2019 Business Leaders Breakfast

Expert Speaker

• Professor Peter Gahan

  

  Peter Gahan is Professor of Management at the University of Melbourne and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Workplace Leadership, where he was Foundation Director from 2012 to 2017.  He has previously held academic and visiting positions at UNSW, Monash, University of South California, The European University Institute, Cardiff Business School, New York University and Stockholm Business School.

  Professor Gahan has also worked as senior public servant as Director of Workplace Innovation in the Victorian Department of Industry, Innovation and Regional Development.  He has undertaken commissioned research for both state and commonwealth governments on areas related to employment relations, regulatory arrangements to support workplace innovation, and the consequences of various regulatory labour market reforms.

  Over the last 25 years, Professor Gahan has published widely on conflict and negotiations, employment relations and collective bargaining, high performance workplaces, labour markets and the future of work, and the consequences of labour market regulation.

  His current research focuses on two major drivers of change at work: workforce ageing and how technology is transforming the nature of jobs. Peter is currently exploring how older works are perceived by others (co-workers, managers and customers) in the workplace and how these perceptions influence hiring decisions, promotion and performance evaluations.

Leader Hosts

• Mr Michael Chernov - BCom, BSci

  

  Chief Financial Officer, AIA Australia

  Michael is currently the CFO of AIA Australia and New Zealand, and has 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, with a strong background as an actuary and in finance. He joined AIA Australia in 2009, and prior to becoming CFO in 2016 held a number of different positions within AIA in the Actuarial, Finance and Strategy teams.

  Prior to joining AIA Australia, Michael gained experience in both consulting and reinsurance with roles at Munich Re (UK), Deloitte (UK and Australia) and Trowbridge Consulting (Australia).

  Michael has a Bachelor of Commerce and Science from the University of Melbourne, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (FIAA).

  Find Michael on LinkedIn: in/michael-chernov-159a82153/

• Mr Ashley Conn - BCom

  Chief Financial Officer, CSG Limited

  Ashley is currently the Chief Financial Officer of CSG Ltd, a public business technology company based in Melbourne.  Previously Ashley was an investment banker for 20 years working with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley in Australia and New York executing mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and capital raisings.  Ashley has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, is a Chartered Accountant and holds an MBA from Wharton.

  Find Ashley on LinkedIn: in/ashley-conn-5759b3/

• Ms Alison Currie - BCom (Hons), BA

  

  Partner, PwC Australia

  Following completion of her studies at the University and a short while in the Economics department as a research assistant and tutor, Alison Currie has spent the last 15 years working for governments from public service to the political sphere.
  Alison worked as a senior adviser to ministers, treasurers and premiers in both State and Federal Governments before she became the Chief of Staff to the Victorian State Treasurer and Minister for Resources. Her experience covers a wide range of policy areas at both a State and Federal level, including budget and financial management, state taxation, occupational health and safety, insurance, health, environment, water, disability, emergency services and bushfire reconstruction.
  Alison commenced with PwC Australia in February 2019, and is Vice President of the University's Alumni Council.

  Find Alison on LinkedIn: in/alison-currie/

• Professor Peter Gahan - PhD

  

  Peter Gahan is Professor of Management at the University of Melbourne and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Workplace Leadership, where he was Foundation Director from 2012 to 2017.  He has previously held academic and visiting positions at UNSW, Monash, University of South California, The European University Institute, Cardiff Business School, New York University and Stockholm Business School.

  Professor Gahan has also worked as senior public servant as Director of Workplace Innovation in the Victorian Department of Industry, Innovation and Regional Development.  He has undertaken commissioned research for both state and commonwealth governments on areas related to employment relations, regulatory arrangements to support workplace innovation, and the consequences of various regulatory labour market reforms.

  Over the last 25 years, Professor Gahan has published widely on conflict and negotiations, employment relations and collective bargaining, high performance workplaces, labour markets and the future of work, and the consequences of labour market regulation.

  His current research focuses on two major drivers of change at work: workforce ageing and how technology is transforming the nature of jobs. Peter is currently exploring how older works are perceived by others (co-workers, managers and customers) in the workplace and how these perceptions influence hiring decisions, promotion and performance evaluations.

• Mr Marcus Godinho - BCom

  

  Chief Executive Officer, FareShare

  Marcus has extensive experience across environmental advocacy, the community sector and the corporate world. Some of his previous roles have included Executive Director at Environment Victoria and Manager External Communications at 
  National Australia Bank. Marcus is also a Board member at Wildlife Victoria, and Director of Lions Club of the Melbourne Markets.

