AusCham Board of Directors 2021/22 Announcement

Simon Pugh - President CEO Hoang Ha Label Co., Ltd (QLM Vietnam)

I am the owner and CEO of a multinational business and 8 year resident of Vietnam. Together with 11 other business leaders, I am running on a ticket with the aim that if we are all successfully elected, we will pivot the chamber to a business focused, stakeholder return operating model. This includes monthly education and training seminars for member emerging leaders, targeted events to promote and link Australian companies doing business or looking to do business in Vietnam, aligning the chamber trade initiatives with those of the Australian Government representatives in Vietnam,  initiating  a women in leadership group and an executive mentoring group.  The success of our chamber is also about our community engagement and we plan to implement a chamber CSR to both assist our local community and light a path for member companies who may wish to participate. The sum experience of our team running for election is a turnover of over $1 billion employing more than 7,000 people and we look forward to the opportunity to bring our collective experience together to continue to develop the Auscham experience for all stakeholders.

Jacquie O'Hara – Treasurer Director of Asset Development Orlar Vietnam Joint Stock Company

Jacquie has been working across the globe for the last 20 years, with career highlights in Jordan, Dubai and the Maldives.  In her 4 years in Vietnam, Jacquie was most recently Director of Hospitality Development for SonKim Land and is now taking those skills to Orlar – an Australian technology-driven sustainable agricultural solution www.orlar.com . Currently working to address food security issues in South East Asia, Jacquie has a passion for developing young business leaders and sharing best practice – also kicking goals on the field as full forward and Treasurer of Na Fianna Gaelic Football Club HCMC. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquie-o-hara-01736750/

Richard Stapley-Oh - Secretary Partner, Head of Legal Services KPMG Limited

Richard Stapley-Oh (HCMC) – Richard is a partner and the Head of Law at KPMG. His 5 year tenure has taken an idea and grown it to be one of the largest law firms in the country. https://home.kpmg/vn/en/home/services/legal.html. In Singapore for 10 years prior to Vietnam and as a personal highlight on the board of the prestigious Singapore Cricket Club, as well as Variety - Children’s Charity Singapore, Richard understands the need for compliance and governance at a board level. Richard has a passion for growing the skills of local staff to an international level and works in a company that sets benchmark standards in CSR. https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-stapley-oh-7066529/

Jess Wong Managing Director Novas Group Vietnam

Jess Wong (HCMC) – Jess is the Vietnam Manager of Novas Architectural, an Australian company at the forefront of Architectural Hardware and Kitchen & Bathroom product development and design. https://www.novas.com.au/ Jess has over 20 year experience in the industry and believes in upskilling and nurturing the next generation of leaders. In the last two years in Vietnam, Jess has gone through the challenges of migrating the local operation from a joint venture to a wholly owned branch of Novas. Jess represents the SME sector where being versed in a multi-task environment is critical to success. Along with developing the local Novas team and business, Jess has a passion for equality and anti-discrimination in both the work place and society at large. Jess enjoys playing soccer and cooking in her spare time. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-wong-1b0ab526/

Daniel Tedesco General Director DEK Technologies

Daniel has spent the last 11 years living in Vietnam, growing DEK Technologies Vietnam to being a leader in its field and another great Australian success story. https://www.dektech.com.au/vietnam/  Daniel’s work focusses on making DEK an employer of choice, working with local sensibilities in an international business framework. Daniel has a passion for developing local skills. https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddan/

Gabe Carter Managing Director – Vietnam Aurecon Vietnam Limited Company

Gabe is the Managing Director for Aurecon’s engineering and advisory business in Vietnam. Overall responsibility for 250+ staff, general operations, business development, project delivery, financial performance and team development. In his 19 years of delivery experience, Gabe has executed numerous major projects from both leadership and technical roles. Global engagements have taken him from his home in Sydney, Australia to the United States, Middle East, India, Indonesia, Vietnam. Gabe’s market experience extends across hospitality, mixed use, stadia, commercial, healthcare, defence, airports and residential sectors providing a spectrum of technical understanding which enables adaptation and innovation in the built environment.

