Hunter manufacturer, Brain Industries, has appointed Peter Sanderson to head its new Moda Marine division.
Managing Director, Gillian Summers, said Peter’s skills and experience are perfect for the new General Manager role after Brain acquired and relocated the business from Queensland this year.
Gillian said in its new home, Moda Marine will initially focus on the design and building of high-end aluminium leisure and fishing boats as well as catamarans and mono hulls. It also provides maintenance and repairs on all boats and vessels.
“A number of Brain’s staff have specific experience in the marine sector, with many having worked for Forgacs as well as with other boat vessel manufacturers,” Gillian said.
“Moda Marine is a well-known brand and Brain will bring its rigorous focus on research and development, design, and quality to offer an even better boating experience for customers.”
“In making gun, next level Moda boats, we borrow from the world of extreme boating while maintaining winning levels of opulence and performance,” Gillian said.
Gillian explained that Newcastle has a rich boating history that can again be important to the local economy.
“We are proud to be re-floating the marine build industry in the region,” she said.
“Changes in the resources sector and COVID-19 impacts have highlighted that our region needs to continue to diversify its manufacturing sector to create skilled jobs for local people,” Gillian finished.
Peter brings 30 years of experience in ship building, manufacturing, engineering, construction and sales and service. Including four years spent working for Forgacs on the Australian Warfare Destroyer Project for the Royal Australian Navy and four years as Dock Yard Manager at Forgacs’ Newcastle Floating Dock.
In the late 1980s Peter worked at Kooragang Island as a Foreman Shipwright constructing the modular ANZAC Frigate blocks. More recently, he has worked for Yamba Welding & Engineering building and delivering patrol vessels to Australian Government agencies. Prior to that he was a Sales Manager for Newcastle’s Terrace Boating.
Starting his career as an Apprentice Ship and Boat Builder at the Carrington Slipways, Peter went on to manufacture fiberglass boats at Sundance Boats. He has also had relevant roles with Varley Engineering and as Operations Manager for the world’s largest fishing tackle company, Pure Fishing.
For 13 years Peter owned and ran Lake Macquarie based Fisherman’s Warehouse which provided spare parts for marine vessels and scheduled maintenance on vessels’ electronic and electrical systems.
Moda already has new orders and has begun building aluminium boats at Brain’s Carrington engineering workshop.
Brain Industries won the Small Manufacturer of the Year Award in the 2021 Hunter Manufacturing Awards.
IMAGE | Moda General Manager, Peter Sanderson.
