Faculty of Business and Law
- Newcastle Business School
- Newcastle Law School
2011 Business and Law Achievers
Mr Peter Tay
Corporate Advisor
Singapore
Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial) (Hons) 1972
Bachelor of Arts (Economics) 1973
2011 JOINT RECIPIENT – ALUMNI AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Peter Tay was Singapore’s CEO to emulate during his 17 years at the helm as President and CEO of Singapore Food Industries Limited. He was the subject of a documentary and many media forums due to his success in transforming the business from a Singapore-centric food distribution enterprise to an international powerhouse with multi-domestic characteristics in the many countries in which the group operated. This culminated with a very successful listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange in 1999.
Focussed as much on people as on commercial success, Mr Tay became an icon not only of commercial enterprise – but led the way in shaping human resource and industrial relations policy. In 2006, the Convergy’s Group (a global enterprise for human resource and customer service) awarded him the Convergy’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Human Resources.
Mr Tay is now a Director on a range of international boards, and consults broadly in business development and mentors budding business leaders. He also writes on management issues in Pan-Asian international food publications advising on food security and the importance of human resources.
Mr Anthony (Tony) Brown
Campaigner for the reduction of alcohol related violence
Newcastle, Australia
Graduate Diploma in Economic Studies 1984
Bachelor of Economics 1980
2011 FINALIST – ALUMNI AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE
Tony held positions in economics and industrial relations in the public sector before graduating with an honours degree in Graduate Law in 2000. Despite receiving a Golden Key Honour Society Award for academic achievement, Tony forewent substantial business opportunities to devote much of his time to voluntary community work as a tireless campaigner to reduce alcohol related violence.
In 2007 Tony was responsible for reducing alcohol related violence in Newcastle by 37% with his successful community campaign to reduce late trading hours. Tony has spearheaded reforms initiated by the Police Association of NSW, The Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians, the NSW Local Government Association and the Lord Mayors of Melbourne and Brisbane to support similar proven harm prevention measures.
Dubbed the “Attenborough of pub ecology” by The Australian, Tony continues to support and assist a number of communities struggling to deal with this issue.
Mr Paul Hughes
Chief Executive Officer
Newcastle Airport Limited
Newcastle, Australia
Bachelor of Commerce 1984
2011 FINALIST – ALUMNI AWARD FOR REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
Paul has dedicated his career to the development and betterment of public services and amenities in our region. As a former manager of Community and Recreation Services at Port Stephens Council, he developed a financial strategy focussing on non-traditional sources of income through business and property development activities. This allowed the council to instigate major projects which would otherwise have been unsustainable.
Applying this approach in his current position as CEO of Newcastle Airport, Paul has been able to grow passenger numbers by 58% to more than 1.2 million per annum, and undertaken more than $40 million worth of project work to prepare the airport for the next stage of growth. With a 20 year Master Plan, a terminal expansion, an apron expansion and car park extension, the impact of Paul’s innovative strategies will be felt by the region for decades to come. Working closely with aviation, transport and infrastructure organisations, Paul continues to be a leading advocate and lobbyist for the region.
Mr Jason Pauling
Operations Manager NSW and Southern Queensland
Bureau Veritas International Trade
Lake Macquarie, Australia
Master of Environmental and Business Management 2003
Grad Cert in Marketing 2002
Master HRM and IR 2001
MBA 2000
Bachelor of Science (Hons) 2001
2011 FINALIST – ALUMNI AWARD FOR REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
Jason has shown himself to be a dedicated champion for
the Hunter Region. As a Director on the board of the Hunter Business Chamber, Jason has worked to ensure an increased representation by the various sub-regions within the Hunter. His role as a Director of Hunter Tourism sees him take a strong interest in the Upper Hunter, Newcastle Foreshore and tourism in the region.
As Chairperson of the Lake Macquarie Combined Chambers of Commerce, Jason provided leadership to the Charlestown business community. As President of Business Charlestown his guidance informed the construction phase of Charlestown Square, and through his role as President of the Lake Macquarie Business Club he has facilitated networking opportunities for small to medium businesses.
Impressively, these activities are in addition to his employment with Bureau Veritas International Trade Australia.
Dr David Zhidong Li
President
Heter Electrics Group
China
Doctor of Business Administration 2005
Master of Business Administration 1999
2011 FINALIST – ALUMNI AWARD FOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
As the President of Heter Group, David leads one of the three largest manufacturers of lithium green batteries in the world. He also established the first China Care Next Generation Foundation Environmental Education Foundation - a national program to educate Chinese children on green energy and environmentally friendly energy solutions. After overseeing the construction of the largest lithium iron phosphate material factory in China, David then opened up the factory to local school children by establishing an on-site classroom and factory tours to inform participants as to new energy solutions.
