Experience

• 

  Geelong Chamber of Commerce

  • Geelong, Victoria, Australia

  • Non Executive Director

    • Nov 2023 - Present
    • Geelong, Victoria, Australia

• 

  Hunter Financial Group

  • Greater Geelong, Victoria, Australia

  • Business Advisor

    • Nov 2019 - Present
    • Greater Geelong, Victoria, Australia

    Partner with clients to review and improve their current business operations and provide various business solutions designed to improve efficiency, enhance service delivery, and reduce company costs. Areas of speciality include: Operational Management, Corporate Strategy, Human Resources and Procurement savings.Principal Accountabilities:• Work with clients to create business plans that identify needs, goals, and options to improve processes.• Identify areas of improvement and provide recommendations to support clients reach their business potential.• Identify and assess viability of new business opportunities, including risks and return on investment potential.• Review, compare, evaluate and negotiation of procurement contracts to ensure cost optimisation.• Develop and implement strategies for improving key metrics and business operations.• Develop plans for achieving desired business outcomes and results to improve organisational performance.• Assist businesses with reviewing their business operations to identify where automation software could potentially enhance productivity and manage expenses resulting in reduced costs and inefficiencies.• Provide ongoing consulting to business leaders and employees to ensure success in their business areas.• Maintain and grow relationships with clients and other business partners.• Meet with clients and other business partners to gather information about their business and address their needs and concerns.• Experienced in stakeholder management across local government, community organisations, business and industry groups with proven ability to form collaborative partnerships.

• 

  Huntercorp Investments Pty Ltd

  • Victoria, Australia

  • Finance Specialist

    • Feb 2006 - Present
    • Victoria, Australia

    Huntercorp Investments Pty Ltd is an Equipment Finance and Investment Company assisting government and organisations with competitive finance rates for all their business equipment needs. This organisation was originally established to offer finance to SC Technology Group customers and is still offering this facility to existing and new customers. Principal Accountabilities:- Assessing customer needs according to their financial and business needs.- Assist business to manage expenses and reduce costs.- Educating customers on their legal and financial options and ensuring they understand their responsibilities.- Analysing and comparing different loan options available to the customer.- Provision of expertise in business and risk assessment to the customer.- Provision of up-to-date information relating to economic, product and market trends.- Provision of update to date knowledge regarding banking and financial legislation and regulations.- Develop and maintain trust with clients and lenders. - Oversee all aspects of project management including the coordination and completion of projects on time within budget and scope.

• 

  SC Technology Group / Southern Cross Business Machines Geelong Pty Ltd

  • Greater Geelong, Victoria, Australia

  • Business Owner, CFO & Joint CEO

    • Feb 2006 - Dec 2019
    • Greater Geelong, Victoria, Australia

    After successfully selling SC Tech in November 2019, I consulted back to the new owners until 2021 . SC Tech is a dynamic IT provider specialising in Toshiba copiers, printers, scanners and office automation software across the Geelong and Ballarat region with over 25 years experience. I am proud of the role I played in growing a business with a strong commitment to helping clients improve their businesses by applying the latest proven technologies to increase profits, manage expenses and enhance productivity. In my role as Joint CEO, I was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organisation, its people and resources ensuring that the organisational structure and processes met the strategic and cultural needs of the organisation. I was also responsible for administrative, financial and risk management operations of SC Tech, including the development of a financial and operational strategy, and the ongoing development, analysis and monitoring of control systems designed to report accurate financial results. I identified and reported what areas of the company were most efficient and how the company could capitalise on this information; completed analysis of financial results, development of recommendations, both strategic and tactical; projected and forecasted the long-term financial picture of SC Tech; Financial Planning and Analysis; Cash flow planning; policy and Investor Relations.Key Achievements:- In 2013 expanded business and opened up another branch in the Ballarat region.- In 2015 SC Tech won the Geelong Business Excellence Awards “Commercial Services Medium Business Award” and then the overall “Business of the Year Award”.- Developed key tools and systems to provide critical financial and operational information and make actionable recommendations on both strategy and operations to ensure above industry profit margins were maintained.

• 

  Deakin University

  • Australia
  • Higher Education
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Business Development Officer

    • Feb 2004 - Feb 2006

    Primary Purpose:To assist with the development and implementation of initiatives for attracting funds for research and fostering collaboration with industry and government. The aim was to assist Deakin to become a major player in research through networking with government and industry, and to coordinate externally funded projects involving multi-disciplinary teams. In this role I was responsible for the management, coordination, and attraction of major research funding. Principal Accountabilities:- Interact with academic and administrative staff in the planning, development and implementation of strategic research grants and industry projects.- work with researchers to identify opportunities for major research funding and collaboration activities and ensure that these were in line with the university's priority areas and government policies.- Assist research staff with the drafting of preliminary business plans, major research grants and tender opportunities. - Monitor the progress of major projects including the provision of administration support and reporting to funding bodies.- Assisted with developing and implementing initiatives to attract funds for research and foster collaboration with industry and government.- Coordinated externally funded projects involving multi-disciplinary teams to ensure government requirements and criteria met.- Monitored the progress of major projects including the provision of administration support and of reporting to funding bodies.- The management of the central administration of research scholarships schemes including data management, statistical and financial reporting.Key Achievements:- Research income generated by the university increased from $3M to $25M.

  • Research Scholarships Manager

    • Feb 1999 - Feb 2004

    Principal Accountabilities:- Administration of research scholarships for the university and management of the central files and records for scholarship holders and applicants.- Management of the Australian Postgraduate Awards (Industry) scheme and negotiation of contracts and agreements for externally funded research scholarships.- Provision of financial management reports on the progress of scholarship holders to external bodies and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.- Coordinating the annual DEST research data collection for the university's research income.- Review of research contracts and tenders for compliance with national competition policy and university requirements for the successful negotiation of Australia postgraduate industry scholarship contract.Key Achievements:- Reconciliation of a scholarship budget as required by DETYA annually.- Restructure of operational activities to effectively manage postgraduate scholarships and higher degree candidates, including modifications to databases, and development and implementation of new processes and procedures. These new processes ensured that the statistical and financial information required by external industry partners, various government entities and the division were comprehensive and accurate.Related Achievements:- Awarded 2000 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding contribution to strategic priorities.

  • GST Project Officer - Secondment Position

    • Feb 2000 - Sep 2000

    Primary Purpose:To implement the new tax system (GST and PAYG) at Deakin University including provision of advice and information to staff, training of staff and system modifications.In 2000, I was asked by the Finance Director, Financial & Business Services Division, to assist him in the implementation of the new GST tax system into the university. Principal Accountabilities:- Autonomous provision of advice and information to staff with respect to the new tax system, - Conducting training of staff and system modifications. Developed and maintained a GST internet site for the university ensuring an appropriate intellectual property transfer of GST knowledge to all Deakin employees.- Provision of indirect tax support to the university as it moved from implementation to operational support.