Thomas Sullivan General Director Detmold Packaging Vietnam  

Regional General Manager with the Detmold Group, one of the largest privately owned packaging companies in Australia. I have been working in Australia and Asia for the past 20 years and have developed significant international experience with a geographically diverse and broad-based background, focused on establishing and growing businesses throughout Asia, creating customer value through innovation and efficiency. This experience has provided me in depth insights into the different cultures and the challenges faced when doing business in Asia. I first came to Vietnam in 2009 to start the Detmold Packaging Vietnam. I spent 2 years commuting from Australia, setting up and running the business. It was at that time I was exposed to the amazing people and culture of Vietnam; it was then I knew I would return on a more permanent basis in the future, this occurred in 2019. I believe an effective Auscham board has diversity with strong knowledge of doing business in Vietnam and the region. It is with leadership, governance, and strategy, Auscham can add significant value to its members. I have served on various boards and committees in the past and currently serve on The Eckermann Group Advisory Board (Chair) in Australia. I am a current member and graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Justin Malcolm General Manager Le Meridien Saigon

Justin Malcolm is a 26-year veteran of the hospitality industry working for award winning properties for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International across countries. Justin is currently the General Manager at Le Méridien Saigon, one of the leading 5-star hotels in HCMC, where he has served for one past 4.5 years.  Through Justin’s leadership the hotel has been recognized for Industry Leading awards that includes 2020 Luxury Business Hotel and Luxury Spa Hotels Asia by World Luxury Hotel and Spa Awards. In 2019, Justin was also awarded Hospitality Superstar Award by The Asia Pacific Tourism and Travel Federation. Justin was also responsible for the rebranding and complete renovation of Sheraton Maldives; and during his time there, the height of the global financial crisis, Starwood awarded him Most Inspiring Leader of the year in Asia in 2009. Justin was a wealth of committee and board experience which has included Chairman of the Starwood Security Council for 4 countries over a 7-year period; was the founding Chairman of PATA Chiang Rai Chapter; was Chairman of the Industry Intelligence Committee for PATA Thailand and is currently Co-Chair of Marriott International Business Council for Vietnam and Cambodia. Justin has a strong background in change management (as a certified Six Sigma Black Belt) and business turnaround whist developing high performing teams.

Jimmy Pham – Vice President CEO/Founder KOTO

Jimmy Pham has been a pillar of the Hanoian community for over 22 years. Born in Saigon but raised in Sydney Jimmy keeps a foot in both camps which has allowed him to successfully operate in the hospitality sector, in Vietnam, for over 20 years. Jimmy’s long history operating the KOTO social enterprise (the first vocational training program in Vietnam), has allowed Jimmy to not only develop extensive experience in the social justice space but also vast business networks within Vietnam. His high visibility among both expats and local Vietnamese has long been an asset that he has utilised by mentoring socially inclusive businesses into thriving institutions in Hanoi through the Centre for Social Initiatives Promotion. Jimmy brings diversity, he brings passion, but above all, he brings a strong sense of the importance of international partnerships in making Vietnam the amazing place that he has always known that it is.

Patrick Chang Head of Corporate Development Blackstone Minerals

Patrick is Head of Corporate Development at Blackstone Minerals, an ASX-listed mining company. As part of a young and dynamic management team, his role in Vietnam includes business development and external relations for Blackstone, which aims to rapidly develop the Ta Khoa Nickel Mine and a downstream refinery producing battery materials for the emerging electric vehicles market. space but also vast business networks within Vietnam. Patrick is passionate about developing strategies driving positive outcomes and seeing Australian mining and services companies taking a pre-eminent position in the mining sector in Vietnam. As a new entrant to Vietnam, he appreciates the various challenges faced by corporates trying to establish in country. Patrick has lived in China, Singapore, the United States and Australia prior to the current role in Vietnam. He can speak English, Chinese, Spanish and is learning Vietnamese.

Aaron Funnell Executive Director Outward Bound Vietnam

Aaron Funnell is Executive Director of Outward Bound Vietnam and has been working across Asia since 2003. Originally from Sydney, he has been based in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and most recently in Vietnam since 2017. In addition to outdoor qualifications, he has an MBA, a Masters of Education, and a Diploma of Training and Assessment. Aaron also serves as a member of the Association for Experiential Education Accreditation Council USA, which sets standards for outdoor education in North America, and the Global Research Advisory Committee for Outward Bound International. He has convened several educational conferences and produced impact reports for various charities and social enterprises he has been connected with. Aaron joined Auscham to gain local business intelligence and as a platform for engaging in ongoing professional development, and these are the areas he hopes to dive into further by serving on the AusCham board.

Kelly Cassidy Adjunct Industry Professional Swinburne Vietnam

Dr Cassidy is an International Education professional with over 20 years experience working in Higher Education.  Kelly was awarded a Master of International Tourism and Hospitality Management (first class honors), and a PhD from Griffith University. Kelly was the recipient of a Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) scholarship bursary and Award for Excellence for her PhD thesis. More recently, Kelly lived in Hanoi whilst appointed Academic Director of Swinburne University's first offshore campus in Vietnam. She is currently based in Melbourne, working as an education advisor and continues to develop and strengthening bilateral relations in her role as Policy and Program Manager for the Australia Vietnam Young Leadership Dialogue.