The Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) has announced the judging panel for the 2011 Club Marine Australian Marine Industry Export Awards and all are names familiar in the boating world.

“It’s important to maintain some consistency in regard to the judging of these awards,” stated AIMEX CEO MaryAnne Edwards.

The judges will this year be Barry Jenkins, a well-known marine industry personality; Ian Murray, CEO of the Australian Export Institute; John Savage - J.J.Savage & Sons; Ken Evans, previously Mercury Marine and currently working in the industry as a consultant and Peter Ironmonger, a senior representative from Austrade who has considerable experience and understanding of the marine sector.

Barry Jenkins has been associated with the marine industry in Queensland for many years. He currently consults to the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show and Yacht & Boat Korea in the area of international relations and product development.

Industry involvement includes past president of Marine Queensland, past president of the Australian Marine Industries Federation, founding chairman of Super Yacht Base Australia and he is long-term Director on the AIMEX board.

At the Australian Marine Industry Awards 2009, Jenkins was presented a Highly Commended award for Export Industry Champion.

Ian Murray is Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Australian Institute of Export. He represents Australia’s SME sector exporters to the Commonwealth and State Governments and manages a broad range of international trade education programs.

Murray was appointed to the Australian Government’s Trade Advisory Council in 2007. He is deputy chairman and treasurer of the Australian Logistics Council (Australia’s peak logistics body), treasurer of the European Australian Business Council, director of Tradegate and a director of the Freight Council of NSW.

In 2008, Murray was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to international business.

John Savage managed his family business J.J.Savage & Sons for 20 years and has worked in all levels of manufacturing in both Fibreglass and Aluminium boat plants. He has a strong knowledge and background in marine export, with his company being very successful in exporting to the world for over 20 years.

Ken Evans is an industry identity and founder of Western Marine. He subsequently joined Mercury Marine and remained as an employee until a short intermission with Leyland Australia. His most recent role at Mercury Marine was as director of government liaison & training services NZ and Pacific until his retirement.

Evans has had many milestones in his Mercury career, including being involved with the formation of "OEDA" (Outboard Engine Distributors Association) in 1991, which represents the outboard industry with government.

He has had a long and distinguished career and since his retirement from Mercury, Evans has had a consultancy contract covering training and OEDA representation.

Peter Ironmonger is a senior export adviser to exporters in the marine, automotive and other advanced manufacturing sectors. Based in Sydney, he is a member of Austrade's Global Marine Industry Network and has over 17 years’ experience assisting Australian exporters from a wide range of industry sectors achieve success in international business.

Ironmonger has worked with exporters in the Australian marine sector for 10 years, established Austrade's China Marina team in 2003 and was closely involved in the Australian Pavilion at the China International Boat Show and a number of marine related projects whilst working in China.

Judging is conducted across five categories ‘Most Innovative Marine Industry product or service’, ‘Marine Industry Export Industry Champion’, ‘Marine Industry Young Achiever’, ‘Best Marine Industry Export Performance’ (small, medium and large) and ‘Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy’.

The aggregate scores from each company for these individual categories will be added together to determine the ‘2011 Marine Industry Exporter of the Year’.

AIMEX 2011 Club Marine Australian Marine Industry Export Awards application forms and further information are available at www.aimex.asn.au. Once again, AIMEX anticipates a very positive response to these awards.