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:

• Founder/ Chairman of the International Women's Federation of Commerce and Industry (IWFCI), with affiliate branches in China, India, Korea, Singapore, Russia and the USA. 
• Vice President Asian Women’s Entrepreneurs Council
• Australian Focal Point to the APEC Women's Leaders Meeting (WLN) for over 11 years in which leaders from twenty-one economies from Asia Pacific meet every year prior to the APEC Ministers meeting, to discuss and put forward recommendations on gender issues contained within the APEC Ministers’ agenda.
• Publisher IWFCI Newsletter which reaches 2 million women business owners across Asia Pacific.
• Founding member on the board of trustees for the Carl Wood Foundation, a trust that raises funds for the sole purpose of research into Women’s Health
• Director Fina Australia Pty Ltd

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.
Julie has over twenty five years experience in the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia, including management experience in community education and employment programs. Julie is a Bachelor of Arts graduate from Deakin University. She also holds a Graduate Diploma (Arts) and an Associate Diploma in Community Development.

Melanie O'Toole

Melanie O'Toole was appointed as a board member in 2004 and has been assisting 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   

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.
He is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, Member of the Institute of Electronic and Electromagnetic Engineers, Member of Marriage & Relationship Educators of Australia, Director of IWFCI, Director of Southern Spirit Inc, member of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce.

Ingrid Brooks

Ingrid Brooks is a well respected educator and trainer with broad experience in curriculum development, innovative program design and e-learning within the highly competitive health care sector. She is co founder, and director of Macdonald Cordell Pty Ltd, a successful management consultancy and boutique executive search and selection firm specialising in providing human resource solutions across a wide cross section of professions and industry sectors. 

Ms Brooks is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and brings with her a blend of business and training acumen that complements the mix of skills within the board of the International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry.

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.