Meet the team
We’re a collective of specialists who believe food hygiene and biosecurity deserve more than off-the-shelf solutions.
With over 150 years of combined experience across food manufacturing, agriculture and chemical innovation, our leadership team brings together deep technical expertise and practical insight.
Experienced
Real-world problem solvers with hands-on industry knowledge
Agile
Combining technical skill with fresh thinking
Collaborative
Building partnerships that last
We partner with Australian producers to lift standards, cut risk and keep operations running with confidence.
Alex Cruickshank – Managing Director
With over 20 years in the chemical industry, Alex has built a career on a simple principle: listen first, deliver results.
He began as a Technical Sales Representative before moving into senior sales and leadership roles across Australia, Germany and Asia, where he developed a reputation for driving performance and building long-term partnerships.
Alex has worked with some of the region’s largest food and agricultural businesses, helping them strengthen compliance and streamline production through tailored hygiene programs.
He keeps things running smoothly – fuelled, of course, by a flat white before noon and a long black after.
Gary Bourne – Technical Director
Gary brings over 40 years of experience in the chemical industry, with a career dedicated to supporting Australia’s food sector through innovative sanitation and chemical solutions.
Holding a degree in agriculture, Gary has worked exclusively within Australia, earning the respect of senior industry leaders and serving as a trusted advisor on critical issues – including consultation during the Newcastle disease outbreak in the early 2000s.
Having held senior technical roles at three leading chemical companies, Gary has helped advance the science of cleaning formulations and application systems.
At Aurum Technologies, Gary’s deep expertise in chemical formulations and applications is matched by his comprehensive understanding of customer operations and industry requirements.
Grant Cruickshank – Director
Grant’s career spans more than 35 years across Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, leading specialty chemical companies through growth, innovation and change.
Known for his strategic focus and calm leadership, he played a key role in building Australian Adjuvants into a multimillion-dollar success.
At Aurum, Grant combines big-picture thinking with operational precision, ensuring every client partnership is grounded in trust, transparency and measurable outcomes.
Malcolm Dodson – Production Director
Malcolm has spent 40 years working across food and chemical manufacturing, where his engineering expertise and business acumen have shaped operations from the ground up.
A qualified fitter and turner with a graduate diploma in business management, Malcolm has built and managed chemical production facilities that now supply major Australian clients.
At Aurum, he oversees manufacturing, safety and quality control – making sure every product that leaves the floor performs exactly as it should.
John-William “JW” Fisher – Sales Director
John-William Fisher leads Aurum Technologies’ commercial strategy and brand development — shaping everything from product naming and packaging to partner engagement and operational execution.
Based in South West Sydney, JW brings over two decades of experience across the food, chemical, and packaging industries. His career has spanned ANZ and the broader Asia Pacific region, influencing market expansion, customer onboarding, and operational clarity across diverse regulatory environments. He’s built a reputation for delivering results that endure — not just for the quarter, but for the long haul.
JW’s impact is measured not just in metrics, but in relationships — maintaining legacy support, reinforcing goodwill, and tailoring communication to fit every audience. He’s known for anticipating stakeholder needs and crafting credible, compliance-ready materials that build trust from the first interaction.
A proud Penrith Panthers supporter, husband to Chantelle (celebrating 20 years together), and father of three, JW balances rigour with heart — whether coordinating DG chemical logistics or navigating the nuances of customer onboarding.
And the coffee? It’s a piccolo in summer, almond cappuccino with honey in winter — because even the smallest details deserve to be done well.
Melanie – Sales Representative, South Australia
Melanie has more than 15 years of experience in the food industry, with specialist knowledge in Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Compliance and Work Health & Safety.
Her leadership background – including running a high-performing food laboratory – gives her a unique understanding of what clients need on both the technical and operational front.
Driven, detail-oriented and relentlessly customer-focused, Melanie works closely with South Australian producers to implement hygiene programs that exceed audit expectations and simplify everyday processes.
Our directors and technical leads bring decades across food, agriculture and chemicals – from tackling outbreaks to scaling production plants. They know what keeps QA managers awake at night, and what keeps operations running smoothly.