His experience as Vice-President of the Chinese state owned Pilot Investment Holdings saw David manage sprawling urban development projects in Yanghu, Binjiang and Changsha, including the construction of 12 major roads. With a project finance budget of 21 billion RMB, David has overseen projects for the planning, funding and construction of parks, hotels, shopping precincts, office towers and education centres.
Professor Kim-Shyan Fam
Head of the School of Marketing and International Business
Victoria University
Wellington, New Zealand
PhD - 1997
2011 FINALIST – CONVOCATION MEDAL FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
A Professor of Marketing at Victoria University, Professor Fam’s research in advertising and marketing in Asia has positioned him as an expert on marketing behaviours and consumer responses in Asia - issues that are of critical interest to growing business and industry activity in the region.
The quality and practical relevance of Professor Fam’s work is evidenced by the large number of grants received from industry sources. His healthy portfolio of high-grade publications is matched by his selection as editor of numerous journals including the prestigious Journal of Business Ethics and the Industrial Marketing Management Journal.
He established the Marketing in Asia Group (MAG) in 1997 and led MAG to play a key role in assisting the development of research in the related academic community in the fast growing Asian higher education sector. MAG now has over 400 academics and practitioners from over 35 countries, with a mandate that seeks to undertake and disseminate knowledge of Asian marketing based on rigorous, yet pragmatic research.
In 2008 Professor Fam was elected a fellow of the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Professor Scott Holmes
Pro Vice-Chancellor
Research and Dean of Graduate Studies
The University of Newcastle
Australia
Bachelor of Commerce 1984
2011 FINALIST – CONVOCATION MEDAL FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
At the age of 26, Professor Holmes was appointed Professor of Accounting at the Queensland University of Technology – the youngest ever Professorial appointment at the university at that time. In 1996 he was appointed Professor of Accounting and Founding Director of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Newcastle.
Three years later, under Professor Holmes’ entrepreneurship and guidance, GradSchool.com.au was born. As the first fully remote online postgraduate coursework program provider in Australia, GradSchool.com.au now boasts over 3,000 students.
In 2005 Professor Holmes established the Office of Graduate Studies which now caters to over 1,200 research by higher degree students.
In 2006, in recognition of his achievements, Professor Holmes received the Award for the Best Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year by Business/Higher Education Round Table.
Professor Holmes has further contributed to the development of the Hunter region and government policy through his advisory work on numerous government councils, committees and boards.
2010 Business and Law Achievers
Sarah Kemp
Managing Director, Smart Future Consulting
Newcastle, NSW Australia
Master of Business Administration, 2009
Faculty of Business and Law
Sarah is the inaugural recipient of the Young Alumni Award (2010).
Sarah started her own company in 2007 called Smart Future Consulting Pty Ltd which aims to meet the growing demand for professionals who specialise in creating change for a sustainable future. She was the winner of the 2008 Hunter Business Chambers Young Achiever of the Year, and in 2009 was selected to represent Australia on a delegation to South Korea as part of the Australia-Korea Next Generation Leaders Program which is run by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, largely to explore “Low Carbon Green Growth”.
In 2009, as part of the Australian Institute of Energy she co-founded the Hunter Young Energy Professionals, to help young energy professionals move forward in their career and as leaders. She also raises funds through a clothing and equipment collection project to support a youth centre at a remote Aboriginal community where youth health and wellbeing are at great risk.
Dr Anthony Diallo
Consultant, Chairman and CEO of Sahara Media Group, Tanzania, Africa.
Master of Aviation Management, 2009
Doctor of Business Administration, 2008
Master of Business Administration, 2005
Graduate Certificate in Business, 2004
Faculty of Business and Law
Dr Diallo was a finalist for the 2010 Alumni Award for International Leadership.
Dr Diallo has had 12 continuous years in public service and 20 years in management in manufacturing and industrial production and has been the CEO of successful companies. He has been a member of parliament for Mwanza rural and Ilemela constituencies for five and ten years respectively.
As a Government Minister, he has served as: Deputy Minister, Ministry of Industries and Trade (2000-2001); Deputy Minister, Water and Livestock Development (2001-2005); Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism
(Jan 2006-Nov 2006); and the Minister, Livestock Development (Nov 2006- Feb 2008).
