About Us
Welcome to Ferryhawk, a part of The Hawkins Family Group, which also includes Moreton Island Adventures and the Micat Ferry, the only vehicle and passenger ferry that runs to Moreton Island.
Hawkins Family Group
FerryHawk is a proud member of the Hawkins Family Group, a fifth-generation family business established in 1921. The company’s roots trace back to road transport and fuel distribution, founded on the same pioneering spirit that drives FerryHawk today. The Hawkins family was the first to challenge the railway monopoly in Queensland, Australia.
Over the course of the past four generations, the business has evolved and grown. When Roz Shaw became MD in the 1980’s, she grew the business to $100m AUD turnover and then 10 years ago , divested the transport and fuel distribution business, personally negotiating the sale to Caltex.
The family had built a reputation for exceeding expectations and consistently delivering results. Its longevity reflects a steadfast commitment to innovation, reinvestment, and adaptability. These qualities have enabled the family to invest in new opportunities and capitalize on the new skills of the fifth generation.
The business today consists of property development, Software as a Service, and Moreton Island Adventures (MIA). MIA has operated nine (9) passenger and vehicle vessels over the past 54 years. It currently operates a 58-meter ROPAX vessel (‘MI’) facilitating transit to the second-largest sand island off the coast of Queensland, Moreton Island (Mulgumpin). Micat can accommodate approximately 52 vehicles and 410 passengers on a 1.5-hour voyage, with multiple daily departures contingent on demand.
FerryHawk
Like many ferry operators, MIA began with a paper-based reservation journal before transitioning to a custom Unix-based booking platform in the 1980s.
Recognizing the need for modernization, the company embarked on a journey in 2008 to enhance its booking and check-in experience. Over the next eight years, MIA trialled three off-the-shelf reservation systems, but none fully met the company’s goals for customer experience, streamlined check-ins, and revenue optimization through effective load management and dynamic pricing.
Identifying a broader industry need for advanced marine reservation and check-in systems, FerryHawk was founded in 2016. Liz leveraged her passion for technology and legal expertise to position the business for success in the global ferry reservation market.
The first FerryHawk system launched in 2018, marking the completion of a two-year collaboration with MIA to refine and develop a highly configurable reservation platform. After operating the 1st generation of FerryHawk for approximately 5 years, FerryHawk made the difficult decision to re-develop the entire platform to leverage a more modern technology platform, harness cloud technology, and master scalability. The second generation of FerryHawk was released approximately three years ago. Since then, FerryHawk has continued to evolve, with ongoing enhancements and refinements that build upon its strong foundation.
Today, Liz represents the fifth generation leading the business, supported by Roz, who has dedicated 40 years to operating the family business. Together, they are backed by a talented FerryHawk team and other family members, ensuring the company’s continued growth and innovation.
Through the Years
Take a visual journey through our history and vessels
Meet Our Team
At FerryHawk, we’re more than software developers — we’re ferry people. Every member of our team is regularly exposed to real-world ferry operations, with our base at the Micat port keeping us closely connected to the day-to-day.
We see our features live, in action, and in real time — giving us a deep understanding of what works and what doesn’t. That’s why Ferryhawk is built to meet the real demands of ferry operators. We’re dedicated, we care, and we’re committed to delivering software that makes a real difference.
The Founders
Roz Shaw
Roz has been in the ferry industry since 1971, when her family launched a small ferry service to Kooringal on Moreton Island. She was six years old when she started helping—and she’s been improving operations ever since. Her natural drive to optimise processes and maximise profitability shaped the foundation of several successful businesses, including transport and truckstop operations which she later sold to global companies thanks to the superior systems she implemented.
In the early 2000s, Roz spearheaded the design of the Micat Catamaran Vehicular Ferry, which transformed the crossing to Moreton Island by making day trips viable. The Micat remains one of Queensland’s most formidable ferries and stands as a symbol of Roz’s vision and practical business acumen.
Liz Hemmens
A fifth-generation member of the Hawkins family, Liz is the CEO of both Ferryhawk and Moreton Island Adventures. With dual degrees in Commerce and Law, and prior experience in legal counsel and corporate M&A, Liz brings both analytical rigour and operational insight to the business.
Liz led the creation of Ferryhawk from the ground up, assembling a team of talented developers and using AI-driven processes to deliver a next-generation ferry booking system. She has personally overseen successful rollouts of Ferryhawk at Moreton Island Adventures and other ferry operations, managing both the technical side and the human transition involved in system upgrades.
Her leadership has also driven a broader digital transformation across maintenance, finance, and operations, helping ferry operators modernise their systems without losing the soul of their service.
Anthony Shaw
Also a fifth-generation member of the Hawkins family, Anthony Shaw brings deep technical and engineering expertise to the Ferryhawk team. With a background in electrical work—including high-voltage systems, generator integration, and controller programming—Anthony has successfully delivered complex projects across marine, mining, and commercial sectors.
Anthony started as an electrician and went on to lead an electrical, communications, and data services business. He’s known for his ability to unite cross-functional teams and implement advanced control systems that work flawlessly in real-world ferry environments.
His approach to project management is deeply human—whether working with managing directors or frontline staff, Anthony ensures everyone is aligned toward successful outcomes. His focus on quality, safety, and functionality has been integral to Ferryhawk’s evolution and reliability.