Tom Berryman

Chief Technology Officer, Swoop

As the Chief Technology Officer for Australian ASX-listed telco Swoop (ASX:SWP), Tom Berryman’s job is about much more than just building better networks and improving connectivity for regional Australia. Combining his rural upbringing with an extensive history of disruption and technological innovation, Tom applies a human-centric philosophy that aims to continuously exceed his customers’ expectations.

Tom is charged with developing and implementing the cutting-edge innovation that empowers the rollout of Swoop’s fixed wireless network, providing regional and rural Australians with better telecommunications and internet services. A proudly hands-on CTO, Tom is happiest “getting my hands dirty” alongside his team. He has even been known to give his own phone number to customers, inviting them to call him directly if they have issues with Swoop’s service.

After starting his career as an IT manager for a Telstra store, at the age of 19 he and his friend Jacob Carr co-founded Anycast, a disruptive wholesale telco services provider. Tom also founded an NBN reseller, DCSI Broadband. Both businesses were acquired in 2020 by Swoop Holdings.

Tom served as the Chairman of the Internet Association of Australia (2015-2017). Since 2018, he has been a member of the Executive Council for the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

Mark Birrell AM

President, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Mark is a full-time non-executive director and is currently a member of the boards of the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Transurban Limited (ASX:TCL) and the Geneva-based International Organisation of Employers. He was President of the Victorian Chamber from 2013-2016.

Mark has served in leadership roles across the public and private sectors, including as Chairman of Port of Melbourne, Chair of Infrastructure Australia, Chairman of Regis Healthcare Limited (ASX:REG) and National Leader of the Infrastructure Group at Minter Ellison Lawyers. Recently he retired as the Chairman of PostSuper.

He has deep public policy experience through his earlier service as a Cabinet Minister, including as Minister for Industry, Science & Technology and Government Leader in the Victorian Upper House.

In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours List, Mark was made a Member of the Order of Australia “for significant service to the infrastructure sector and to business” and in 2014 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Monash University, the university’s highest honour.

Aneetha de Silva

Managing Director – Government, Aurecon

Aneetha de Silva is Managing Director – Government at Aurecon, a global engineering and infrastructure advisory firm. She is President of Roads Australia and sits on the Boards of Aurecon Group, LaunchVic, the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation and the North East Link State Tolling Corporation.

Aneetha is a senior infrastructure executive with over 25 years’ experience across the government and private sectors in Australia, South Africa and the Asia Pacific. She has particular expertise as an advisor, developer and manager of large infrastructure assets and services, especially in transport, telecommunications and property. Aneetha has extensive experience in complex commercial and stakeholder environments and is skilled at aligning government and private sector interests to drive industry, customer and community outcomes. She is an active angel investor and passionate about innovation; especially the potential for new technologies to meet emerging customer needs and transform access to community services.

Aneetha holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, attended the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and is a member of Chief Executive Women and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dan Feldman

Managing Partner, HR Legal

Dan is the Managing Partner of HR Legal, an employment and safety law firm providing human resources solutions, strategies and legal advice to employers Australia-wide for almost 10 years.

Richard Holyman

Managing Director, Martin & Pleasance

Richard is the Managing Director of Martin & Pleasance, an Australian made and owned natural remedies company. Based in Melbourne, Martin & Pleasance has provided an extensive range of homeopathic products via manufacturing, importing and exporting for over 150 years.

Jeremy Johnson AM

Immediate Past President, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Jeremy is the Immediate Past President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also chairs the Central Highlands Regional Water Corporation and is a Director/Trustee of CARE Super Pty Ltd. He is a qualified Company Secretary and a Justice of the Peace.

Wendy Killeen

Chief Executive Officer, Stanton & Killeen Wines

Wendy is the Chief Executive of Stanton & Killeen Wines, a leading family business since 1875 and a nationally and internationally recognised winemaker from the Rutherglen region in north east Victoria.

