Your CMPA – Secretariat
The CMPA was formed in 2000 to represent a broad spectrum of those involved in construction material processing businesses.
Evolving from industry pressure for a peer network of independent quarrying companies, the CMPA now has an established membership base representing businesses involved in the extraction, processing or otherwise working in hard rock, gravel, sand, masonry, clay, lime, soil, and/or recycling, industry consultants, industry suppliers and any industry worker.
The Secretariat made up of Dr Elizabeth Gibson, General Manager, Gavin Moreira, Member Services Manager and April Everitt, Administration Officer are all geared up to service Members in 2025.
See below for an insight into their backgrounds.
CMPA – General Manager ELIZABETH GIBSON
ELIZABETH took up her role as General Manager with CMPA on the 6th May 2013 and reflects over nearly 12 years in the position. She enjoys her role, the interaction with Members and tackles the challenges that are frequently thrown in her path.
The success of CMPA as a peak body would not be possible without the support provided by Gavin and April; the past and current Chairpersons, the Hon CEO Ron Kerr and Members.
She noted on commencement at CMPA:
• It is a highly efficient industry (e.g. having a low number of employees in comparison to say, the construction industry that it underpins) and is a low- cost and high-volume industry accounting for 25% of freight in Victoria.
• The construction material industry is undervalued by the Government for the essential service it provides to the community and economy of Victoria – though that is beginning to change.
• The current mix of small, medium and large quarries located throughout Victoria gives rise to a vibrant market that offers a variety of rock sources, choice of products and locations, and competitive pricing,
• The differences between mines and the lower risk quarry industry are rarely understood by the Government. Quarries do not catch fire, do not use toxic chemicals in extraction, are not underground, not exported overseas:
used within Victoria, generally found on private land and are a low-cost product. Nevertheless, quarries are repeatably subject to the same legislation and costs as mines.
• Increasing lack of investment in greenfield sites and work plan variations is due to the extraordinary costs and length of time for approvals and commencement costs such as rehabilitation bonds.
Elizabeth brings a variety of experiences to her role at CMPA.
She is a chemist by trade having obtained her BSc (hons) from the University of London and PhD Physical Chemistry from Imperial College, London.
She continued her research career as a British Gas Fellow and Phillips Fellow. She was also a volunteer Police Officer and a self-defense instructor
with the Metropolitan (London) Police Force.
Her first role on arrival from the UK in Australia was with Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) as a Senior Research Officer. There she became interested in management and was funded by CUB to undertake an MBA (Deakin University). Elizabeth moved to the Environment Protection Authority, Victoria (EPA) to, initially, manage the laboratories. She spent seven years in the EPA where she held a number of increasingly senior management and executive roles.
Elizabeth was State Manager of the Australian Government Analytical Laboratory (now the National Measurement Institute) where she managed 80 staff over 2 sites.
Elizabeth has experience in working in not-for-profit associations gained in a previous role as Executive Director of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (professional association for chemists) reporting directly to the Board and Chairperson. The organisation had 5000 members and was involved in areas such as accrediting the Chemistry BSc, policy submissions, training and conferences.
There, she was successful in lobbying for part funding from the Commonwealth Government for an industry review into the Future of Chemistry in Australia. She was also successful in obtaining grants to deliver chemistry education into schools.
Elizabeth and her husband live on a rural property and have three adult children (more recently, one son-in-law). In her spare time, she is the current Captain of the local fire brigade (Country Fire Authority).
Elizabeth is looking forward to meeting, and working with members of the CMPA to progress these issues important to the organisation.
CMPA – Member Services Manager GAVIN MOREIRA
Gavin is a local boy from Wallan, who has been married to Natalie for 25 years and has two biological boys, 23-year old Samuel and 20-year-old Patrick. They also have a permanent care daughter in 15-year-old
Steevee-lee.
He has an Associate Diploma in Business Accounting, a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment and has an abundance of experience and knowledge in finance, administration and customer service, having worked for several private and public corporations. His last role as a finance officer was for a not-for-profit association dealing in risk management working for risk
managers and their organisations.
The association focused on improving the knowledge and skill base of the members through education and training as well as workshops and conferences for networking with peers and suppliers.
He also has a strong affiliation with other not-for-profit member associations in the area, volunteering with the Kilmore Tennis Club and the Broadford and District Tennis Association. He sat on both committees and ran a tennis coaching business to grow the sport of tennis in the local area for the last 20 years. Gavin’s love of tennis extends to working at the Australian Open having reached the milestone of 20 years as a supervisor of the AO Ball Kids Squad.
Gavin has been working at the CMPA for the last 15 years, the first four years as the Administration Officer and the last eleven as Member Services Manager. He is always keen to learn all about your quarry business and understand the needs and requirements of the CMPA Members. “I believe the heart of any association is its members and I hope to be able to continue to help the organisation to grow, expand and diversify its membership.” he said.
Gavin’s focus in 2025 involves getting back on the road visiting Associate and Voting Member sites as well as recruiting new members to the association. He will also be looking to increase CMPA’s market share within the industry by increasing the distribution of Sand & Stone and improve the usage of the CMPA website by members and the public. Other important tasks will be to help April further develop in her position to become a key part of the Secretariat and help drive the association forward.
CMPA – Administration Officer APRIL EVERITT
April commenced working for the CMPA in May of 2022, she is a mum to 2 girls and a step mum to 3 more children and found out about the CMPA while living in Kilmore.
April came into the CMPA, having a background working in the building and construction industry over a twenty-four-year period. For seventeen of those years, she was a director of a steel fabrication and engineering business, where her primary roles were; running the accounts, administration and advertising departments, as well as working closely with clients. Every now and then she would also assist out on site.
Between 2018 to 2022 she also ran a Mobile Dustless Blasting business as a sole trader.
Since working for the CMPA, April has learned a lot about the extractive industry, and the people in it who keep it going. There was a lot to take in when she first started, but Elizabeth and Gavin were of great help and support.
In the short time that she has been with the CMPA, quite a lot of changes and developments have occurred within the industry. Working with Elizabeth and Gavin to update and/or develop tools, documents, events etc., to help CMPA members with these changes, has been quite an eye opener with how much is involved for quarries and their associates/suppliers just to be able to conduct business.
“I really do enjoy helping to put together the events we hold for our members. I try to attend as many as I can, to learn more about the industry requirements, i.e., Safety, Policies, Procedures, Training etc., and to continue to meet more of our members.”
“I especially look forward to the CMPA’s Annual Dinner. There is a lot of work that the Secretariat does in the background to make it an enjoyable night for our members and guests, but my “creative brain” thoroughly enjoys coming up with different ideas for each Annual Dinner.”
This year is a 25-year celebration for the CMPA and it’s members. April hopes she can further help the CMPA in supporting its members and the industry.
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