EXECUTIVE TEAM
PRESIDENT: WENDI DAWSON
Having worked across both Australia and New Zealand, Wendi has an extensive background in consulting, sales, leadership development and strategy. Her passion and focus have been to work with organisations to achieve their strategic growth goals and hone their greatest competitive advantage – their people. One of her fundamental beliefs is that to achieve significant success and growth you must focus on the customer experience and outcome – continually delivering a better service today than yesterday. Wendi joined the Committee of the Melbourne Business Network in October 2018. She is passionate about supporting the development of businesses – start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, corporate – within Melbourne.
VICE-PRESIDENT: SIAN STEPHENS
Sian is passionate and inspired by the SME global marketplace and finds it full of innovation and creativity, also great customer service and value for money. She supports business owners and their people to assess their own value, understand their potential and learn how to voice in a way that will be heard and make a difference. Through her qualifications and skills in coaching, mentoring, training and facilitation gained over the last 20 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge that she enjoys sharing to ensure everyone has the best opportunities to love and enjoy success in their business. Sian works to ensure that the learning is received and implemented through practical actions that promote collaboration accountability and the best internal and external customer service.
Sian loves to travel and experience new cultures and has worked in the UK, across Europe, in Russia, and the UAE, before falling in love with Melbourne. She was the first Women in Management board member for The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) UK Wessex Region from 2010 – 2013. She has enjoyed volunteer mentoring for Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) 2015 – 2017, and currently with Business in Heels and the Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia New Zealand.
SECRETARY: CHRISTIAN ROTH
Christian is currently an owner and partner with the Sentius Group a Strategy First Consulting Agency specializing in integrated marketing campaigns across traditional and digital channels. He is responsible for partnerships, growth, and new business development. Christian has over 34 years’ experience in business strategy, integrated marketing both traditional and digital, and has worked with multinational companies on a global basis such as: McDonalds, Kraft, Disney Pictures, Shell, Nestle, General Mills, Pixar and CocaCola.
Christian has always had a keen interest in supporting the community, he was a part of the Big Brother program while in university, has designed and managed global campaigns for RMHC while at the Marketing Store and was a Director on the Board of the Lord Mayors Charitable Fund serving under both Lord Mayors John So and Robert Doyle for 6 years. He also served as a Director on the Board of The United Way Australia for 3 years.
TREASURER: PETER O'SULLIVAN
Peter has extensive experience in Australia and Europe, working with companies with operations in the USA and Asia (HK, Vietnam and India). He has worked with corporate businesses in travel, telco, media, retail & sports and entertainment sectors, as well as ‘start up’ technology businesses. Since returning to Australia, he has worked with a number of SMEs to scale up, turnarounds and exits.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
MARTY HAAK
Marty has over 23 years of experience in IT and Cybersecurity. Infinite Edge is Marty’s second IT business and is now in its 13th year. Marty is passionate about optimising and securing businesses’ people, processes and technology, as well as automating menial and repetitive tasks and humanising the exceptions. Marty is proud of the team and culture he has built in Infinite Edge and has a grand vision of being a global and impactful business for good. He is a proud husband and father of two vivacious girls, loves keeping active, the beach, surf life saving, and having fun, especially with good food, drinks, and great company!
IAN RENNISON
Having worked in the IT sector for over 20 years, I am passionate about promoting IT systems as the foundation of any business. As owner of The IT Advisor, I provide IT consultancy to both not-for-profit and commercial organisations who need help with their IT ecosystem. Having owned and operated an IT Managed Services provider for over 10 years, I understand the daily challenges of doing business and aim to empower business leaders with the knowledge and understanding of how their IT systems are not just a ‘necessary expense’ but are powerful tools that can take their organisation soaring to new heights.
While ‘IT’ is sometimes swept under the rug and filed under ‘too difficult’, I help guide business leaders through the IT terrain and help them find the appropriate services, applications and procedures that best suit their needs, maintaining a keen focus on cyber security, usability and business continuity. Better yet, I do this while speaking plain English and avoiding technobabble and jargon overload!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-rennison-12b17343/
TODD SUTTLE
Todd has vast experience in helping clients get the most out of digital. His background consists of design, development, integration, and marketing in the digital space. Starting out building websites as a self-taught developer, he has moved through many different roles; ranging from sales, account management, project management to consulting. He currently spearheads Subtle Digital; a leading eCommerce consultancy that helps merchants and brands unlock growth opportunities and solutions in the eCommerce space.
linkedin.com/in/toddsuttle/
www.subtledigital.com.au