Founder and Director

Dan Brown is a marine workforce and skills specialist committed to strengthening the long-term sustainability of the marine industry in Australia.

With more than 20 years’ experience across education, recruitment and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), Dan has designed workforce programs that connect people to meaningful careers while helping businesses access the talent they need to grow. After recognising the scale of skills shortages facing the marine sector, he dedicated his professional focus to rebuilding confidence in marine trade pathways.

Working closely with the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV), employers, TAFEs and career networks, Dan played a leading role in establishing Boating Careers, Australia’s first dedicated marine careers and workforce initiative. Through coordinated engagement with Victorian schools and career advisors, the program helped place marine trades firmly back on the map, introducing structured pathways from school engagement and industry immersion, through work experience and school-based apprenticeships, into full trade qualifications.

This collaborative approach contributed to stronger apprenticeship participation across Victorian marine qualifications and improved alignment between education providers and real industry demand.

Recognising that long-term workforce stability also requires structured training pathways, Dan has supported the development of specialist marine programs through the Australian College of Pioneers (ACP), aligning domestic and international training models with employer needs.

Marine Talent was established to complement the work of industry associations and education providers by addressing the commercial and operational workforce challenges that sit outside traditional advocacy roles. It works alongside marine manufacturers, employers and industry bodies to deliver executive search, leadership capability and ethically managed international workforce pathways.

Dan believes the marine skills challenge can only be solved through collaboration, transparency and long-term planning, bringing stakeholders together to protect and strengthen the future of the marine sector for businesses, employees and the families who depend on it.