Meet Chamber Staff

Chris is the Chamber's Chief Executive. He is also the Chief Executive of Australian Industry & Defence Network (Canberra) Inc. and Retail Traders Association ACT Region Inc.  

Chris represents business on over 20 ACT government boards, committees, statutory authorities, or Ministerial Advisory councils. These include ACTPLA's Commercial Advisory Group, Skills Commission, the Board of Senior Secondary Studies (Deputy Chairman), Vocational Education and Training Advisory Group, ACT Accreditation and Registration Council, ANU School of Music Foundation, Capital Region Community Foundation, and Defence's Joint Training Task Force.

He is on the Board of two public companies and a number of community organisations. Chris is a member of General Council of the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI). He is Chairman of the Corporate Directors Association of Australia Limited, Multicultural Business Chamber of Australia Incorporated, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Industry Council (ACT & Region) Limited.

Details of Chris’ current roles are available at: www.oakhill.com.au/roles.htm 

Office Manager
Executive Officer

Direct Phone: (02) 6283 5238
Direct Fax: (02) 6282 5045
Mobile: 0407 200 414

zoe.carroll@actchamber.com.au

Zoe is the Chamber’s Office Manager and is responsible for the day to day operations and the general administration for the Chamber.

Zoe is also the Executive Officer of the Chamber and of the Australian Industry & Defence Network (Canberra) Inc (AIDN). She is responsible for the administration of the Chief Executive’s office and secretariat services to the Chamber and AIDN Board. 

Sam is the Chamber’s Marketing, Events and Communications Director. This involves the management and responsibility for all Chamber events, marketing as well as communication with Chamber members. Sam also manages the Chamber’s Young Business Network program as well as the Women in Business Series and the Retail Traders Association of the ACT & Region Incorporated (RTA).

Jo is the Chamber’s Business Development Manager. Our Business Development Manager is responsible for membership development, responding to queries regarding new members, membership upgrades, renewals and providing general assistance to our members. 

Jo has 19 years experience in retail and management and prides herself on her communication and people skills.

Jo is also focused on providing members with a key point of contact upon becoming a Chamber member who will ensure she develops the long lasting relationship with your business.

Jo will also be present at Chamber events.

Marketing, Events and Communications Officer

Direct Phone: (02) 6283 5231
Direct Fax: (02) 6282 2436

Mobile: 0412 933 631
sarah.kentwell@actchamber.com.au

Sarah is the Chamber’s Marketing, Events and Communications Officer. She is responsible for providing support to the Chamber’s Marketing, Events and Communications Director with organising events and marketing activities for the Chamber as well as communications to Chamber members.

Sarah is also the Communications Officer for the Employment, Education and Training (EET) sector of the Chamber. She ensures the EET team are constantly kept up to date and in touch regarding events, meetings and projects being run in the EET sector. Sarah is the first point of contact for any EET enquiries from schools, businesses and community organisations. She manages and distributes the weekly and monthly newsletters and also provides general administrative support for the EET team.

You will see Sarah at all Chamber events.

Administration Officer

Direct Phone: (02) 6283 5200
Direct Fax: (02) 6282 2436

sarah.tout@actchamber.com.au

Sarah is the primary contact at reception. She is responsible for the main switchboard, management of boardroom bookings, other meetings and daily monies. Sarah provides administrative support to all departments within chamber.

Suellen is the Chamber’s Finance Officer and she provides the complete accounting services and financial management for both the Chamber and the Commonwealth grant programs currently run at the chamber. Suellen has extensive experience in her field and works part time at the chamber.

Trevar represents the interests of members on a number of boards, committees and advisory groups, including the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies’ Curriculum Advisory Committee; the National and NSW/ACT Networks of Partnership Brokers; the Career Development Association of Australia (ACT Division); the Interagency Transition Committee; the Canberra Careers Market Advisory Group; the Youth Attainment and Transitions Strategic Funding Pool Joint Working Group; the ACT Training Excellence Awards; the Training and Education Committee for the Murrumbidgee Education and Training Centre; and the Employment, Education and Training Network of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also maintains close working relationships with key staff in the Education and Training Directorate of the ACT Government, keeping them informed about members’ concerns and supporting effective communication between the business community and government and education and training organisations.

