Board of Directors
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Diana Abruzzi Diana Abruzzi is a pioneer and leader in the cause of free enterprise and economic development. From championing the advancement of women in business around the world to giving a stronger voice for Australia at international forums on entrepreneurial economic initiatives to business and personal development. With an educational background in Social Sciences Diana comes from a successful family line of Australian entrepreneurs having established vibrant businesses in Insurance, transportation, Mining and property development. Over her 40 year business career spanning from local council to family businesses, to serving in government forums and on company boards Diana is an exceptional contributor and inspiration. As an international speaker she has greatly assisted in the areas of small business development, international trade and the general economic advancement of women around the world. Consequently, Diana has also developed an acute insight to the issues and challenges facing businesses today and has an extensive network of local and international contacts in the commercial, government and not-for-profit sectors. Diana’s appointments include:
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FRAN BAILEY Highly experienced and qualified former MP with 18 years experience, including senior ministerial responsibilties in Defence, employment Services, Business and Tourism with Responsibilties for budgets in excess of $6 Billion. Current board appointments, and previous national and international experience chairing ministerial conferences and meetings, forums councils, committees and working groups. 1. Extensive experience working with government departments, industry and industry associations at both national and international levels. 2. Established and chaired government bodies and established and developed successful retail and export businesses. 3. Thorough understanding of corporate governance, the importance of cabinet/boardroom confidentuality, and and working collegiately for the good of the team. 4. Extensive networks and experoeice presenting to both national and international bodies Key Strategic Business Experience 1. Represented and worked with SME sector and industry association in Australia and overseas(Including UK, USA, EU, China, India, Singapore and South Korea. 2. Worked with both large and small businesses to reform part 2 of the Franchise Code of Conduct, sections 46 and 51AC of the trade Practices Act, 276 local Government Authorities to harmonise regulations, syndicated partnerships with SME sectorand the federal government to intergrate multiple IT services. 3. Developed a business mentoring program for start-up indigenous businesses 4. Worked with industry (Including transport, catering, construction, IT and environmental services) to achieve a smooth transition from in-house model to contracting out of Defence services across 64 bases nationally. 5. Worked with the Australian tourism industry to leverage competition in both traditional, mature markets in UK, USA, EU and japan as well as the emerging markets in China, India and Korea to increase industry turnover to $87Billion. 6. Established Reject China as a successful import and retail business and Glenholme Cashmere as a successful stud and export business for both meat and fibre, gaining first-hand experience in growing businesses in both the domestic and the International markets. |
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JULIE MOSS Julie is the Managing Director of the Photography Studies College in Melbourne, a vocational education college that offers a distinctive Advanced Diploma of Photography, a government endorsed and fully accredited course designed to produce multi-skilled photographers for a career in the many sectors of the photographic industry. Julie has negotiated a unique credit transfer arrangement with Melbourne’s RMIT University which enables College graduates to undertake one year degree conversions in either BA Photography or Media Arts. Julie is a former, National Chair of ACPET, where she held the position since 2004 and has been a member since its inception in 1991. Julie is also on the board for the National Quality Council; the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority and on the Board of Directors for TAFE Development Centre. |
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MANJA SHAW Company Director – CHS Australia Manja has worked continuously in the investigative field for over 30 years and started her own investigation company, Manja Shaw Pty Ltd in 1981. With an extensive background in the investigation of Work Cover, Common Law, Professional Indemnity and Product Liability claims, the Company has been held in high esteem by the insurance industry and associated legal firms. Duties |
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JENNIFER MCQUEEN Jennifer McQueen has been working with Australian exporters and wouldbe exporters for over 27 years. She began her career in this field with the Australian Department of Trade, which later became Austrade. During her lengthy term of service with Austrade, she developed a degree of proficiency in a wide range of export support services, including public relations, conference/major events and networking management, export grants assessment, international market research and reporting, trade mission and visitor facilitation and ultimately client relationships with a wide spectrum of business, industry and commerce. Ultimately as the Regional Manager, South Queensland, Jennifer worked with a range of individual companies to develop their export platforms in various international markets. Since leaving Austrade and joining Ausnindo-Asia/Pacific, Australia's oldest international business consulting and government lobbying firm and (currently ranked third in Asia) in the late 1990’s, Jennifer has broadened her reach to encompass client companies from overseas wishing to develop interests in Australia and also cross border fertilisation, including exports, imports, joint ventures, investment sourcing and placement and project seeding, engineering and participation for companies, industry groups and clusters. Now, as Managing Partner of the firm, she also plays a role in the firm’s government liaison, advocacy and lobbying activities, mainly outside Australia on behalf of client groups. Jennifer now restricts her active duty to selected clients each year, concentrating mainly on the Asia/Pacific area, with special emphasis on South East Asia, China, Korea and New Zealand, in conjunction with support staff from Ausnindo’s regional offices in this area. The firm’s and Jennifer’s international networks are now mature and extensive in many industry sectors. