Management Committee & YWSBA

Management Committee & YWSBA2024-08-15T13:44:03+08:00

The people who make everything happen

Our management team consists of an elected committee who are all volunteers and two employed office staff. The committee is responsible for governance and strategic direction while Nadia and Melanie in the office handle all day-to-day activities such as answering membership enquiries and attending to the endless details involved in organising and publicising our events.

President

Jamie Duff

Qbit

I joined in 2007 and became a committee member soon afterwards. I’m extremely proud to have been involved in our transformation from the Subiaco Business Association into the force we are today. The journey has been personally rewarding and serving on the committee is a great way to give something back to the community while networking with other professionals. As a strong believer in the importance of long-term business relationships, I gain great satisfaction from the way WSBA attracts and holds so many members and helps them connect with each other.

Vice President

Blake Lieschke

There’s something very special about WSBA. For me personally, I absolutely love meeting new people and learning something new. I enjoy building relationships and a massive believer in that we can achieve more as a collective group, than we can individually. That’s why the WSBA and its high calibre member membership has been an excellent fit and complements our business exceptionally well.

I’m excited to be a member of the WSBA management committee and look forward to assisting the WSBA, its members and their business build stronger relationships and have some fun along the way.

As a Certified Practising Valuer, Licensed Valuer and Associate of the Australian Property Institute, I have extensive experience across a wide variety of asset classes and specialise in prestige / high worth residential through the Western Suburbs. As a veteran Expert Witness, I regularly give evidence at trial in the Supreme Court and Family Court of Western Australia and have been engaged in a number of landmark cases which revolve around complex property matters in recent years. When I’m not under intense cross examination, you’ll find me enjoying time with my young family, usually on the water with the other love of my life, a vintage rescue boat that I’m slowly bringing back to life.

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Secretary

Michelle Yates

Having had the pleasure of being associated with the WSBA as a corporate member within financial companies, dating back to 2001, I’m now a proud management committee member. This has been fulfilling to see how the wheels & cogs function behind the scenes & the work put into events & running such a valued and longstanding business association. Our committee is focused on aligning needs & in helping members to add value to all business sectors. As well as, to give the most that we can by way of WSBA’s membership benefits. I am very proud to see how the membership is growing from strength to strength.

I look forward to chatting at functions with you new and existing members alike & seeing how we can welcome fresh and innovative ideas to the wonderful community that is, the WSBA!

Treasurer

Stephen Spry

CBSW Tax & Business

My accounting firm joined in 2013 with the aim of finding new clients. It was a smart decision that has paid commercial dividends. What has especially appealed is that we meet high-calibre people who come from diverse industries and represent everything from start-ups to established companies. We’re also very impressed with the quality and frequency of events and WSBA’s community feeling. The way members relate to each other fits perfectly with my philosophy of creating real working partnerships with clients, something I know other members also aspire to achieve.

Committee Member

Gareth Lane

Concise Digital

I like socialising. I always have, I always will. I love interacting with people and getting to know their stories. I am a ‘tell you how it is’ kinda guy who likes to get straight to the point without all the fluff! I enjoy problem solving & growing businesses with digital marketing. I run regular talks, workshops and meetups on Google, Social Media and all things Digital Marketing. I live in Perth, Western Australia, enjoy wine, food and the sun.I’m the founder and director of Concise Digital a 35 strong team of digital marketers. The WSBA has a passionate group of people behind it, all of whom are small business owners themselves, and with them, I look forward to helping other small businesses in the Perth Western Suburbs grow their businesses and networks.

Committee Member

Malcolm Stewart

Equinox Accounting and Equinox Financial Planning.

Having been a member of WSBA for a number of years I felt it was time I gave back to the Association by joining the Committee. The fellow members of the committee are all passionate small business owners and their stories are quite inspiring. But they are not alone. They are just a small sample of the many wonderful members of the WSBA.

