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AustCham Board of Directors
President
| Wayne Williams Wayne Williams is currently Chief Finance Officer for the Minor Hotel Group. He has more than 15 years' experience working in Thailand and has been with Minor International for the past 11 years. Prior to joining Minor, Wayne held a number of senior finance roles in hotels and hospitality businesses in Thailand, Australia and the Pacific. Minor International (MINT) is a global company based in Bangkok and focuses on three primary businesses including restaurants, hotels and lifestyle brands. MINT is one of Asia’s largest restaurant companies with over 2,000 outlets and is also a hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of 156 properties. Operating in 23 countries, the company operates most notably under such brands as The Pizza Company, Swensen’s, Sizzler, Dairy Queen, Burger King, The Coffee Club, Ribs and Rumps, Anantara, AVANI, Tivoli and Oaks. Wayne is a Commerce graduate from the University of Queensland and has been Australian CPA certified for 20 years. He is able to offer his strong financial background to the Chamber, along with his experience in growing a company with significant investments in both Thailand and Australia. |
Vice Presidents
| Benjamin Krieg Area General Manager Thailand – Midscale & Economy Hotels Benjamin Krieg, General Manager of Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 for the past 3 years is a seasoned hospitality executive with more than 20+ years of experience in Asia Pacific, Benjamin’s role also includes additional responsibilities as Area General Manager Thailand – Midscale & Economy Hotels with AccorHotels Prior to joining Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, Benjamin held several General Manager positions at hotels in Bangkok as well as across Australia including several pre-opening General Manager roles. Prior to that, he held various operataional executive roles within AccorHotels Australia and at the group’s corporate office across a span of almost 15 years with the company Benjamin holds an advanced Diploma in International Hotel Management from the Swiss Hotel Association, International College of Hotel Management and a Diplôme Culinaire d’Hôtelier from Le Cordon Bleu. He remains committed to developing programs to enhance and increase the interaction between hotel schools, high school graduates and the hotel industry in the communities in which he has worked throughout his career, and has also on the Board of Directors for the Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce for the past 2 years 2019 AustCham sub-committees: Benjamin is serving on the Sundowners, Great Aussie Bash and Social Committees, Hospitality & Tourism, and Membership sub-committees. |
| Chris Larkin Chris is the founder of CLC Asia. He has over 15 years of experience working for both government and private sector clients in Asia, Australia and the UK. He joined the chamber in 2013 and has served the Chamber as a Director since 2014. After beginning his career in Australia, Chris moved to Thailand where he became an internal advisor to the Thai government on privatisation and economic regulatory policy, working on the privatisations of PTT and Airports of Thailand, as well as working with a variety of State Owned Enterprises. With CLC Asia, Chris has advised a number of private sector clients on market entry, policy and political risk issues, across a range of sectors – and acts as a government relations advisor for a number of blue chip firms. Chris has an Honours degree in Economics and a Masters of Public Policy and Management from Monash University, Australia, as well as having completed a Minerals Economics course from the University of Melbourne. Chris is fluent in English and Thai and has dual Australian and Thai citizenship. He is married with three daughters. 2019 AustCham sub-committees: Chris is serving on the Advocacy sub-committee, working on Customs Alliance and Immigration issues. |
| M.L. Laksasubha Kridakon M.L. Laksasubha Kridakon is the owner and director of her own business, Baan Laksasubha, a boutique beachfront resort in the centre of Hua Hin. Khun Lak designed the concept of the resort based on years of experience living in South America, Europe and Australia. She joined the AustCham Board in 2009 and has been Vice President for the last four years. Seeing great worth in nurturing today’s younger generation to become tomorrow’s leaders, M.L. Laksasubha has invested much time to create and grow the Thai-Australia Association (TAA) and AustCham joint program; ‘AustralianAlumni’. The group has created its own website which has seen over 850 people sign up to already. Khun Lak is determined to strengthen this program and further collaborate with likeminded organisations to increase awareness and promote the value of Australian business and academia. Khun Lak is also an entrepreneur and has been owner of various business including Krystalina crystal company and the first steps international preschool in Bangkok. She also represents AustCham in the Professional Women's Group (PWG). Khun Lak has spent much of her life in Australia including studying there. She has two children – one who has graduated from University of Melbourne and another has graduated from RMIT University. 2019 AustCham sub-committees: M.L. Laksasubha is serving on the Hospitality & Tourism, Small Business & Entrepreneur, Women in Leadership, Membership and Alumni sub-committees. |
Treasurer
