Advisory Councils

NSW Multicultural Business Advisory Panel

The NSW Multicultural Business Advisory Panel (the Panel) is an advisory body to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner and Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello on measures to strengthen trade and investment between NSW and key priority markets and provide high-level strategic and expert advice across a broad range of economic development matters.

The Panel reinforces the Government's commitment to Rebuilding the Economy'. It provides advice to the Government on measures to grow the NSW economy through the attraction of productive foreign investment and regional headquarters and encourage growth in NSW business activity in overseas markets.

The Panel and the recently created NSW Export and Investment Advisory Board will work closely in supporting the Government in its efforts to attract new business and build close trading and investment relationships particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. It will also ensure strong linkages with other relevant advisory bodies including the Regional Development Advisory Council, Destination NSW and Infrastructure NSW.

NSW Multicultural Business Advisory Panel Members – 2011 to 2013

Mr Nihal Gupta (Chair)
Mr Nihal Gupta is Managing Director of Digital Electronics Corporation Australia Pty Ltd. Mr Gupta has a 30 year experience in the consumer electronics sector and has a leadership background in sales, marketing and manufacturing. He is a recognised entrepreneur and has a strong background and understanding in international business management throughout the Asia Pacific region and particularly in trade with China. Mr Gupta has been an Ambassador of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, a member of the Australian Government's trade mission to India in 2007 and organised for the then NSW Opposition Leader and now Premier of New South Wales, The Hon. Barry O'Farrell MP, a delegation to China and India in 2010. Mr Gupta is also a member of the NSW Export and Investment Advisory Board.

Mr Benjamin Ming Tung Chow AO (Deputy Chair)
Mr Benjamin Chow AO is Non-Executive Director of two ASX listed companies: InvoCare Limited and Mindax Limited and Vice-Chair, Pacific Power Limited. Mr Chow has extensive experience in the land development industry in Australia and South East Asia and previously chaired the Council for Multicultural Australia assisting the Australian Government to implement multicultural policies. He has been a former Council Member for: National Museum, Australia and Bond University Limited, Queensland as well as: Life Member/Councillor, Australian Chinese Community Association, NSW; Trustee, Australian Chinese Charity Foundation; President, Sydney University Nerve Research Foundation; and President, Sydney Executive Business Lions Club. In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal and in 2007 made an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Dr Mohammed Alsalami AM
Dr Mohammed Alsalami AM is Director of Razi Medical & Courier Services Pty Ltd  engaged with pathology services, and involved in import/export of medical and veterinary equipment in the Middle East and Asia. Dr Alsalami previously held positions as Senior Hospital Scientist, Electron Microscopy Unit with the Royal North Shore Hospital. He has academic qualifications from University of Baghdad, Iraq, University College of Wales U.K., University of Queensland, Australian National University and University of Technology, Sydney. He is a member of the Order of Australia Society and the Australian Arab Business Chamber.

Mr Jason Collins
Mr Jason Collins is Chief Executive Officer, European Australian Business Council (EABC), whose membership includes major Australian and European corporations, Chambers of Commerce and internationally-focused business associations. The EABC engages Australian and European leaders and officials in economic and public policy dialogue on the Australia-Europe trade and investment relationship. In November 2010 he was elected Chairman of the global association of European Chambers of Commerce and Business Councils, known as the EBO Worldwide. Membership is concentrated in the emerging economies of Asia and Latin America. Mr Collins also serves on the board of the Australia Asia Young Leaders Program, and has been closely involved in many initiatives to foster stronger business relations with China, India, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand.

Ms Sew Yee Lee
Ms Sew Yee Lee is Head of Asian Segment, ANZ Private Bank. She has extensive experience in the financial industry developing and implementing national Asian segment banking strategies. Her current role involves significant deep interaction with high net worth individuals and with exploring future potential offshore business opportunities. She has developed an extensive knowledge in Risk and Compliance. Ms Lee is considered an expert in understanding the experience and challenges of new arrivals with a particular expertise in the Asian market and community.

Ms Susan Sook Jin Lee
Ms Susan Lee is CEO/Managing Director of Jae My Holdings and the publisher of TOP Media Group and was one of 10 finalists for the 2010 NSW Woman of the Year Award. In 2009 and 2011appointed by the Korean Government as the Deputy Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council Australia for a two-year term, and served as the Chairperson of the Korean Women’s International Network, Australia.

Cr Henson Liang JP
Cr Henson Liang is a Councillor of Burwood Council and Justice of Peace. He has 20 years experience as a professional business entrepreneur in properties and investments. He has a Master Bdg SC (Syd Uni), Registered Properties Valuer, with strong relationships and economic ties between the local Chinese community and the Central and Provincial Governments of China. Cr Liang is a Member and Honorary Adviser to several Chambers of Commerce in Australia including: China Chamber of Commerce; Australia-China Business Council; Zhejiang International Chamber of Commerce; Fujian Chamber of Commerce; Inner West Chinese Chamber of Commerce; and North Sydney Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He is a bridge of economic and cultural communication between China and Australia dedicated in improving economy and the livelihood of the State of NSW.

Mr Taine Moufarrige
Mr Taine Moufarrige is a Director of Servcorp, a global company with over 120 locations world-wide. It provides premium addresses and locations, business facilities and services across a globally connected IT and communications network to 35,000 clients. His focus has been the strategic growth of the company and he is considered an expert in exporting into new markets. Taine is a Director of the European Australian Business Council and is also a member of the Australian Gulf Council, the Presidents Circle of Asia Society, the Australasia Centre and the Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs Victoria Qiu
Mrs Victoria Qiu, Director of Chin Industries and Consulting Pty Limited, is active in international trade and investment promotion and consulting. She joined the NSW Business Chamber in 2001. As head of the China operation, Victoria was instrumental in driving the relationship between Chinese and Australian government agencies. In 2006 she was appointed Senior Advisor of China Chamber of Commerce in Australia and is the founding President of Australian Chinese Professionals Association. In 2010 she was appointed as the Australian Representative of Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission. In previous work experience in China she worked for a large Chinese enterprise and prior to that was foreign affairs officer for a Central Government Agency.

Mr David Schlessinger
Mr David Schlessinger is Chief Executive Officer of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) (NSW). He has extensive banking experience having worked for global investment banks in New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo and London. The AICC has a membership exceeding 1,000 leading Australian companies across a broad range of industry sectors. It has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, and Tel Aviv that manages programs to enhance non-partisan business networking at senior levels and the promotion of bilateral trade through inbound and outbound trade missions.

Mr Robert (Bob) Seidler AM
Mr Bob Seidler AM is consultant at Blake Dawson and former partner. He has developed strong relationships and commercial ties with Asia especially with the Japanese community and Japanese Government. He has received an Order of Australia for services to the international business community, to the development of Australia-Japan bilateral commercial relations and through the generation of new business opportunities. Mr Seidler currently holds other board memberships including: Leighton Asia Limited (Chair); Leighton Properties P/L; Hunter Phillip Japan Limited; Leighton Holdings Limited; Australian Government’s Corporations and Markets Advisory Committee and Australian Prime Property Fund - Investment Advisory Board.