John Sergeant Email & Phone Number

An experienced business owner, including working in the environmental arena. A previous board member of the Organic Federation Australian (OFA) in an industry now turning over $1.5 billion a year around Australia.I completed sustainable agriculture and organic farming courses in Sydney and opened the first certified organic retail outlet in Rozelle Sydney in the mid 90's including meat which went onto become Cleavers Meats Australia wide.Originally from England I studied business at Plymouth University while working in the family business of hotels & restaurants. Over those 5 years I also built up a property portfolio of 6 buildings and had 40 tenants.I sailed from England to Australia in 1985 working in a documentary film called 'On the Wings of the Wind' sailing around the world, now on youtube.I arrived in the Whitsunday’s and set up one of the first backpackers in Airlie Beach, I redeveloped the property and sold it in 2007 it’s now called ‘Airlie Guest House.https://www.airlieguesthouse.com.au/I worked for PRD Whitsunday (Property Research and Development) for 7 years moving to the head office for another 2 years. I signed up 120 Independent real estate offices around Australia many of whom took on the PRD franchise.I recently sold 5MW of commercial solar to businesses around Australia, prior to Covid.I have a background in sales, marketing and promotions and have built up a substantial database of high-end clients and business contacts.I am good at starting and building relationships, creating networks, getting referrals and finding opportunities with a win / win approach, I don’t give up easily and have a track record of getting results.In 2009 I purchased a 2000 acre 4.5 star retreat in Barrington Tops and rebuilt it over 5 years to become a very successful business.https://guidetoorganics.com.au/listings/tops-organic-retreat/https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/tops-organic-retreat-cobark-review-tread-lightly-20110527-1f7ov.htmlI recently purchased and renovated a luxury 8-bedroom house in Airlie Beach, Whitsunday’s that I sold in May 2023.https://www.taylorspropertyspecialists.com.au/sale/qld/mackay-whitsundays/airlie-beach/residential/house/7199758I have recently purchased some classic cars to sell including importing a 1998 Bentley Brooklands from England, now sold.

Listed skills include Management, Business Development, Business Strategy, Environmental Awareness, and 7 others.

• Owner

  Barrington Tops Organic Retreat Pty Ltd

  Apr 2009 - Sep 2016 - Barrington Tops World Heritage National Park

  Purchased and developed 2000 acre Tops Organic Retreat in Barrington Tops. 4.5 star accommodation for 60 guests, 4wd, fishing, pool, tennis, horse riding & farm animal operation with sustainability and the organic food, wine and products.Secured 187 hectares of pristine Barrington Tops wilderness on a green belt with 16km of riparian creeks in perpetuity. This means that this track of land with a green corridor running through it and home too much endangered wildlife, flora, and fauna, will be there for future generations.We opened the first fully organic shop in Rozelle (Planet Organic) in the early 90's selling the first certified organic meats in Australia retail.John & Sharini featured on many media outlets including Hosting Master Chef contestants (garden to plate) Weekender, Landline, Getaway, plus other numinous appearances.Everything was 100% certified organic, fresh fruit and vegetables, grocery items and take away meals. They relocated to the Whitsunday’s with their young family and opened the first organic retreat in Airlie Beach transplanting an exotic fruit orchard, growing their own fruit and vegetables and sourcing local organic produce. John, being on the Board of the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) ran workshops encouraging local growers to convert to organic farming.The couple then relocated from the Great Barrier Reef to another World Heritage destination Barrington Tops, NSW. Here they embarked on the ambitious project of resurrecting the 1916-acre icon Hookes Creek Forest Retreat and reopened it as the Tops Organic Retreat in 2009. John rebuilt 30km of internal roads on the property and set up another larger organic vegetable garden, which produced vegetables for the restaurant. The couple supported local organic growers in the area - The Gloucester Tucker Patch organic gardeners and the produce featured in the dishes of The Tops Organic Restaurant.John's interest and passion is in the soil, sustainability the environment.

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  University Of Plymouth

  Business Studies