Connecting, collaborating and supporting other business owners in the WSBA is why I have joined the committee. I hope we continue that work and to grow the WSBA into an even bigger network and provide further opportunities to support small business in the Western Suburbs.

Committee Member

Sarah Maconachie

PGY consultants

At my first event with WSBA over a year ago, I left feeling inspired, motivated and eager to get out there to meet more people. I had recently returned to work after having children and was new to the Perth working world after moving from Sydney. I found WSBA so welcoming and exactly the type of group that I belonged in- I am thrilled to now be on the committee!

I work at PGY Consultants as the Sales Director with Perth’s number 1 Mindset Consultant- Fiona Yue. Together we help individuals and organisations completely transform. If you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve we will give you the tools to achieve it, usually in one big quantum leap. As well as helping to change the lives of many, I write a blog called “Work Hard Parent Hard”. My blog covers all things parenting, working, mindset- and gender equality!

Outside of my working world I do all things parenting, my 4 year old and 2 year old twins keep me very busy. WSBA events are the perfect place for me to have interesting conversations with small- medium business owners and enjoy some time for myself- usually with a well-deserved glass of wine in my hand.

Committee Member

Ryan Fitzgerald

Wood Recruitment

As someone that has vast experience in Business Development & Sales I have spent my fair share of time networking. WSBA has proven time after time to be a place I can count on to form friendships, build relationships and gain valued new clients organically in an environment that is engaging, fun and informative at fantastic venues all over WA.

Chances are you’ll hear Ryan before you see him. Ryan is loud, energetic and whole heap of fun. As the Senior Recruitment Consultant at Wood Recruitment Ryan is full of ideas, tips, and tricks to assist with hiring for your business. Known for his speed, quality and reliability if you ever want hiring advice or are looking for a new staff member seek him out at an upcoming event or give him a call Ryan LOVES a chat!

Committee Member

Paul Claessen

Paul Claessen Consulting

With over 30 years of real-world business experience, I’ve found the WSBA to be the perfect place for building meaningful connections with like-minded business owners and professionals. As the founder of Paul Claessen Consulting, I’m passionate about helping business owners navigate the complexities of growth, strategy, and performance through clear, actionable insights that drive results.
The WSBA community aligns with my belief in the power of strong relationships in business. I’m excited to contribute to its ongoing success and help fellow members achieve their goals.
General Manager

Nadia Leopardi

𝙈𝙮 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙉𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙇𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞, 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙝-𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙚.

𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙮, 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙎𝘽𝘼.

Member and Events Coordinator

Melanie Cronin

I joined the WSBA in 2013, following the re brand from the Subiaco Business Association, in this time I have seen amazing changes take place and have loved the opportunity to make a difference, it has been a privilege to contribute to and witness the continued growth and success of the WSBA’s friendly and informative networking functions that are regularly sold out.

YWSBA

The YWSBA is a collaborative and community-driven group of young professionals who are committed to helping other young professionals achieve personal and professional growth. We create engaging, interactive and positive environments that facilitate networking with like-minded individuals across many disciplines. Our mission is to empower the next generation of professionals with the confidence and connections they need to succeed in both their careers and personal lives, whilst also enjoying the journey

YWSBA Chairman

Ben Rockman

UHY Haines Norton Perth

After moving from over East during the pandemic, the YWSBA has been a fantastic opportunity for me to integrate into the local community. I’ve really enjoyed meeting lots of like-minded people and learning about their different professions and businesses through the numerous networking events. I am looking forward to being a part of the YWSBA committee and continuing to build strong relationships with all current and future members.

 

In my role as a tax accountant, I work closely with a wide variety of different clients mainly specialising in Small Business Tax and Advisory. My passion is assisting individuals and small businesses take better control of their finances to grow their business and improve their wealth. I am always happy to expand my network or even just to have a chat, whether it’s about work, life or sports.

YWSBA Committee Member

Imogen Blow

Bloom

I’m thrilled to have found such a supportive and warm community at WSBA. It’s not often ambition meets support, but at WSBA, everyone is intent on building each other up for the benefit of the community.

