Export Council of Australia Administration

 

National Office

Ian Murray AM
Executive Director

Ian Murray is Executive Director of the Export Council of Australia. Ian has held senior general management positions with private sector companies including Johnson & Johnson, and has lived and worked in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Pakistan. During 25 years of service with Johnson & Johnson, Ian was Marketing Director of J & J Indonesia and Group Marketing Manager of the Australian company. Ian’s major focus at J & J was new product development, market research and marketing strategy. In 2007 Ian was appointed a member of the Australian Governments Trade Advisory Council; He is Deputy Chairman & Treasurer of the Australian Logistics Council, Treasurer of the European Australian Business Council, Director of Tradegate and a Director of the Freight & Logistics Council of NSW. 

Peter Mace
General Manager

Peter has had a long career in international banking, having worked in senior trade roles with Westpac Banking Corporation, Citibank Australia Ltd and Bank of America Australia Ltd. He has also worked with Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) in the credit insurance sales area; as a Director of Infocast Australia Ltd; and owned a business coaching franchise for a period. Peter has been working with the Australian Institute of Export and now the Export Council of Australia for over 7 years. Peter is also a very keen Toastmaster. 

Cherie Matsuki
National Education Manager

Cherie has been working in education since 1990. Prior to joining the Export Council of Australia, she spent the last 6 years as an operational manager, working with accredited and non accredited course here in Australia. For many years, Cherie worked in education in Japan and was involved in advanced education programs for children. Cherie has also run her own business in Import / Export between Australia, Japan and China. Cherie lives with her partner and two beautiful daughters in Sydney.

Caroline Pan
National Manager in Finance and Administration

Caroline has had a varied career after graduating with a Bachelors Degree from China. Firstly, she worked as an instructor of 'English for International Trade' and the liaison officer for the university's international office. She then accepted a new job in marketing services with world leading pharmaceutical companies, Astra Zeneca and then GSK. Having worked for their Greater China headquarters in Shanghai for a few years, Caroline decided to take another challenge and started her new career in Australia with two International freight management companies Geodis Wilson and Ceva Logistics. Caroline got her Diploma in Accounting in 2003 and joined the Export Council of Australia (previously Australian Institute of Export) as an admin. & accounts all-rounder before becoming the finance and admin. manger in 2005.

Lisa McAuley
National Manager

Lisa has worked in marketing and sponsorships for the last five years and prior to joining the Export Council of Australia she was employed as the Events and Marketing Manager for a Sydney based company. As a graduate in Economics (Social Sciences) from the University of Sydney, she has since returned to her roots at the Export Council of Australia, managing the export programs, industry working groups, research as well as managing the National events and awards program. Lisa is currently undertaking her Master in Commerce, majoring in International Business at the University of New South Wales.

STACEY MILLS
National Operations Officer

Stacey recently graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts, with majors in International Trade and Finance, International Relations and Spanish. Following her graduation, Stacey worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers in their Economics and Policy team. In February 2012 she joined Trade and Investment Queensland as an International Business Cadet which saw her spend 5 months working in Queensland’s trade office in Santiago, Chile. During this time Stacey assisted a mining technology company establish a subsidiary company in Chile and worked on business development activities with the trade commissioner. Stacey joined the Export Council of Australia in February 2013.

State Managers

Ian Whitaker
State Manager – Western Australia
Senior Trade Adviser- Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia

Ian has 27 years experience providing advice to exporters and importers on all aspects of international trade. Ian has worked for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for over 21 years and has been instrumental in the establishment and operation of the Chamber’s International Trade Centre. He has led trade missions to Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Reunion and Madagascar and has also participated in trade delegations to India, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, United Kingdom, Canada and France, and has visited many other countries. Ian is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Export and a past Vice President of the Institute in Western Australia.

Collins Rex
State Manager- Victoria/ TASMANIA

Collins Rex joined the Export Council (previously the Australian Institute of Export) in June 2009 as the Victorian State Manager, with responsibility for the managing the Export programs and activities in that State. Collins has over 20 years’ marketing and communications experience. She has owned and operated her own businesses on two continents, and has worked as a radio and television broadcaster. Since immigrating to Australia in 1997, Collins has specialized in the management of industry bodies and not-for-profit organizations, and she has coordinated and managed several major events, including the Interact Asia Pacific Multimedia Festival.  She has extensive experience working with Government, industry Clusters, and SMEs, particularly in the ICT sector. Collins is a graduate of Johannesburg University (formerly Rand Afrikaans University) in South Africa.

Bob Shepard
State Manager- South Australia

Bob Shepard, Managing Director of Shepard International Pty Ltd. He has been involved in international trade and investment since 1960. Bob's first overseas business visit was to Iran in 1972. He has long working experience in many different overseas markets and extensive contacts spanning the globe. Bob has lived and worked in the Middle East, North America and Europe. Bob has substantial experience in the development of start-up businesses and founding exporters' networks through the creation of several Exporters "clubs" operating in Adelaide. He is a skilled negotiator, with extensive networks developed over many years through Government and the private sector. Bob has a passion for international trade and keeps very up to date with China through his position on the Executive Committee of the Australia China Business Council (ACBC). His company has current export business with India.

TradeStart Advisors

Lena Neill
Tradestart Export Advisor- Geelong/Ballarat

Lena Neill has worked as the TradeStart Export Advisor for the South West region since July 2003. During the past five years she has provided export assistance to a large number of clients, mainly new exporters, but also more established companies. Lena is originally from Sweden, but has spent about 10 years in Australia. After completing a Bachelor of Science in International Economics at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, she worked as export manager for textile company for about 3 years. After that she moved on to the West Sweden Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where she managed the staff recruitment company as well as worked closely with the Chamber members for the next five years. Lena has always had a strong interest in people and different cultures and has traveled extensively. She enjoys her role as export advisor, using a combination of export/business background, cross cultural experience and multilingual skills while working with the clients. 

SANDY HARMAN
Tradestart Export Advisor- Bendigo/Mildura

Sandy Harman is thrilled to be assisting businesses to develop and implement successful export programs that bring value to his local economy in regional Victoria. A marketing and negotiation professional, Sandy graduated from Monash University with marketing & sociology degrees and established his career in the private sector. He founded and ran his own successful service oriented business in Melbourne for 15 years and has been involved in export business development in regional Victoria for over 10 years. He was recently the Head of International Sales at VEA Group (one of the world’s largest education specific audio-visual producers). With extensive experience in exporting to the United States, Asia, Europe and Africa, he has specialised in intellectual property licensing (film, software and publishing) so far – however he also enjoys working with businesses exporting physical goods.

Sandy enjoys connecting with his clients and colleagues and maintains a strong international network of business partners. He says, “There’s nothing better than creating good outcomes whilst also establishing long lasting relationships – it sets up a strong cycle of reward for the parties involved.” He is looking forward to building a network within the broader exporting community in Australia and with international offices.

Besides his professional life, Sandy lives in the historical “tree-change” town of Castlemaine, site of the beginnings of the Victorian gold rush in 1851, which quickly became the biggest gold rush the world has ever seen and one of Australia’s largest export booms. He spends his spare time with his family, renovating his house, riding his motorcycle and fighting the occasional bush-fire as a volunteer with the Country Fire Authority.