Founder & CEO

Ben is a visionary aquafarmer and environmental engineer with over 15 years’ experience working across coastal, regional, and Indigenous communities in Australia. He is the founder of Blue Water Farms and the innovator behind the OysterPod farming system — a practical, low-impact aquaculture solution that is now being adopted across diverse marine environments in Australia and the Pacific.

Ben has held roles within local government and Aboriginal Land Councils, where he worked on infrastructure, environmental design, and Indigenous-led enterprise development. He has played a key role in establishing and supporting successful ranger programs, and has led on-ground environmental projects across coastal zones, and aquaculture systems.

His approach is hands-on, collaborative, and grounded in lived experience — drawing on years of working directly with Country, community, and farmers. Ben brings both technical and strategic expertise to every challenge, from designing aquaculture systems to solving biofouling, climate adaptation, and industry bottlenecks.

As a respected leader in the industry, and the current Treasurer of the QLD Oyster Growers Association, Ben works closely with researchers, engineers, and oyster farmers to co-design, test, and refine solutions that can scale sustainably — and perform in high-energy marine environments of Australia, the Pacific, and beyond.

Co-founder & Project Advisor

Che is a trusted advisor with over 15 years’ experience in Aboriginal land rights, sacred sites, and cultural heritage governance. With a background in law, Che has worked as both a solicitor and barrister for the Solicitor for the Northern Territory, specialising in Aboriginal Land Rights (ALRA), Native Title, and the protection of sacred sites.

He has held senior roles across government and statutory authorities, including Director of Governance at the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, and as the Northern Territory Government’s representative on the COAG investigation into economic development on Aboriginal land. Che has also managed leasing arrangements under the ALRA and the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, including land agreements with the Director of Parks Australia.

With a deep commitment to Indigenous empowerment and sustainable development, Che brings expert knowledge of land and sea tenure, cultural protocols, and policy reform. He has led programs focused on unlocking economic opportunity on Aboriginal land, including his former role as Manager of Economic Development for the NT Department of the Chief Minister.

As a Co-founder of Blue Water Farms, Che supports industry stakeholders to design pathways for land-based and sea-based enterprise that uphold cultural authority and support long-term community benefit.

Co-founder & Partnerships

Phil has spent over twenty years in leadership roles across non-profit and for-purpose organisations, building impactful partnerships and delivering high-value outcomes in regional and remote Australia, and the Pacific.

He helped launch Climate Friendly, one of Australia’s most successful carbon farming companies that supports landholders and Traditional Owners to deliver environmental and economic outcomes at scale.

Phil was the founding CEO of the Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation, where he spent over a decade establishing social enterprises, delivering capital works projects, and coordinating long-term community development programs. During this time, he also directed the iconic Freedom Day Festival, celebrating Aboriginal land and sea rights.

He continues to consult across sectors, including as a Director of Good Projects Australia, and his long-standing role with the University of Melbourne School of Design’s multi-award-winning Bower Studio. He regularly advises government, First Nations groups, and philanthropy, on community enterprise, infrastructure and aquaculture.

As a Co-founder of Blue Water Farms, Phil brings strategic leadership, lived experience, and a deep commitment to environmental, social and economic development.