Clare McCartin

National Managing Partner, Davidson Search & Advisory

Clare is the National Managing Partner of the Davidson Search & Advisory team where she leads the Search and Advisory teams in VIC, NSW, QLD & SA. She took on this role in mid-2017. Clare joined Davidson late 2015 as General Manager VIC, she quickly established the Davidson brand and built the Melbourne team. Prior to joining Davidson in 2015, Clare was a Director of a Melbourne based search firm for thirteen years where she conducted hundreds of Chief Executive and Senior searches in the government, health, sporting, and community sectors.

Clare is an active corporate member of IPAA where she established the inaugural Top 50 Women in the Public Sector initiative which has now recognised hundreds of women across NSW and VIC. Clare regularly publishes thought leadership articles in her industry publications including the annual Local Government CEO Index . Clare has completed a Bachelor of Behavioural Science, a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource and she holds a Master of Commerce, majoring in HR and Employee Relations.

Brian Negus

Chairman of the CICA (Collaborative ITS Consulting) Group, and the Immediate Past President, and Ambassador/Board Member of Intelligent Transport Systems Australia

Brian holds qualifications in Civil Engineering, Transport and Traffic Engineering and Executive Management. Brian is an Ambassador for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Brian is an experienced professional and Board member with a demonstrated track record in the transport and smart technology sectors. He was presented with the ITS Australia, Max Lay Life Time Achievement Award in 2018 and inducted into the International ITS World Congress Hall of Fame in 2019. Brian is skilled in project and business planning, transport operations management, smart technology applications, project management, and Government and stakeholder relationship management.

Brian brings over 50 years of government and private sector experience to these roles which draws on his senior management positions as General Manager, Public Policy at RACV, Deputy Director of Public Transport in Victoria, Regional Director at VicRoads and General Manager of Port Planning at the Melbourne Port Corporation.

Brian has been a member of the Rotary Club of Templestowe since 1985 and served as Club President, Assistant District Governor and Chair of the District Community Services Committee. He is currently Co-President and Director of Marketing for the Club.

Don Rankin

Don has been involved with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 2003. Don sat on the Board of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry until 2020 and was its President for three years to 2019. He was one of the founding partners of Pitcher Partners and National Chairman of the Pitcher Partners Association for 11 years.

With over thirty years’ experience advising private and family businesses across a broad range of industries, he specialises particularly in assisting clients in the management, growth and evolution of their business. Don is on the Board of Hansen Technologies Ltd and sits on a number Advisory Boards of large private family businesses.

Elizabeth Rodriquez

Grossi Restaurants

Elizabeth is recognised for steering landmark hospitality venues in Melbourne and building equitable organisational cultures. Elizabeth is Co-Owner of Grossi Restaurants and is responsible for inaugurating The Grossi Florentino Cup Viewing Dinner, which hosts the Melbourne Cup as part of the Melbourne Cup World Tour since 2003. Elizabeth founded and delivered the Melbourne Tomato Festival and increased attendance in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Elizabeth is an appointee of the Victorian Council of the Restaurant and Catering Association and acknowledged as a ‘Champion of Change’ by McAuley Community Services for Women for her contribution to their objective of ending family violence and homelessness for women and children. Elizabeth is a Graduate of The Australian Institute of Company Directors and Co-writer and researcher for Guy Grossi International Specialised Skills Institute Fellowship. 

Peter Valentine (Regional Chairperson - Geelong)

Chief Executive Officer, Geelong Taxi Network

Peter is the Chief Executive Officer of Geelong Taxi Network, Victoria’s largest urban taxi fleet providing extensive services in Geelong and surrounding areas including Torquay, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast region.

Nerida Kerr (Regional Chairperson - Wodonga)

Executive Officer, AgBiz Assist (RFCS VICTORIA - North East)

Nerida commenced her role as the Executive Officer of AgBiz Assist in 2012. Established by Goulburn Murray Hume Agcare, AgBiz is a social enterprise working to provide rural financial counselling as well as other services such as farm business planning and succession planning to local communities and businesses.