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Jennifer has assisted thousands of companies towards taking that step to further their activities and successes off-shore. |
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David Apelt David Apelt has extensive experience in banking & finance, business strategy, information technology, training & equipping, philosophy, politics, life coaching, successful life principles, corporate values and ethics. David was a Senior Manager of a large Australian International Bank. David has been involved in the management of small, medium and large international businesses and has travelled extensively working on international Organisation, Culture, Strategy and Projects. |
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SIEW LING LIAN Siew Ling is a partner in the Banking and Finance Team. She predominantly acts for banks financial institutions and private lenders. Siew Ling previously practised overseas for 13 years and was a partner in a mid-tier firm there for 9 years before returning to Melbourne. She has since practised in 2 other mid-tier Melbourne firms and is presently a Partner with Thomas Playford Cutlers. Her varied experience has given her a very good grasp of the banking and Finance legal landscape. Siew Ling has an intimate knowledge of what is required in loan and security documentation for construction, commercial and investement financing. She has acted in relation to major finance projects within the CBD and greater metropolitan area. Siew Ling has drafted loan documents for both public listed companies and private lenders. Siew Ling clients rely on her sound knowledge and efficient work practises as she is able to consistently deliver very favourable outcomes within tight time-lines. Siew Ling has significant experience advising clients in loans ands security doumentation including mortgages over land, leases, company shares and trust units; company changes;assignments of contractual rights and rental incomes; deeds of priority; due diligence on joint venture documents, contracts of sale and leases; multi-state stamp duty on securities; cross-collateralisation of facilities; and invoice financing documentation. Member of the Law Institute of Victoria and Financial Services Insititute of Australasia (FINSIA) |
Board of Advisors
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MELANIE O'TOOLE - IWFCI GOVERNMENT ADVISOR Melanie O'Toole former IWFCI board member assisted the organisation and its members to develop government relations and export facilitation. Proficient in several Asian languages and tertiary qyalificated with a masters degree in International Business from the University of melbourne, Melanie brings Executive level market strategy, brand and trade development experience with government and leading public, commercial and not for profit organisations, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. She has worked and lived in Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan and China and was a key contributor in the restructure of China's largest multinational oil and gas company to new audit standards by the World trade Organisation. She has been a long contributor to free trade agreement negotiations and join ventures with some of Australia and New Zealand's laergest trading nations. She has provided policy advice to international forums including the Asia Pacific Cooperation (APEC) Women's Leaders Network and Small Business Advisory Network and was former Singapore - Australian Young Business Ambassador. Melanie has extensive board experience with government, Commercial, education and not for profit organisations with a particular focus on compliance and stakeholder relations. Her previous board appointments include: the United Nations Development fund for Women, The University of Melbourne and RMIT University Academic boards. her indistry Exposure includes: agriculture, arts, Government, education, mining, heavy manufacturing, architecture, tourism, transportation, international trade. She is also a column writer for china's largest circulating women's magazine "women of China" - www.womenofchina.cn
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Dr Colin Benjamin Dr Colin Benjamin has had a long and varied career in the public sector and appointments in the not-for-profit community sector, including Director of the Victorian Council of Social Service. Past Federal President of the Australian Association of Social Workers, with engagements in social research and social policy formation. and author of Roy Morgan Values Segments © and the ColourGrid ™ - strategic marketing tools. Amongst many senior positions held by Colin was to head the futures Division of Ogilvy and Mather (World Wide). Colin over the years has developed many major futures studies for Government and private enterprise, his company assisted the entry of the Bank of Cyprus into Australia and for the past fifteen years has been running his own consulting practise (www.marshallplaceassociates.com ) in various industries and detailed consumer orientated retail strategic planning with extensive global business development in the Asia Pacific. |