Bloom is a NFP that helps young people develop their entrepreneurial and innovation skills through program, coworking and events. I run their marketing as well as their user experience to help reach new individuals and improve the design of our organisation.

 

 

Email: imogen@bloom.org.au

YWSBA Committee Member

Tim Ponnusamy

Emploi Recruitment

As a specialist recruiter within the professional practice accounting space in Perth, a large part of my day-to-day role is to network within the professional services industry in Perth and build connections with like minded people that share my set of values.

 

I have been attending WSBA events for the best part of 5 years and believe that the WSBA has the right blend of professional style networking mixed with a personable approach. As a good friend of mine (and WSBA) Ron Gibson always says, a good networker is someone who understands how to walk the line between the personal and professional.

 

I have decided to join the Young Professionals committee of the WSBA as I have a particular passion for helping young professionals (like myself) grow their networks and make connections that will help them grow both in their careers and as people.

YWSBA Committee Member

Aaron Dominish

Hall Chadwick 

Working closely with young professionals in the Perth, it’s been great to have first-hand experience of watching driven people grow through building genuine connections with good people. The YWSBA provides an incredible space to meet with high calibre, growth-minded professionals, who ultimately become long-term relationships. These relationships have assisted me immensely throughout my career and I look forward to meeting and introducing younger professionals to the socialising scene.

As a Chartered Accountant, and Registered Liquidator, I work closely with a wide range of businesses to stabilise operations and turnaround the affairs. In doing so, calling upon a network of experienced operators has allowed the team to get the best outcomes for all involved.

 

YWSBA Committee

Grace Coombs

Lavan

Grace Coombs is an associate in Lavan’s Family Law team.

Grace practices in all areas of family law. She has instructed both Senior Counsel and Counsel in trials in the Family Court of Western Australia and assisted in appeal matters in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. She has experience in complex financial matters and parenting matters.

Grace is experienced in representing clients at all stages of their matter, including to prepare consent orders when agreement has been reached, represent clients in mediation and assist them through litigation.

Grace has been an active member of the Family Lawyers Practitioners Association of Western Australia, Social & CPD Committee for the previous four years.

I aim to provide a service to my clients where I can assist to refer them to the appropriate professional, outside of their family law needs. The Young Western Suburbs Business Association is a fantastic opportunity for like-minded young professionals to network and expand their referral sources.

