Gather By Team Hive

Matt Blomfield Gather By Bees Founder
Matt Blomfield
Chief Executive Officer
Chair of the Board, Executive Director, Founder

Matt is the passionate and visionary founder of Gather By. He has a successful track record in conceptualising and actualising innovative companies – from start-ups to initial public offerings while securing large-scale global projects. CEO of publicly listed and private companies, he has purpose, passion and persistence in pursuit of this food security initiative.

While Matt is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the Company, his current revenue generating duties include Manager of Sales, Business Development and New Product Development. Matt’s expertise lies in building stakeholder value, having developed this new business model where all stakeholders in the supply chain benefit, including the natural environment.

Dr. Marc Cohen

Dr. Marc Cohen

Professor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor

Director - Research, Education, & Product Development

Dr. Marc is a medical doctor, university professor, author, poet, entrepreneur, wellness trailblazer and perpetual student of life with degrees in western medicine, physiology and psychological medicine and PhDs in Chinese medicine and electrical and computer systems engineering. He has been researching and practicing integrative medicine for over 30 years and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers on wellness-related topics.

Dr. Marc’s role with Gather By is to re-imagine traditional honey-based medicines that include electuaries (herb-infused honeys), jun (fermented honey tea), oxymels (honey-vinegar herbal blends), switchels (sport and performance drinks made with vinegar and honey), herbal-honey pearls, condiments, gummies and lozenges, along with a range of therapeutic skin care, wound care and animal care products.

Dr. Marc also coordinates Gather By’s research projects that include collaborating with a number of universities on growing therapeutic herbs in medicinal honey forests, honey quality and clinical research.

 

Dr Alan Ellis

Dr. Alan Ellis
Director - Strategy, Compliance & HR

Allan is an innovator, teacher, communicator and veteran of the Northern Rivers. He currently is chair of the board of two North Coast NFP companies that provide disability services and education and training. Recently retired as Director of Research for the School of Commerce and Management at Southern Cross University. During his career he has held a range of board positions.

Allan provides substantial knowledge and wisdom to the board and is a passionate shareholder and enthusiastic marketer.

 

Dr Gary Ewart Gather By Bees Byron Bay

Dr Gary Ewart
Director - Chief Science Officer

Gary holds a Bachelor of Science, PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (Australian National University). Twenty-five years’ experience as a research scientist in the field of membrane protein structure and function (University of Oregon & John Curtin School of Medical Research). Currently; senior scientist at Biotron Limited (ASX:BIT), an Australian biotechnology company focussed on the development of novel antiviral drugs.

Gary provides sound, analytical wisdom to complex business challenges across R&D and all disciplines of the company, always questioning for completeness and accuracy.

 

Tony Stubley Gather By Bees

Tony Stubley
Director

Tony has a successful background in marketing, and has built and monetised innovative, high-value multi-million dollar brands. An entrepreneur, volunteer firefighter, farmer and a recognised, successful businessman living in the Northern Rivers, Tony is always innovating.

Tony brings a pragmatic independent approach to the board, a shareholder with strong, sound business experience.

 

Lee Vakas Gather By bees
Lee Vakas
Finance, Accounting Manager
Lee holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Finance and has post-graduate qualifications in Applied Finance and Investment.
He provides financial management, corporate advisory services and develops innovative financial and plant modelling for the company. Lee prepares company secretarial services, financial accounts for the Board, assists in procuring government funding and is also involved with exports, documentation and compliance.

 

Reece Ryan Gather By bees

Reece Ryan
Operations, Production & Distribution Manager
Reece has extensive senior operations management experience in the therapeutic and complementary healthcare industries, including responsibility for TGA and FDA regulatory compliance.
He is responsible for the overall operation of day-to-day activities on site, managing the supply and acquisition of honey, packaging/consumables and the production and distribution of the finished product domestically and internationally

 

Martin Brown Gather By bees
Martin Brown
Plants, Farming & Quality Assurance Manager

Martin holds a BSc Hons degree and was responsible for identifying, geocoding and commercialising the highly-active Leptospermum plants that produce Gather By’s high MGO honey.

He oversees the propagation and plant logistics from licensed nurseries, Medicinal Honey Forest (MHF) design, development, installation and honey production. He manages and implements plant breeding and development program/s, fodder selection, sourcing, and integration into MHFs. He ensures compliance with relevant food safety standards, including HACCP, BQual, Halal and Dept of Primary Industries.

 

Holly Streader
Channel Manager (UK & EU)

Holly has a background in training and education and a history with Gather By that goes back to its beginnings in 2014 when she lived in Australia. Holly is delighted to continue her connection with Gather By as its Channel Manager (UK & EU).

Holly is taking Gather By to the UK and EU markets, establishing and expanding brand presence in this burgeoning market. She is responsible for identifying, importing and working with select wholesalers and retailers in the region to promote and sell Gather By’s world-premium therapeutic and medicinal honey. 

 

David Blomfield 

David Blomfield  B. Eng. Civil
 MHF Design, Engineering & Implementation
David has a degree in engineering and has 35 years experience in small to large scale irrigation design and project management including the Murray Basin scheme, exploration and managing large farm assets.
David’s role is to work with Traditional Owner’s, farmers and growers to install successful Medicinal Honey Forest’s and produce high-MGO Australian Manuka honey. He will guide the grower through the feasibility phase, to costing and production estimates, land preparation, irrigation design and installation, and full implementation.

     

Bianca Walker
Bianca Walker
Sustainable Beekeeping, Biodiversity, Biosecurity
Bianca's background and experience is in social science and sustainability working in distribution, customers service, and legal with a global innovative beekeeping organisation.
  
Bianca is passionate about bees and biodiversity and brings over 6 years of beekeeping experience to the Gather By team.
manuka honey
Sheia Kalima Sethi
Marketing, Customer Care, Communications
Sheia's background is in Marketing, Regenerative Farming and Health and Wellness. Trained as a scientist and a natural therapies practitioner, with 10 years experience in regenerative agriculture as an organic farmher (hemp, market veg, cut flowers), business development and digital marketing.
manuka h
oney
Zak Bennet
Product Development Manager
Zak Bennett, hailing from Melbourne, is a visionary in new product development. With an eclectic background in the arts, he spent a decade crafting theatre and music before venturing into entrepreneurship. In 2012, he launched an innovative dairy-free ice cream brand, setting the stage for his leap into large-scale creation and manufacturing of health food products. Zak's intellectual pursuits include antifragility, microbiota communication, sleep optimization, and evolutionary biology. Zak thrives at the intersection of creativity and innovation, pioneering products that redefine the boundaries of health and taste.