He has participated (and on more than five occasions chaired) the Group of 77 Council of Trade Ministers for the WTO Doha round of preparatory negotiations, coordinating the African forum under the auspices of the South African Development Countries and the Group of 77.
Professor Anne Rees
Head of School, School of Law, Deakin University
Bachelor of Arts, 1974
Master of Laws (1995) – University of NSW;
Bachelor of Legal Studies (1985) – Macquarie University.
Faculty of Business and Law
Professor Rees has held senior management roles at the University of Newcastle (culminating in the role of Dean of Law from 2000-2001) and at Deakin University where she has transformed the School of Law into one of the highest performing schools at that University.
For three years she was a full-time commissioner with the Australian Law Reform Commission and was lead commissioner on three enquiries. In 2001, she was Secretary to the Judicial Conference of Australia and Secretary to the Council of Australian Law Deans.
She was a member of; the Mental Health Tribunal of NSW from 1996-2007; the Products Safety Committee - NSW Dept of Fair Trading; Board of Governors of the Law Foundation of NSW; Boards of the Centre for Legal Education and the Communications Law Centre; Steering Committee Gender Bias and the Law Project - NSW Ministry for the Status and Advancement of Women.
Appointed to the Council of Legal Education in
Sandra Brown
Director, Pepper Tree Wines
Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSW Australia
Bachelor of Commerce, 2002
Faculty of Business and Law
In her role as the Commercial Manager in the Wine Industry, Sandra Brown has demonstrated her leadership and entrepreneurial abilities.
Demonstrating her entrepreneurial skills, Sandra revitalised a small to medium winery, nurturing it to grow and become an iconic destination within the Hunter area. She has also implemented new business strategies, resulting in a more profitable business, but her greatest achievement was working through the hierarchy to become Director of a medium sized company that has a strong brand presence within the wine industry sector both nationally and on an international level.
Sandra’s leadership skills are evident through team building including organising and participating in staff and work activities as well as assuming the role of company advocate for staff training and education. She is an active member of the local business community, in particular the local Hunter Business Chambers. Sandra has also liaised with domestic and international sales managers.
Sandra’s nomination for this award has been demonstrated in her leadership and entrepreneurial skills and the contribution she has made to the Hunter region and business community.
Ross Abbs
Currently studying Bachelor of Civil Law, Oxford University, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Laws (Honours 1) with University Medal, 2006
Bachelor of Arts (Honours 1) (Ancient History) with University Medal, 2004
Faculty of Business and Law
Ross was a finalist for the 2010 Young Alumni Award. He was nominated for his outstanding achievements in the field of Law.
In 2007/2008 Ross was the first Newcastle graduate to gain a place as an associate to the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG at the High Court of Australia. During 2007, Ross spent six months at the Victorian Law Reform Commission as part of a small team working on the Commission’s Civil Justice Review which culminated in a report published in March 2008.
In 2009, Ross won the prestigious James Fairfax Oxford Australia Scholarship for a place in the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) program at the University of Oxford. In 2008 and 2009, Ross participated in the team-based 100km endurance walk to raise funds for Oxfam Australia.
Stephen Priestley
Financial Planner
Godfrey Pembroke, Newcastle, NSW Australia
Bachelor of Commerce, 2004
Faculty of Business and Law
Stephen was a finalist for the 2010 Young Alumni Award.
Stephen has been responsible for advising, investing and administering clients with accumulated investments in excess of $100 million. In 2009, Stephen was ranked No.1 in the Top 50 Financial Advisers by Smart Investor Magazine.
Each year in June, Stephen conducts a free community-based program where people can email financial questions without cost or obligation. He has helped numerous people who might not otherwise have sought financial advice.
To showcase the achievements of its former students, Dungog High School invited Stephen to be the keynote speaker at its Dux ceremony in 2009.
Holly McHattan
Corporate Communications Co-ordinator
Hunter Water Corporation
Master of Marketing, 2008
Bachelor of Communication, 2004
Faculty of Business and Law
Holly was a finalist for the 2010 Young Alumni Award.
In addition to forging a successful career in marketing and public relations since graduating, Holly makes a very significant contribution to the Newcastle community through her voluntary work with the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation (HBCF) and Newcastle Business Club (NBC).
In raising the profile of HBCF one of her key achievements was developing a partnership with Newcastle Knights, thereby increasing both the profile and the revenue of HBCF.
As a board member with NBC, Holly has organised charity fundraisers, supported young business people to build networks in the city, and strengthened NBC’s relationship with Pulse, a group of young people who fundraise to support young researchers within the Hunter Medical Research Institute.