| Peter Emblin Peter Emblin is a professional finance executive with a diverse experience of global financial markets, corporate finance, financial and general management, property investment and construction, government relations and, P&L responsibility, having worked in Australia, United Kingdom and various South East Asian countries. His career experiences cover analysis, primary research, investment management, mergers and acquisitions, broad financial and general management, and communications. He has been resident in Thailand since 1992 when he came to Thailand to establish a newly authorised fund management company as part of Thailand’s financial liberalisation. Prior to joining MBMG in 2014 he was a partner in a Thai based private equity firm investing in the Mekong region. At MBMG he works closely with their clients to help them implement corporate strategies. He is a Senior Fellow of the Finance and Securities Institute of Australia, Graduate Member of the Thai Institute of Directors and a former Director of the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Board of Seamico Securities a Thai listed Public company. 2019 AustCham sub-committees: In addition to being the Chamber Treasurer, Peter is serving on the Sponsorship sub-committee and works closely with the CSR sub-committee. |
Directors
| Apiradee Bunyalekha Apiradee Bunyalekha has 14 years of professional experience in marketing, marketing communications, media, customer experience management, and education specialist. Apiradee has a passion for constant learning and real experience. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Asiania International Consulting, a business that focuses on providing education schemes, short-term experience programmes, internships, and work placements for young people across Asia and Australia. The company also offers a consultation services for SMEs and non-profit organisations on branding and marketing communications through a workshop approach.
2019 AustCham sub-committees: Khun Apiradee is serving on the Education and Alumni sub-committees. |
| Brenton Mauriello Brenton graduated from the University of South Australia, and then obtained a Master in Business Administration from the University of Singapore. Brenton is currently undertaking a Doctorate of Business in corporate governance with the Australian School of Business. Brenton has significant management experience garnered across the construction, pharmaceutical, distribution and design industries. Brenton is currently the CEO of dwp, design worldwide partnership, Thailand’s largest multi-disciplinary architecture and interior design firm. More recently, Brenton has established Aldama Foods Thailand, and launched several international food and beverage outlets in Bangkok. Brenton is currently the President of AustCham ASEAN and part time facilitator at the Institute of Directors of Thailand. 2019 AustCham sub-committees: Brenton is serving on the Membership and Sponsorship sub-committees. |
| Chris McLoughlin BlueScope is a long-term sponsor and supporter of the chamber. This length of this formal relationship was pleasing news when he arrived in Thailand as in his previous role based in the Pacific Islands was heavily involved in both the Fiji Australian Business Council (FABC) and the Fiji New Zealand Business Council (FNZBC). This multi chamber involvement came about as he was working for an Australian company but reported into New Zealand Steel, a fully owned New Zealand based subsidiary. He relied on these forums, particularly the FABC, Australian High Commission and Austrade to improve adherence to building and material standards following Tropical Cyclone Winston. Through this work he became an industry representative working with the Fiji Ministry of Trade to review the suitability of these standards and how they are enforced. This presented great opportunity for a number of Australian businesses including BlueScope at which point he gained a real insight into the benefits of the Australian public and private sectors working together and the contribution that could be made through these forums in foreign territories. He hopes that if appointed to the BOD directors for AusCham Thailand his previous experience, passion for Australia and Thailand and current position in BlueScope would place him well to assist other Australian organisations make similar contributions in this region while growing their business. 2019 AustCham sub-committees: Chris is serving on the Construction & Property sub-committee. |
| James Evans James oversees all legal, government and external relations matters in Asia for Linfox International Group, based at the Asia Regional Head Office in Thailand. James joined Linfox in 2014 and has worked in Asia since 2004 across a wide variety of legal matters including general commercial advice, logistics, joint ventures and has particular expertise in intellectual property matters. James is a qualified Solicitor of England & Wales and holds an LLB (Hons) and a Post Graduate qualification in Legal Practice. James has previously held the position of director for the European ASEAN Business Council (EABC) in Bangkok and is company secretary for the Linfox International Group. Linfox has been operating its logistics business in Thailand and Southeast Asia for over 20 years and serves customers in the FMCG, retail and industrial markets. Linfox has been a strong supporter of the chamber and is keen to work side by side to improve the chamber’s relations and service offerings to its members. Linfox will seek to involve its employees across as many of the chamber’s groups as possible, including targeted events, social meetings, advocacy and legal affairs. 2019 AustCham sub-committees: James is serving on the Advocacy and CSR sub-committees. |
