Seafood industry veteran John Susman of Coogee has been recognised in the 2026 Australia Day Honours for his significant service to the hospitality industry and seafood sector.
The Coogee resident owns specialist consultancy Fishtales Seafood Strategy and has spent decades transforming how Australia approaches seafood, working across every part of the industry from catching and growing to distribution and retail. His work with leading chefs including Maggie Beer, Neil Perry and Stefano Manfredi helped establish Australian seafood as a premium product on the world stage.
John Susman received the Medal of the Order of Australia, joining other residents from Sydney’s eastern suburbs and southeast recognised in this year’s honours list.
From Commodity to Premium Export
John Susman has watched the Australian seafood industry evolve dramatically over his career. As wild catch fishing scaled back and production costs climbed, the challenge became positioning Australian seafood as premium rather than commodity.
His approach focused on helping producers build recognisable brands that reflect the quality of Australian seafood. Rather than competing on volume, the industry shifted toward showcasing what makes local seafood exceptional.
The transformation took years of persistent work across multiple sectors. John Susman describes himself as someone who has been “chiselling away at seafood for such a long time,” helping the Australian food industry establish itself as a world leader.
Eastern Suburbs Honours Span Multiple Fields
Beyond John Susman, the 2026 Australia Day Honours recognised eastern suburbs residents across diverse contributions. Paddington-based Dr Michael Buckley received Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to genomic medicine, including prenatal genome sequencing that enables lifesaving diagnoses in unborn children.
As Clinical Director at Randwick Genomics Laboratory, Dr Buckley ensures newborns can immediately access specialised care. One Victorian mother credited Dr Buckley’s prenatal genomics test with saving her son Mitchell’s life.
Professor Nicholas Manolios from Kensington received Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to medicine in immunology and rheumatic diseases. Randwick residents Distinguished Professor James Macnamara earned recognition for contributions to tertiary education and communications research, while Daniel Murphy was honoured for service to the building industry and community.
Other eastern suburbs recipients include Peter Grey from Elizabeth Bay for service to public administration and international trade, Sandra Chipchase from Paddington for contributions to the major event and tourism industry, and Basil Sellers from Double Bay who received Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service through philanthropy and sports administration.
The full list spans Darlinghurst to Maroubra, with recipients recognised for work ranging from golf and sailing to performing arts administration and literature sponsorship.
What These Honours Mean for Coogee
For Coogee residents, seeing John Susman recognised nationally highlights how local expertise contributes to industries well beyond the immediate neighbourhood. His work reshaping Australian seafood’s global reputation shows how sustained commitment to a single sector can create lasting change.
The broader pattern across eastern suburbs honours reflects communities where residents build careers that extend beyond professional achievement into shaping entire industries or advancing medical breakthroughs that save lives.
John Susman’s recognition specifically acknowledges decades of work elevating Australian seafood from a local product to a premium global export. The honour validates not just his individual effort but the collective achievement of an industry that took its place on the world stage.
Published 27-January-2026.
