17 November 2019

Voting to open for three Business Chamber board members

| John Thistleton
Start the conversation
Canberra Business Chamber's oldest businesses announced

Canberra Business Chamber’s AGM follows their sold-out Annual Gala Dinner, their largest networking event for the year. Photo: Region Media.

The territory’s peak business advocacy and networking group, the Canberra Business Chamber, will elect three new board members at its annual general meeting on Tuesday, 19 November.

Members of CBC are welcome to attend the meeting, which starts at 4:00 pm at Canberra Business Chamber, Level 3, 243 Northbourne Avenue, Lyneham. Members can vote for three people from the following nine nominees for the board vacancies:

Russel Avis

Russel Avis, GM of Summernats Car Festival. Photo: Supplied.

Russel Avis is General Manager of Summernats Car Festival, Australia’s largest automotive lifestyle event. Russell has a proven history of working with companies to increase profitability and productivity within a planned timeline and managing risks. Russel is often working to develop a business plan that will include key indicators for success and return profitability. He has previously worked in the Middle East, Malaysia and the US, as well as nationally in Australia. Over the past eight years, Russell has been instrumental in redeveloping and re-invigorating Summernats, which has grown by more than 35 per cent during his time at the helm.

Keith Cantlie

Keith Cantlie, owner of Cantlie Recruitment Services. Photo: Supplied.

Keith Cantlie has lived and worked in Canberra for nearly 35 years in the private and public sector. He established his own business, Cantlie Recruitment Services Pty Ltd, in February 2005. Originally operating from the front room of their house, Keith and his wife Anne have built a highly successful executive and specialist recruitment consultancy which delivers services across private/industry, educational and the not-for-profit sectors. The CBC Deputy Chair since 2017, Keith has been engaged in the business sector, working to ensure Canberra continues to be a place for business and diversifying our economy.

Suzanne Gearing

Suzanne Gearing, owner of Bragging Rights Events and Mongarlowe Gourmet. Photo: Supplied.

Suzanne Gearing is owner and director of event strategist Bragging Rights Events, and director/owner of gourmet food research and development and production outfit, Mongarlowe Gourmet. Suzanne is passionate about supporting innovation and small-to-medium enterprises. As a member with an Indigenous (Butchulla) background, Suzanne would like to explore developing mutually beneficial relationships with Canberra Indigenous business organisations. A founder and chair of Braidwood & Villages Business Chamber, Suzanne is also a member of Braidwood & Villages Tourism Association and is on the steering committee of Regional Development Australia ACT Food in the Capital.

Don Grgic

Don Grgic, The Business Boost Centre. Photo: Supplied.

Don Grgic has established and operates the small business support service Business Boost Centre. Don believes he can make a practical contribution to the Canberra business community and the Chamber because of his experience and understanding of small business and his diverse background in several industries over 30 years. After finishing his tour with the Royal Australian Air Force, Don immediately engaged in small business. He began in construction, became an industry trainer and later saw an opportunity in the retail industry and moved to grow the then largest independent furniture store in Canberra including importing goods from around the globe.

Hrvoje (Hal) Hancevic-Grabic

Hrvoje (Hal) Hancevic-Grabic, owner of ForwardIT. Photo: Supplied.

Hrvoje (Hal) Hancevic-Grabic is a small business owner and IT solution architect at ForwardIT (now part of ASI Solutions). Hal is a member of Australian Mensa board of directors, a not-for-profit society. Its purposes are to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity. He is also Kippax Toastmasters Club president and enjoys empowering individuals in communities, and helping them to grow to their full potential. He often uses his network to connect people with businesses. Hal has considerable experience in business, leadership and IT technical roles.

Carrie Leeson

Carrie Leeson, CEO of Lifeline Canberra. Photo: Supplied.

Carrie Leeson is Lifeline Canberra chief executive and an experienced business development professional. A graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Carrie in 2018 was named Canberra Women in Business Public Sector’s Woman of the Year. Carrie has provided her expertise in numerous boards and advisory councils’ appointments, including as Executive Director and President of the Health and Productivity Institute of Australia, and Director of the Canberra Early Morning Centre.

Scott Leggo

Scott Leggo, owner of Scott Leggo Gallery. Photo: Supplied.

Scott Leggo is the owner and co-founder of the Scott Leggo Gallery, a Canberra-based Australian landscape photography business. He is the former Head of Strategy for Helmsman International and previously worked as a management consultant for some of the world’s top management consulting firms including Booz and Company, Strategy& and PwC. Scott was a trusted advisor to senior executives in government and the private sector in Australia and overseas.

Michele Robinson

Michele Robinson, Finance Director of Capitol Chilled Foods Australia. Photo: Supplied.

Michele Robinson is a chartered accountant and dedicated finance executive with more than a decade of experience in the retail industry and fast-moving consumer goods sector. Michele is Finance Director of Capitol Chilled Foods Australia in Griffith ACT, which employs more than 70 people in the manufacture of dairy beverages and distribution of more than 700 food and beverage products to customers in the ACT and regional NSW. Previously Michele worked in Sydney with Woolworths Group for more than 11 years across multi-faceted businesses.

Craig Wagstaff

Craig Wagstaff, GM of Canberra FM Radio. Photo: Supplied.

Craig Wagstaff is General Manager, Canberra FM Radio which operates two commercial radio stations, HIT104.7 and MIX106.3. Craig’s responsibility covers strategic, operational and financial leadership ensuring profitability from a committed focus on audience, business and government engagement and regulatory compliance. These endeavours are underpinned with community/charitable involvement as a responsible corporate citizen.

To find out more, visit the Canberra Business Chamber.

Start the conversation

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.