David Kerr
Chairman, 2009 South West Focus Committee
President, South West Chambers of Commerce and Industry Welcome to the 2009 South West Focus Conference David Kerr is the Chairman of the South West Focus Committee, President of the South West Chambers of Commerce and Industry and President of the Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries. He is the Managing Director of Business Management and Training Services Pty Ltd, a Bunbury based consulting business specialising in strategic and business planning, marketing, project management, training design and training implementation. David has worked across a broad range of industry sectors throughout Australia and is committed to the development of proactive strategies for business and community development. Welcome address |  |
Simon Johnson
Regional Director, Western Australian Trade Office – India Focus on India Based at Mumbai, Simon Johnson is the Western Australian Trade and Education Office’s regional director for India. He held a similar position in Indonesia between 1995 and 1998 before returning to Perth to become the director of international trade relations with the Department of Commerce and Trade. In 2001, Simon was recognised for his work in expanding trade between Western Australia and Taiwan and was presented with the Premier of Western Australia's award for economic development. Presentation
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Kevin Sheedy AM
AFL coaching legend, author, corporate business speaker Keynote address Kevin Sheedy is one of the Australian Football Leagues most enduring coaches, and arguably the most imaginative in the history of the craft. A player and coach for more than 36 years, Kevin has an unsurpassed record of involvement in eight Premierships and in 1998 Kevin broke the record for coaching more professional AFL games than anyone else in history. No longer a coach, Kevin is a consultant to the AFL and to the Richmond Football Club. Presentation summary |  |
Kerry Fijac
General Manager Business Development and Marketing, Landcorp Infrastructure and the South West in a global context Kerry Fijac joined LandCorp in 2008 as General Manager Business Development and Marketing after a year 20 year stint at the Department of Housing and Works as Executive Director Regional Services, General Manager Review and Rebuild and then Deputy Director General. Kerry's role has responsibility for sustainability and design excellence, pursuit of new business opportunities, program management and all marketing and communication activity. She is a member of LandCorp’s executive management team and leads LandCorp’s change management and integration initiatives. Presentation
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Noel Ashcroft
Chief Executive Government Relations and Market Development, The Griffin Group Competing globally in Europe and Russia Noel Ashcroft is the chief executive of government relations and market development for The Griffin Group. Noel has extensive senior executive experience across a number of Western Australian Government industry and resource development portfolios. He will share insights from his experience about how South West businesses can compete in the global marketplace, with a focus on trade to the UK, Europe and Russia. Presentation |  |
Alan Lindsay
Managing Director, Vue Group Innovative technology and global opportunity for smart industries Alan Lindsay is managing director of digital content producers Vue Group. The Vue Group and high performance computing company ISA Technologies are owners of the Australian Centre for Digital Innovation, which opens in the new Bunbury library building mid-year. Alan entered the film and television production business 35 years ago. He has been head of a broadcast documentary unit, director of television for a major advertising agency, a consultant on new business development for broadcasters and media companies, and he has made over 110 hours of quality television. Alan is on the board of Western Australian film agency ScreenWest. |  |
Edmund Damouni
WA Chair, Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce Diverse opportunities in the Middle East Based in Perth, Edmund Damouni is the WA chair of the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the managing director of award-winning furniture manufacturing business Antry Pty Ltd. He has extensive knowledge of Middle Eastern markets, especially the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and recently led a trade mission to those countries. Edmund speaks Arabic, English and conversational French. Presentation |  |
Vada Ng
Business Development Manager, The Confucius Institute at the University of WA Chinese business culture Vada Ng is the business development manager for the Confucius Institute at The University of Western Australia. She is responsible for the development of corporate and business programs in the institute. Vada grew up in a traditional Chinese family and has lived and worked in both the UK and Australia. Vada has extensive cross-cultural experience, particularly in relation to Chinese and Australian business, government and general cultural environments. Presentation
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Joseph McCarthy
Director (Projects), Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers Perdaman Collie Urea Project: Opportunities for the South West Joseph McCarthy has extensive experience as a project director and has overseen refining, fertiliser, gasification and petrochemical projects across the world. In 2001 he managed the initial project development activities for Burrup Fertilisers' ammonia production facility – the biggest of its kind in the world. He also successfully completed the engineering, procurement and construction of a gasification facility in Singapore. Presentation | 
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Adam Denniss
Manager Export Advisors, Austrade Western Australia Global opportunities in challenging times Adam Denniss has been with Austrade, the Australian Government’s trade and investment development agency, for the past two years and acted in the position of state manager for most of 2008. He has held State manager positions in numerous companies over the past 10 years including one of the country’s leading brand management firms. Presentation |  |
Don Punch
Chief Executive Officer, South West Development Commission Closing address Don Punch is the chief executive of the South West Development Commission and has been a career public servant in Western Australia for 25 years. He has worked throughout regional Western Australia on many infrastructure projects and has special expertise in both community and economic planning. Mr Punch has responsibility to facilitate the planning and coordination of government services and funded infrastructure throughout the South West. Closing address |  |
