| Doug Buerger, Chairman
Buerger Consulting Group Pty Ltd
Doug has over 40 years experience in mineral exploration and mining, including 25 years of service in general and executive management roles. He was managing director and CEO of Bendigo Mining for 11 years from 1995 to 2007.When the Bendigo Business Council was formed from the Central Victorian Business Network and the Bendigo Chamber of Commerce in 2008, Doug provided assistance to unite the two bodies. He was invited to serve as inaugural chairman.Doug serves on the committees of the Mineral Council of Australia and the Earth Resources Development Council; he has served on the La Trobe University Regional Advisory Board, and is a member of the Board of the Bendigo International Madison and a director of Peter Harcourt Disability Services.
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| Herbert Hermens, Deputy Chairman
Keech Castings Australia Pty Ltd
As a relatively recent arrival to Bendigo I have been overwhelmed by what I see as opportunity, there is no doubt that there are, as in any region, challenges, on balance there is much to build on, a education, manufacturing and service environment that working together provide the basis of community and prosperity for the region. Bendigo Business Council is a voice for business, in the community and government, a voice that should be clear in delivering a message, that thriving business is a foundation for regional prosperity. Business has responsibility to ensure that all its stakeholders recognize this value, through its voice and in its deeds.
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| Erin Delahunty
Regional Public Relations Group
A diversity of opinion and abilities is vital within any organisation, particularly those tasked with representing disparate views. I believe my personal and professional background, which has weaved from Bendigo Advertiser journalist to Daily Mail sub-editor to content writer for telecoms giant Ericsson in Sweden to married mother-of-one and PR consultant, has earned me a unique skill set. I hope I could help the Bendigo Business Council to raise its profile – and most importantly – its membership, to become a truly effective advocate for business and business owners in this great city. Originality and passion are two of Bendigo’s greatest strengths and I have both in spades and could apply them to my efforts on the BBC board. |
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| Stan Liacos
City of Greater Bendigo
I am a senior executive with extensive experience in the public and private sector, including local and state government, a statutory authority and small, medium and large private enterprise. Since moving to Bendigo with my family in 2006, I have been making a substantive contribution to accelerating the progressive development of Greater Bendigo, making the City of Greater Bendigo a more responsive organisation and helping promote and “talk up” our region far and wide. I have nominated for a seat on the BBC Board to help connect the organisation more effectively into government advocacy and programs to help lift its profile and performance. Greater Bendigo needs the BBC to be firing on all available cylinders. I will help do so. |
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| Peter Murphy
Strategem Financial Group
My desire is to cultivate and encourage the success of business in Bendigo. As an experienced advisor and advocate for local business, I wish to see Bendigo as the best place in regional Victoria to own and operate a business. Being part of the Bendigo Business Council Board, I intend to contribute ideas and knowledge to provide opportunities for both existing and new business to thrive. As Partner / Director of Strategem Financial Group, my experience is extensive and I have been supporting local companies for over 17 years. The businesses I support vary from SMEs to large corporates turning over many millions of dollars. My expertise extends to many different sectors including retail, wholesale, construction, franchise holders and professional services. I see great opportunity for local businesses to make greater connection with each other and there are many ways for the BBC to provide opportunities for this to happen. I have a passion for small business and I look forward to being able contribute my ideas at Board level.
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| Margaret O’Rourke
Telstra Country Wide
Margaret has been a member of the board since the amalgamation and hopes to be endorsed this time by the members of the BBC. She feels there is still so much that needs to be achieved as a new organisation and importantly outcomes over the next 12 months’. Margaret is very passionate about contributing to the success of business in Bendigo and Central Vic. and will work hard to pursue the vision of Bendigo as a vibrant business community and one with a strong economy. The experience Margaret brings to the board through working with small, medium and large businesses day to day helps her relate to the real issues that we all face in business. It is important that members get maximum benefits as part of their membership of the BBC and that they are represented on key strategic opportunities that will expand business strength and direction for our Region into the future. |
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| Warren Sinnott
Richmond, Sinnott & Delahunty
I am passionate about working and living in Bendigo. I am a partner in Richmond Sinnott and Delahunty and am a strong believer in conducting business in Bendigo. Through my work and active involvement with various organisations, sporting groups, church and community groups I am aware of the importance of creating and fostering an environment that supports local business and businesses. As a director of the Bendigo Business Council I will draw upon my years of experience in business and use my contacts to further develop the status of the Bendigo Business Council in the Bendigo business community. I look forward to being an active board member of the Bendigo Business Council. |
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| Margot Spalding
Jimmy Possum
As a Bendigonian and an owner of a local business with a national spread who has ALWAYS (whether at speaking engagements, or media interviews – in Victoria or interstate) extolled the virtues of living and doing business in Bendigo with great enthusiasm and pride, I am honoured to join the Board of the Bendigo Business Council. A strong vibrant community needs to have many committed businesses in order to maintain its viability and its continuity. There is strength in unity. There is strength in community. Without strong regional businesses communities die. Through the mechanism of the Bendigo Business Council we can further add to the established business building blocks by, promoting Bendigo, the lifestyle business centre; campaigning for Bendigo as Australia’s regional business hub; promoting the benefits of doing business ‘regionally’ in the urban-regional business divide; supporting the development of world-class standards of business training, knowledge and practice excellence, and developing new markets; creating a business enterprise culture to encourage local businesses not only to take opportunities, but to make opportunities; and ensuring the BBC not only challenges but also monitors the triple bottom line principles of economic, environmental and social sustainability to influence the future direction for businesses for sustainable growth. In short, we need to ensure the continued and expanded inward business investment in Bendigo and the region in order to develop outward business opportunities.
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| Rod Thomson
Bendigo Pottery
With qualifications in Engineering and Business Management, I have been involved in manufacturing for 30 years, having managed businesses in regional Victoria for the last 20 years. My wife and I have owned and managed Bendigo Pottery since 1999 during which time I have been involved in many manufacturing and tourism business groups. I am currently Chair of Goldfields Tourism Inc., Member of Bendigo Manufacturing Group, Member of the Australian Industry Group North Central and Goulburn Valley Section Committee, and am a current member of the Bendigo Business Council board having previously served on the Bendigo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board. I believe it is important for the BBC to represent the interests of all the different industry sectors in Bendigo and feel that I can contribute having experience and strong links in the manufacturing and tourism sectors. I see the role of directors as both representing the views of industry and also communicating activities the BBC are undertaking back to
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| Robert Toon
Toon Architects
Greater Bendigo is an integral cog in the state’s economic viability and growth. The Business Council provides an invaluable platform for businesses of this region to showcase its abilities and critically to represent its issues/concerns to the agencies of commerce and government. I have been in private practice in Bendigo since 1990 and have seen Bendigo transform itself from a struggling manufacturing based economy to a strong services and tourism based one, thriving in its new found economic drivers and lifestyle promotion. These successes require constant promotion and strategic review along with the broader development of major infrastructure projects. I will bring professional understanding of the issues facing small business in particular within the region with a wider focus to strengthen the base for economic success of broader business community. I have previously been involved in various city based and government working parties relating to the regions issues and future and am keen to contribute through the BBC.
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