| Frank Holzer Frank Holzer is Australian born and has been a resident in Thailand since 2005. He has been part of the AFG ( Automotive Focus Group ) committee on the Eastern Seaboard since 2011 and President for the past 5 years. His professional profile: General Motors Holden – 1979 to 2005 - Various positions – Manufacturing, Quality, HR, IT, Finance. General Motors Thailand ( Chevrolet ) – 2005 - 2015 - Director ASEAN Manufacturing Finance MHG Asia Pacific Operations – 2015 - 2017 - Executive General Manager Tinfish Thailand ( ANCA Group ) 2017 till present - General Manager 2019 AustCham sub-committees: Frank is serving on the Manufacturing sub-committee. |
| Simon Wetherell Simon Wetherell is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of SW Consulting (Asia) Co Ltd (trading as Australian Visas Thailand), a professional services firm that provides migration assistance on all matters related to Australian/Thai migration and has been a resident of Thailand since 2012, firstly in Phuket and now Bangkok and Pattaya. Simon is an Australian Legal Practitioner and was admitted to practice in New South Wales in 1999, as well the Australian Federal and High Courts. He has subsequently been admitted in England & Wales in 2002 and the Cayman Islands in 2008. He is a current Registered Migration Agent (MARA #1464995). Simon has an LLB (Hons) and MBA majoring in New Venture Finance. Simon first worked at Clayton Utz in Sydney, one of Australia’s top tier law firms, before working for Clifford Chance, London, a magic circle firm and one of the world’s finest. After being seconded to Deutsche Bank Simon moved there full time and remained for 6 years, based in London and then later transferred to the Cayman Islands. In his role in the Cayman Islands, Simon was a Director of companies with assets in excess of US$35 Billion. Simon’s clients and experience have included some of the best and most respected firms in the world, including Marriott Group, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Royal Bank of Scotland, Telecom Italia and many more. Simon has lived in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas so he fully understands what it is like to be an expat and work with foreign nationals and governments. With his background Simon hopes to bring his different valuable knowledge and experience and be a strong contributor to the Austcham board. 2019 AustCham sub-committees: Simon is serving on the Small Business & Entrepreneurs sub-committee. |
| Stuart Kelly Stuart Kelly brings 20 years of corporate communication and media experience. His background as a senior financial journalist with Bloomberg News in Asia provided the grounding for his more recent award-winning career in media relations, investor communication and crisis & issues management, in both in-house and agency roles. In 2014 he moved to Bangkok to take up the role of Managing Director of Weber Shandwick in Thailand, fulfilling a long-held ambition to follow through with his close personal connection to the country. He previously led the Corporate & Finance team at Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Australia. Stuart has provided senior strategic counsel for a wide range of multinational and Australian companies, including: Bankwest, BP, ThaiBev, Exxon Mobil, Uber, EFTPOS Australia, AllianceBernstein, First Data, Toronto Stock Exchange, FP Markets, Brookfield Multiplex, Compass Group, Nuplex, ASG Group, and Eaton Vance among others. Stuart’s previous roles included Director, Corporate Affairs at iSOFT Group, one of the world’s largest health IT companies, an Account Director at three Sydney-based corporate communications agencies, and a stockbroker at one of Australia’s oldest firms. As a senior Bloomberg journalist for more than five years, Stuart drove coverage of Asian investment markets both for television and print media. His career began in 1994 at The Star, South Africa’s leading daily newspaper, where for five years he covered a range of beats including the country’s transition from Apartheid to a full democracy. In 2013 Stuart picked up four major Asian Corporate PR awards for his work, including:
Stuart is a passionate photographer and home cook. He has for many years enjoyed a close relationship with Thailand through his wife and daughter as well as his involvement with various Thai community organisations in Sydney. 2019 AustCham sub-committees: Stuart is serving on the Communications, Digital IT & Innovation, and CSR sub-committees. |
Ex Officio Director
| Susan Kahwati Susan has more than 20 years international business experience having worked in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. She manages the Austrade team in Bangkok which is responsible for growing Australia’s trade, investment and education relationship with Thailand and Laos. Prior to this, she was the Senior Trade Commissioner to Malaysia and Brunei. She has also completed Trade Commissioner postings in the United Arab Emirates and Greece. Susan previously led teams to deliver Austrade’s online strategies and business systems to support the organisation’s global operations and connectivity. She also managed programs to promote the internationalisation of Australian industries, as well as helping individual companies to achieve their overseas business objectives. Before joining Austrade, Susan worked in international trade and healthcare. She speaks Arabic, holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Sydney University. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. |