What our members say

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We have been a WSBA Gold member now  for over ten years and have recently taken up the opportunity to become a Diamond member. The value proposition to become a Diamond member was very strong including attendances at WSBA events and ongoing exposure for our business through the various marketing platforms utilised by the WSBA. Well done to the WSBA team! Mark Hann, Tactica Partners
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Richard Noble have been a great supporter of the WSBA for over 10 years and will continue to do so as a Platinum member. WSBA events are always well run, informative and relevant to the business community and we enjoy the recognition provided to sponsors. Well done to the team of the WSBA for always making us feel appreciated. Alex Gregg, Richard Noble
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I’ve enjoyed being a Diamond partner due to the unrivalled customer service I’ve received from Radi and Mel. These two ladies are the true diamonds as they endured great pains in ensuring we do not miss out on events, as well as facilitating quality interactions between members. Moreover, people do not realise the effort involved in event organisations where every minute detail of catering, drinks, venue choice, speaker and decorations are being thought of time and time again. Throw in the endless unpredictable nature of COVID, this brings difficulties to the next level. Hence this is why I appreciate being part of this special organisation and recommend like-minded business owners to join. Bernard Chia, ALYKA
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Being a Platinum Member offers a huge amount of exposure to both the membership and the Western Suburbs community. It also shows that our business is committed to giving back to our community and being a part of something bigger. As a Platinum Member, you're well looked after by the WSBA team and benefit from early access to event tickets (some of which sell out in 24hrs) and having your branding at every event too. Everything's better in Platinum! Ant Ulijn, emanation
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Professional and focused on connections in a community that really mean something. One of the premier Perth networks. Highly recommended. Breanna Lane, Breanna Property
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Excellent events, great people and always a smile from the WSBA committee and staff. Gareth Lane, Concise Digital
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WSBA is one of the leading networking associations in Perth. Every event I’ve been to has been extremely beneficial for my business. The events are created in a way where you create organic business relations with fellow business owners which is well aligned with my business development. WSBA is a great balance of creating memorable experiences and great business relationships. Sandra Tricoli, Savvy Creations
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Top Level event last night for W.S.B.A. - great panel especially Jim Tsagalis. Adrian Law, A.H Law Accounting & SMSF Auditing
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Western Suburbs Business Association / Lexus of Perth event last night was a great forum to meet like minded business people it was fantastic the energy and vibe was a credit to the team at WSBA and Lexus of Perth, thanking you. Jane Taylor, Optus North
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A fantastic WSBA property dinner event last night, excellent current market info and great opportunity to talk to the experts and meet people involved in the Perth property market. Cullen Macleod
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Great organisation, highly recommend we have made some great connections. Charlene Wade, Venues West
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WSBA know how to put a great networking event together with like minded professionals, in a friendly welcoming environment conducive to building professional relationships. Brilliantly proactive and engaging committee. Highly recommend this group. Suza Tordorovska, Bendigo Bank
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I recently attended the women in business lunch and it was fantastic! Everyone was so inviting and friendly when I arrived. I learnt and I laughed, plus it was a nice break from my general work day. I'm looking forward to attending more of your support network events in the future. Nicole Molloy, Concise Digital
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I've been a member of the WSBA for 12 months now and have been very impressed with the organisation. I've enjoyed meeting a very interesting group of local business people, and the functions and networking opportunities have been first class. Annabelle Walsh, Staywest Apartments
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We have been going to WSBA events for a few years now and have developed a number of great business relationships as a result. The events are always excellent (great locations, food, drinks, etc) and the people in attendance are very friendly and cover a diverse range of industries. If you're looking to grow your network, the WSBA is well worth taking a close look at... what's more, you don't have to be in the Western Suburbs to get involved. Stephen Spry, CBSW Tax & Business Advisors
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Referrals and Networking are key to business growth and must be part of your strategy! The WSBA events are dynamic and provide the opportunity to network in a social and friendly environment. The connections and business relationships I have built over 10 years and the results speak for themselves. Get in touch with the WSBA and attend an event I promise you won't be disappointed. Jamie Duff, Qbit
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Since being a member of WSBA, Ultimo Catering and Events has gained a great exposure to businesses in the Western Suburbs and my business contacts have increased accordingly. The WSBA is definitely increasing in membership and this is evident at the networking functions. So I would encourage business owners/managers in the Western Suburbs to get on board, become a member and get the benefits of meeting with like minded people and businesses in a relaxed and casual environment. Clark Wilmot, Ultimo Catering and Events
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The WSBA is a fun, useful and educational networking group. It sets itself apart from other networking groups in a number of ways, including being the most friendly and welcoming group I have ever been to, with particular ways to make people feel welcome, for example introducing new members to other members and the committee when they first arrive. Combined with really useful, interesting, and fun events, the events have a fantastic turnout every month, and I have got to know some really great people and made some excellent business connections! I really enjoy going to their events - when time is so precious for all of us, it is critical that we choose to spend time in ways gives us a return on that investment, which WSBA absolutely does. Highly recommend! Catriona Macleod, Cullen Macleod
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The Western Suburbs Business Association comprises of members who like to casually catch up with each other from time to time. The reason I enjoy it so much is the quality of the people who attend their functions. We have been fortunate to partner with them on numerous different occasions.” Aaron McDonald, Managing Director, Pragma Lawyers
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A friendly group of business professionals who always make you feel welcome. If you enjoy making new connections, listening to inspiring presenters and networking sundowners - this is the place! Adrienne Whiting, Whiting Media