ABOUT OOM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Certified organic by NASAA, ACO/BFA, IFOAM & AQIS since 2001, the Kailis Organic Olive Groves group of companies comprises one of the largest organic horticultural contractors in Australia, namely Organic Olive Management Limited.
OOM currently has 1500ha under organic management with a full horticultural team in place. OOM has a board of directors whose focus is providing the best conditions for the operation team to deliver yield and results to our shareholders.
Chairman - Neil Smith CA AICD
Neil is a Chartered Accountant with more than 17 years' professional experience in Australia and Europe. He also spent a number of years in commerce with Rural Press Limited,which gave him the opportunity to visit a large number of regional and rural locations in Australia and New Zealand, thus developing a stronger appreciation of agricultural sectors generally.
Neil was the Managing Partner of the Western Australian Partnership of PKF Chartered Accountants for the past three years. He is a director of PKF Australia and continues as a partner with PKF in the areas of audit and corporate services.
Prof. Lynette Abbott, B.Sc. (Hons) PhD. (Monash)
Lynette Abbott has considerable corporate and professional experience in her roles as Head of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, where as President of the WA Branch of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and as Federal President of the Australian Soil Science Society. Additionally, she chaired the organising committee for a major international conference that was both a financial and academic success. Lynette has alos efficiently managed substantial external research funds for more than 25 years.
Lee Verios, LLB
Lee has more than 25 years commercial legal experience in Perth. In 1982, he merged his practice with Parker & Parker which, at the time, was Perth’s oldest and largest law firm. In 1985, Lee was appointed Managing Partner of the firm, a position he held for five years.
He then established a niche practice advising Australian companies doing business in South East Asia particularly in Indonesia.
In 1994, Lee formed his own legal consultancy practice and became very much involved with the WA Agri-business sector advising grower groups throughout the State on a number of diverse commercialisation projects.
In 2001, Lee joined the international law firm Deacons, and in April 2002 was appointed Managing Partner of its Perth Office.
Paul Thompson
Paul has over 40 years experience in agri-business including horticulture, viticulture, grain growing and beef cattle production. After completing his formal education at Aquinas College, Paul joined his parents in their farming enterprise. He has held positions as Director and shareholder of a number of mining and earth moving companies, further expanding his experience and business interests. He has also held a variety of Board positions with the Wine Industry Association of WA, Australian Regional Winemakers Forum and the Wine Grape Growers Australia Council.
Paul continues to play an active role in his local community, having held positions as Councillor and Vice President and Chief Fire Control Officer in the Shire of Boyup Brook. He has served on committees of local organisations over many years, including the Boyup Brook Golf Club, Boyup Brook St John Ambulance Association, Collie Aero Club and Manjimup Aero Club.
Mark Kailis – Managing Director
Mark has 18 years viticulture and over 20 years agribusiness experience. Mark has been growing olives and producing extra virgin olive oil on a commercial scale and marketing it for the past fourteen years. During this period he has grown olives both conventionally and organically and processed olive oil, from traditional basket press to modern two phase centrifuge extraction methods. Between 1994 and 2000 Mark was General Manager of Baldivis Estate Wines.
From 2001 onwards he has been Managing Director of Kailis Organic Olive Grove Ltd. During his time at Baldivis Estate the winery received Non GMO status, recognized in Australia by NASAA and internationally by Cert ID, making it the first non GMO wine in the world.
Mark has extensive international selling experience, particularly in Europe and the USA. Mark currently sits on many judging panels for Extra Virgin Olive Oil including the national panel for the Australian Olives Association (Australian Olive Peak Body) national competition 2005, 2006, 2007, & 2008.
