Conference Speakers
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Lyn Baker is Deputy Director-General of the Department of Commerce and Commissioner for Fair Trading. She has worked in the NSW public sector for over 20 years, including senior executive roles with the Attorney- General's Department, the Department of Housing, and the NSW Public Service Board. Lyn's career focus has been on organisational development and customer service. Prior to her appointment as Commissioner for Fair Trading in 2005 she was Assistant Commissioner, Customer and Property Services for three years. During her eight years at OFT, Lyn has held various senior strategic roles involving licensing, compliance and customer service. |
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Rainer Schlüter has been the Director of Cooperatives Europe and ICA Director for the European region since 2004. He was previously General Secretary of the European Confederation of Workers Co-operatives, Social co-operatives and Social and Participative Enterprises and General Delegate of the Coordinating Committee of European Cooperative Associations. Until recently he was President of the European Network of Cities and Regions for Social Economy and a Board member of the European Permanent Conference of Co-operatives, Mutual Societies, Associations and Foundations. Rainer has been a member and board member of several worker co-operatives and social economy enterprises and has consulted on enterprise creation and social innovation. His original studies were as a researcher and assistant in applied economics, environmental economics and cost-benefit analysis at the Free University of Brussels and later at the European Studies Institute/ULB. He is a regular exhibitor of sculpture. |
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Ian MacAulay [Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology] is Chairman of the Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited, the largest dairy co-operative in Australia. Murray Goulburn now handles 36 % of the nation’s milk. In 1966 Ian graduated from Melbourne University with an Agricultural Science degree. For twelve years he worked for the fertiliser co-operative PIVOT Ltd. as a Regional Agronomist. In 1981 he and his wife Roslyn converted a beef property into a dairy farm. The family’s properties are now milking over 900 cows. Ian is a foundation director of The Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation, a fund established from the sale of industry assets at the time of deregulation. The fund was set up to benefit Victoria’s dairy farmers and their communities. |
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Kathryn Edghill is a Competition and Trade Practices lawyer with over 18 years’ experience. She joined Addisons as a partner in the Competition, Trade Practices and Regulatory group from another major law firm where she was the Partner in charge of the national Competition and Trade Practices group. Kathryn specialises in competition law with particular emphasis on the anti-competitive conduct and consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act and associated state Fair Trading Acts. She has also practiced as a commercial litigator for over 18 years and is a qualified mediator. Kathryn acts for clients across a broad range of industries including manufacturers, retailers, transport providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, telecommunication providers and government. |
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Michael Thompson is employed with Mutual Solutions Australia (MSA) as a Consultant, drawing on his more than 30 years experience to deliver a comprehensive range of Workers Compensation, OH&S and Injury Management services. Michael has worked for insurers in claims and policy management capacities, as a Workers Compensation consultant for large employers, dealing with National Workers Compensation and OHS issues, where he gained an “employers perspective” on work related injuries and then in his capacity as the Manager of a Specialised Industry Insurer, Michael developed and implemented the industry Injury Management Program, OH&S System and training packages. He has tertiary qualifications in Safety Management, OH&S, Insurance and Injury Management auditing. |
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Jennifer Cameron is Manager of Mutual Solutions Australia, co-ordinating a team of consultants who provide Workers Compensation solutions. She has been employed in both the occupational rehabilitation and insurance industries, working with both private and public sector employers in relation to their rehabilitation, injury management and general Workers Compensation needs. Jennifer has tertiary qualifications in Rehabilitation Counselling and Business. |
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GS Choong (B Comm, CA, CPA) recently joined BDO as a Director in the Tax Division. With over 20 years professional experience, 7 of which was as a partner in a Big 4 firm, GS has an in-depth understanding of the global mobility business and international programs. She advises on all aspects of international assignments, focusing on cross border taxation planning for the employer and employee, tax effective compensation and benefits structure and delivery, management of global expatriate programs, employee share plans and employment taxes. GS provides leading edge tax effective solutions gained from a comprehensive understanding of tax systems, processes and controls, specializing in Australian and US income tax. She also has extensive experience in providing advice to high net worth individuals. |
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Graeme Charles’ career has spanned secondary teaching, accounting and adult education. He has been closely involved with the co-operative sector for nearly 20 years and is a former Executive Officer and more recently Deputy Chair of the Co-operative Federation of Victoria (CFV). Graeme wrote The Co-operative Start Up Manual: the essential field guide for starting co-operatives in Victoria and is a regular contributor of articles covering a range of co-operative matters. He has worked alongside the Co-operative College in recent years and is now their only accredited trainer resident in Australia. He has recently worked on the creation of an online module called "Understanding Co-operatives" that initially has gone on to the Murray Goulburn Co-operative Company website for MG members. CFV is considering ways in which the module could be offered to other co-operatives. |
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Jim Howard is Executive Director of the Co-operative Federation of Queensland and his company provides Business Management and Consulting Services to diverse business entities, in particular companies and co-operatives. He represents the Co-operatives Council of Australia to the Federal Government on taxation and has regularly liaised with senior Treasury Department and Taxation Office officials as well as various political representatives. Jim has advised or participated with Boards on Directors Duties and Operational procedures including speaking at conferences on the topic. He provides board and senior management business and strategic advice on Company, Co-operative, Trusts and Super Funds including financial monitoring and review of performance. He establishes and facilitates development and progress of appropriate business structures. |
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Robert Whitton has been on the Wine Society board since November 2002, he has served on the Audit Committee, was the Deputy Chairman from September 2004 to December 2007 when he was elected Chairman. He has been a member of the Society for more than 20 years. Robert a Chartered Accountant and is a Partner in Lawler Partners who has 22 years experience in Insolvency, restructuring and business advisory services. This experience has given him a diverse range of business experience, including significant involvement in the hospitality industry including wine production and distribution.