  Find Marcus on LinkedIn: in/marcus-godinho-b9857413/

• Mrs Elizabeth Hall-Johnston - MBA, BCom, BA

  

  Investment Manager, First Exar Family Office

  Liz is an Investment Manager at First Exar, a single family office in Melbourne where she manages a portfolio of international equity investments and is involved in a range of private equity and property development activities.  Previously, Liz worked at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for 11 years, undertaking two diplomatic postings with a professional focus on trade and economic reporting on the Asian region.  Liz developed wide experience in bilateral and multilateral trade policy, international relations and strategic affairs.  Liz has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School.

  Find Liz on LinkedIn: in/elizabeth-hall-johnston-3a700394/

• Ms Samantha Mark - BCom

  Consultant, Spencer Stuart

  Samantha Mark leads Spencer Stuart’s Human Resources Practice in Australia, and is also a member of the firm’s Financial Services and Education practices. She has also led the firm’s Leadership Advisory Services in the Asia Pacific region, advising boards and chief executive officers on the capabilities of their teams using her expertise in assessment methodologies, leadership development and coaching. Samantha also brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services and professional services, where she held leadership roles in strategic development and corporate advisory, including mergers and acquisitions, financial management anleadership advisory.

  Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Samantha held numerous leadership positions with DBS Banking Group. She served as the managing director and country chief operating officer for DBS Banking Group in Singapore.

  Samantha graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Melbourne and an executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management. She is a qualified chartered accountant. She also holds a master’s degree in counseling from Monash University and has completed the Columbia Coaching Certification Program offered by Columbia Business School/Teachers College.

  Find Samantha on LinkedIn: in/samanthamark/

• Ms Shamini Rajarethnam - MAppCpm(Mktg), BA

  

  Chief Executive Officer, Rationale Skincare

  With a career spanning media and fashion in Singapore and Australia, Shamini Rajarethnam led Marketing and Digital departments for media startups and fashion brands before transitioning to beauty in 2011 when she joined RATIONALE.

  Rajarethnam distinguished herself as a powerful leader and influencer in the emerging digitally-driven global cosmeceutical marketplace. Exhibiting outstanding management skills, she was promoted to General Manager in 2015, achieving several critical industry milestones.

  Rajarethnam’s success across all facets of the business led to her appointment as CEO in 2017, where her areas of special interest include Talent Development, Branding and Strategic Operations.

  Find Shamini on LinkedIn: in/shamini-rajarethnam-994b0721/

• Ms Tania Smith - MEnv, BCom, BSci

  

  Director Sustainable Finance, ANZ

  Tania is a Director in ANZ’s Sustainable Finance team where she works with large institutional clients and corporates to drive increased investment in environmentally and socially responsible businesses and projects. Tania recently joined ANZ following 7 years overseas, working in the US and UK markets for the global design, engineering and consulting firm Arup. She is a Chartered Environmentalist with over 14 years of experience advising governments, investors, and private clients on sustainable infrastructure projects, policies and investments.  As a female working in what have traditionally been male dominated fields, and through her experience of leading teams in a variety of cross cultural settings, Tania has gained a breadth of leadership experience and had exposure to a wide variety of leadership styles. Bringing her own unique perspective on leadership, Tania will share the insights she’s gained throughout her global career.

  Find Tania on LinkedIn: in/smithtania/

• Mr Tim Watts - BCom, BA

  

  Chief Operating Officer, Stile Education

  Business can play a role in helping to solve important environmental and social problems. Tim's career is a case in point.  He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Stile Education, a SaaS business founded in 2016 to provide an antidote to boring, irrelevant science resources in schools.  Tim was a Co-Founder at Flexicar, and is also a Board member at Environment Victoria.

  Find Tim on LinkedIn: in/timwatts2/

• Mrs Angela Williams - BCom

  General Manager,  Transfleet Transport Pty Ltd

  Biography to come

  Find Angela on LinkedIn: in/angela-w-94188027/

• Mr Matthew Wilson - BCom (Hons), LLB

  

  Managing Director, Flagstaff Partners

  Matthew joined Flagstaff Partners in 2018 and has 17 years of experience in investment banking. Prior to joining Flagstaff Partners, Matthew worked with J.P. Morgan for 14 years, initially in Melbourne covering industrial clients and then in Sydney, leading the firm’s coverage of private equity, healthcare and TMT clients. Matthew commenced his career with Macquarie Bank’s Investment Banking Group in Melbourne. Over his career, Matthew has advised on numerous transactions across a variety of sectors including healthcare, telecommunications, media, business services, chemicals, consumer products, mining services, paper & packaging, transportation, building products and retail. He has worked on a broad range of transaction types including public and private treaty M&A, equity raisings (IPOs, entitlement offers, placements), and domestic and offshore debt raisings (investment and non-investment grade), as well as providing strategic advice to clients on growth strategy, capital management & allocation and shareholder activism.

  Matthew is a member of the Faculty's Alumni Council, a former Executive-in-Residence and current Honorary Fellow of the Department of Finance.

  Find Matthew on LinkedIn: in/matthew-wilson-8012038/