Trevar is the Chamber’s Director of Employment, Education and Training. With a background in secondary and tertiary education, he oversees the Chamber’s activities within the education and training sector, working closely with the Education and Training Adviser while directly overseeing the Chamber’s Partnership Brokers.

Education and Training Advisor
Direct Phone: (02) 6283 5248
Direct Fax: (02) 6282 2436
Mobile: 0403 551 507
jo.powell@actchamber.com.au

Jo is the Education and Training Advisor for the Chamber. Jo has worked for a Registered Training Organisation and an Australian Apprenticeship Centre. She is able to assist Chamber members with their vocational education and training issues, and the benefits to employers of engaging with the training system. Jo also collects information on issues within the VET sector to provide recommendations for future actions, initiatives and developments.

The Education and Training Adviser (ETA) program is funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

Partnership Broker
Direct Phone: (02) 6283 5291
Direct Fax: (02) 6282 2436
Mobile: 0407 850 442 

louise.debusch@actchamber.com.au

Louise joined the Chamber in July 2011 as a Partnership Broker. Louise spent twelve months working in a very similar role in Mount Isa, North West region Queensland for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland.  Louise has many years of experience working in areas of developing sustainable partnerships from grass-roots to strategic projects with key stakeholder groups, across all levels of government.

Louise will be working with stakeholders across business and industry, education and training sectors, community groups and parent groups to broker partnerships that support young people to remain engaged or to re-engage in education or training to realise their full potential. Louise is on the CIT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Board and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Transition Leadership Group.

Louise also provides valuable supports to the Indigenous Business Chamber of Australia Incorporated in her role of Partnership Liaison Officer.

Greg is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Chamber's workplace relations team. Greg is also actively involved in assisting members with their WR and HR issues, including agreement making, representation in Fair Work Australia hearings, and as a member of the ACT OHS Council. He delivers seminars for members on a wide range of workplace relations, industrial relations and people management issues. Greg has 25 years experience in the field of workplace relations/human resource management.

Scott is responsible for the providing day-to-day workplace relations and human resources advice to Chamber members on their WR and HR issues. He also supports members in more involved projects such as the Enterprise Agreements, employment contracts, Fair Work mediation/conciliation/hearing, and delivers workplace relations workshops for members. Scott has 15 years experience in the field of workplace relations/human resource management.

David assists Chamber members with visa and immigration issues. 

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN:		DEPUTY CHAIRMAN:
Mr Julian Barrington-Smith		Mr Ivan Slavich
Managing Director		Chief Executive Officer
The Good Guys (Tuggeranong)		Transact Communications Pty Ltd
Hyperdome Lifestyle Centre		470 Northbourne Ave
GREENWAY ACT 2900		DICKSON ACT 2602
Ph: 02 6293 2244		Ph: 02 6161 8301
Mr Greg Castle		Mr Bob Wilson
Regional General Manager		Chief Executive Officer
Westpac Banking Corporation		St Vincent De Paul Society
Level 1, Corner Petrie Plaza		14-16 Colbee Court
CANBERRA ACT 2600		PHILLIP ACT 2606
Phone: 02 6275 5155		Ph: 02 6234 7351
Mr  Des Linehan		Mrs Kaye Miller
Manager, Corporate Development		Corporate HR & Client Manager
Effective People Pty Ltd		Project Coordination
1st Floor, 17 Trenerry Street		GPO Box 179
WESTON ACT 2611		CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601
Ph: 02 6162 2000		Ph: 02 6285 1555
Mrs Kylie Chapman		Mr Chris Taylor
Human Resources Manager		General Manager
Prime Media Group		Telstra Corporation
PO Box 878		Level 5, 490 Northbourne Ave
DICKSON ACT 2602		DICKSON ACT 2602
Ph: 02 6242 3700		Ph: 02 621 92901