THE GRILL: Eric Perez

Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors CEO Eric Perez sat down for a chat about his affinity for agriculture, a podcast passion project and the correct way to eat WeetBix

Tell us about your role and what it involves.

I only recently started with AIMS as CEO.For me, this role is about what possible future growth opportunities there are and how we get more of a connection with thecommunity, government and industry.The remit is fairly big, and I’ve only got eight weeks with feet under the chair, soI’m still learning as I’m going and meeting members. I’m at the start of a journey with this industry and I’m looking forward to it.

Where did you work before AIMS?

In the lead-up to being recruited for this role I was working for Property Rights Australia, and I’m still doing some consulting work with them. They’re a not-for-profit looking at issues affecting land, property right owners and landholders. I also spent a good decade with the Queensland Seafood Industry Association. There are some common issues across commercial fishers and the farming community; I think it’s misunderstood just how critical our farmers are. I’m passionately an advocate for them, and I’ll remain so.

How did the transition to marine surveying come about?

I was interested in AIMS because I workin that representative space. There is a safety element in marine surveying and what they do has a material consequence on the health and safety of people that are working on the water, whether you’re taking about recreational vessels, the big bulk carriers or transnational shipping.There’s also the ongoing aspect of how you help engage a community of practice;there’s a rich amount of history and skills sets and experience in this space and the challenge is being able to promote within and outside of the sector.

Where did you grow up?

I’m a city kid. I was brought up in Brisbaneand I’ve lived most of my life in Brisbane,but I’ve had a few stints in Canberra for jobs. I used to work with a mob called the Local Government Association of Queensland. That was one of my first forays into representing a group, which happened to be Queensland councils. I got the opportunity to go up to Cooktown with a group of public servants. I’d never been west of Roma by car, so Cooktown felt like the middle of nowhere. The furthest north I travelled was to Thursday Island, and I’ve never seen bluer water in my life.

What do you miss about QLD when you’re travelling?

Without being overly parochial, there’s a vibe in Queensland that’s different to my interstate travel. I’ve come to appreciate the pace of where I live. The pace of Sydney is a lot faster, and the mix of different cultural backgrounds in Melbourne is different to what you see in Brisbane.

When I’m away I miss the pace in Queensland. And I missed Queensland weather when I lived in Canberra; I find winter is not really winter for too long up here, and a cold day up here is not a cold day in the southern states.

Is there anything you don’t miss?

Getting out of Brisbane in the peak of summer. You either get used to it, or you don’t. I can’t hand-on-heart claim I’ve everfully acclimatised to the heat up here, but it is what it is.

Tell us about your podcast.

I was doing some podcasting for QSIA, andwhat got to me was getting voices heardand the passion in those voices. When Istarted to do leadership research for mypostgraduate studies, friends encouragedme to devote time to a leadership podcast. Ihave a very deep curiosity as to why peoplelead and what the leadership process meansto them. I want to know what they considerkey leader capabilities for themselves andothers. For years into that, I’ve had about230 conversations with leaders, and I’ve hadthe best professional free development thatanyone can have in the leadership spacefrom talking to these people.

What does leadership mean to you?

Controlling a passionate response is something I’ve learned over time –respectfully getting a message across to someone who might not like what I have to say. I’m a work in progress, and I’ve always been a bit suspicious when someone tells me that they’re optimally as good as they can be. I don’t subscribe to that, because if you’re not constantly wanting to educate yourself, you’ll go stale after a while. It’s a constant conversation, not just with yourself, but also with others.

What’s an unexpected food you like?

I’ve been trying to eat healthy over the last couple of years, and one food I miss is WeetBix. I was a WeetBix kid for a long time and I could eat a whole box if I was not careful.

What’s the correct way to eat WeetBix?

Loads of them with lots of really cold milk and some sugar on top.

This article appeared in the September 2023 edition of DCN Magazine