but is a born and bred Territorian who will always call the Northern Territory home.

Josie is a highly valued member of the AFANT Executive and brings her qualification in corporate  governance, attention to detail, and her knowledge of the law to the Committee.

Now that Josie is residing in chilly Hobart, she has had to swap her love of fishing for Barra in the Daly river / South Alligator for trout fishing in picturesque rainforests around Tasmania.

 

AFANT Elected Committee

Brent Murdoch

Alastair Shields

Geoff Bird

Stewart Odgers

Megan Brown

Glenn Watt

AFANT Staff

Chief Executive Officer David Ciaravolo joined AFANT at the beginning of 2017. Having worked previously as Executive Director at RecFish SA, David has over seven years experience as a leader in the  recreational fishing sector.

David is driven to ensure AFANT professionally and effectively represents the NT recreational fishing sector in fisheries management, as well as to all levels of government and the private sector. He is passionate about capacity building in the rec fishing community and has played a mentor role to future leaders at the national level.

As a passionate fisher from a young age, David worked his way through high school and uni at tackle stores and as a fishing writer. As a boy, David’s addiction to fishing began with trout, but having fished around Australia and other parts of the world, his fishing passions now encompass all types of fishing especially for freshwater predators and bluewater pelagics.

Joanne Rudd is the Projects and Administration Office and has been a part of the AFANT team since 2017.  Jo is an experienced administrator and takes great pride in running an efficient, positive, creative and dynamic office environment.  With a passion for efficiency and creative solutions, Joanne also contributes greatly to the delivery of AFANT’s projects and events.

Joanne is an avid fisher, life-long Territorian and loves nothing more than being part of the NT’s natural environment, especially if catching Barramundi, or her other passion, tempting Northern Saratoga to take a lure.

The AFANT Office

Located at Stuart Park, the new AFANT HQ is only a stones throw from the Dianh Beach Boat Ramp. Find out more >

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