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Ron Corby is Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of The Wine Society. A Chartered Accountant, Ron has over 23 years experience in both professional practice and commercial accounting. He is a member of the Wine Society’s Audit and Risk Management Committee and of the Corporate Governance Committee. As Secretary, Ron is responsible for all matters relating to the preparation of both Members’ General and Board Meetings. In his ten years with The Wine Society Ron has continually assisted in the development of its commercial business interests and has been particularly instrumental in the establishment of its Corporate Governance practices and statements as well as its Risk Management policy.
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Tony Addison practises in the corporate and commercial area with special expertise in the law of co-operatives in NSW and other Australian jurisdictions. He is a member of the NSW Legislative Review Committee of the Co-operatives Council and is recognised as a leader in co-operative law. Tony and his team have achieved many innovative and successful outcomes for co-operatives. He has advised a large number of co-operatives and companies, and their Boards, on their corporate structures and commercial transactions. He is currently working for the Dairy Farmers Milk Co-operative (who have farms in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia) to ensure that their farmer members continue to receive favourable milk prices following the sale of the processor business. |
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Peter Gates is the Chief Executive Officer of The Mercury Centre Co-operative. Peter has been involved in collaborative enterprise for many years including a lengthy period on the board of the former Australian National Credit Union, one of Australia’s largest financial co-operatives. During the second half of the 1990’s, he led skills and leadership training programs for Credit Union Foundation Australia, in a number of Pacific countries, working with grass-roots credit unions. Prior to joining The Mercury Centre, he had a long career in telecommunications. Peter has been involved in the development of the Petersham Model of co-operative housing, a shared equity model, since the Living Co-operatively Symposium in February 2008. The Symposium, which focused on affordable housing and sustainable communities, was presented by a consortium that included The Mercury Centre and the Cooperative Federation of NSW. |
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Terry Kilmister For the last 11 years has Terry owned and operated BoardWorks International (Australia) Pty Ltd, the Australian arm of his New Zealand business, where he assisted the full range of companies and community based organisations to provide high quality corporate governance and leadership. Terry has three books published in his area of speciality and has contributed to university texts and other publications. He is a regularly sought-after conference speaker and seminar facilitator. Together with his business partner Graeme Nahkies he writes and publishes Good Governance, a bi-monthly journal with a worldwide readership and has been recognised as a significant contributor to the development of corporate governance thinking and practice. |
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James McCall has been involved in the Co-operative movement in Australia for the past 25 years, chairing various government task forces and serving on numerous boards and Councils such as the NSW Fishing Industry Council, NSW Ministerial Council on Co-operatives & the Tee Tree Oil Research Co-operative Limited. He was the Executive Director of the Australian Cooperative Development League, a senior Policy adviser to the Minister, senior manager of government & international relations with the Australian Association of Co-operatives, has undertaken co-operative banking research and represented the sector at various forums, both here and overseas. He has also had the primary role in the formation of a number of cooperatives throughout NSW. |
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Roger Nicoll has been heading up a community effort to attract affordable doctors and allied health services to Canberra’s outer northern suburbs as Chair of the West Belconnen Health Co-operative Ltd. In response to strong community concerns about the lack of GPs and health services in the area, Roger has led the needs assessment, feasibility testing and community development work needed to set-up a co-operative one-stop health and wellbeing centre. Roger Chaired the West Belconnen Community Health Committee that paved the way for the formation of the co-operative in November 2006 and the negotiation of partnerships funding agreements since then. A public relations and communication consultant by profession, Roger has worked in a wide range of public and private sector organisations and played an increasing role in community development activities over the past decade. |
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Richard O'Leary [FPNA, NTAA] was appointed the CEO of Macleay Regional Co-operative Ltd after working for the co-operative in accounting and retail functions. Richard was the Deputy Chair for two years. His previous work experience has been in retail management and accounting. He's a very committed contributor to the Kempsey region, serving on numerous industry and community committees, with his involvement recognised by prestigious awards.
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Lynda Summers is the chair of the NSW Regional Communities Consultative Council which reports to the NSW Premier and the Minister for Rural Affairs in the development of regional policy. A Trustee of the NSW Responsible Gambling Fund, Lynda has had an ongoing involvement in social justice and community development issues, with special interest in health. A former local government Councillor, she has a broad suite of experience in justice and public administration and her networking skills have led to extensive involvement in policy development and strategic planning in the government sphere. Lynda is principal partner of Galbraith and Company and the Australian partner of Civitium, the leading consultancy for municipalities creating digital communities in the USA. Lynda has a passion for harnessing technology and innovation to enable regional economic and social development. Currently on extended leave from Charles Sturt University, where she was visiting research fellow with the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, Lynda is currently engaged as executive consultant to the Murray Regional Development Board, working within the technology, energy savings and innovation projects. |
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Trevor Sargeant commenced work for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council as Economic Development Manager in 1996 He has extensive experience in small business advisory and industry development areas. Trevor established the Hastings Business Enterprise Centre and facilitated and wrote Council’s 20 year development strategy which involved the direct participation of more than 400 people. The strategy, outlined on http://www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/economicdevelopmentteam concentrates on 'growth from within' using a partnership approach involving a large number of business and industry representatives.
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