Management Committee

Management Committee2023-08-17T15:03:52+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 Radi and Gaby 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

Stuart Gale

Quest on Rheola

I have on behalf of Quest on Rheola been a member of WSBA since 2018, Since joining I immediately found a business community that I wanted to be a part of. Members are welcoming, and shared the same challenges we all endure.

As a Business Development Executive, I enjoy the ability to connect with a variety of businesses. I am a solutions focused individual, and enjoy the ability to combine both attributes in a social setting amongst likeminded business owners and members.

The local connection and how we can all collaborate and assist each other is the driving force that I chose to become a committee member. I wanted to share my experience and ideas further with a greater audience, and help grow this amazing Business Association.

Secretary

Michelle Yates

Convera

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.

In my current role as the WA Business Development Manager, at Convera, I provide key financial decision makers and leaders, within large companies, with customised FX products and risk solutions. As world leaders in Commercial FX products and services, Convera is the largest non-bank b2b global payments company. The companies I assist cover a large cross section of industry and corporate sectors in WA, from mining, digital & technology, biotech, agriculture, law, accounting and more.

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

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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Committee Member

Ruth Livingstone

Lynn & Brown Lawyers

I am so pleased to have joined the WSBA management committee team who work hard to deliver stand out events and opportunities to the business community. Before I joined the WSBA, I had attended several of their events and always found them to be relaxed and a good way of meeting like-minded people across a broad range of businesses. I love working as part of a team and meeting new people as I am firmly of the view that there is always more to experience and learn.

Outside of the committee, I work as a lawyer in the wills and estates space. I have had much legal and practical experience in this area and really enjoy the opportunity to be able to help people in a very real and practical way, at what is often a difficult time in their life. When I am not working, I enjoy bike riding, am a member of a book club and enjoy spending time with my husband, and my two young children.

Committee Member

Sean Hocking

Boutique Advisors

Being part of a community of professionals that get along and build trust in one another is a powerful thing, and the WSBA does well to deliver this for its members. Alongside a busy work and home life, new and varied conversations out at great venues is something I look forward to and provides a great platform for building longstanding relationships. WSBA is a great facilitator of this and continues to provide me with valuable connections which I can make us of professionally through my role at Boutique Advisers.

Being of service to people from all walks of life as a financial planner is my passion and I truly believe in helping others lead a lifestyle of their choosing. Confidence and digestible knowledge of your options over the journey is front of mind when it comes to making financial and ultimately life decisions. When not helping others professionally, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, travelling and experiencing different ways of life, camping throughout WA and enjoying the great outdoors.

 

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.

General Manager

Radi Stulic

As a long term resident and having worked in Subiaco for many years, including, owning a gorgeous small business, I am passionate about my ‘hood’ so the opportunity to join the WSBA was irresistible.

I believe the cornerstone of success is great service and connecting with like minded & positive people with a mutual vision to create genuine and collaborative relationships.

I found that matching philosophy, with the WSBA committee. They are warm, positive, engaged and genuinely care about growth and business success within the Western suburbs.

As the old adage goes, so often, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, in my personal experience it’s always peppered with a little bit of each. Through our events program, I relish the opportunity to assist in building awesome collaborative connections and to support your business within our talented, diverse member & guest community. Who doesn’t love a good party? I look forward to welcoming you to one of our networking events very soon.

Membership and Event Coordinator

Gabriela Perez

My name is Gabriela Perez, I’m from Mexico and I have been living in Australia for 4 years, my background is as a Graphic designer and I have been involved in social media and marketing for almost 6 years now.

I’m excited that I will soon be finishing my Master in Business and I’m so pleased to be involved in a business like the WSBA where certainly I will be learning a lot in this beautiful community, looking forward to meeting every one of you at our events.

I am a foodie and in my spare time, I like to paint, illustrate, catch up with my friends and go to the gym.

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

Sean Hocking

Being part of a community of young professionals that get along and build trust in one another is a powerful thing, and the YWSBA does well to connect people in this way. Alongside a busy work and home life, new and varied conversations out at great venues is something I look forward to and provides a great platform for building longstanding relationships. YWSBA is a great facilitator of this and continues to provide me with valuable connections for the future which I can make use of professionally through my role at Boutique Advisers.

Being of service to people from all walks of life as a financial planner is my passion and I truly believe in helping others lead a lifestyle of their choosing. Confidence and digestible knowledge of your options over the journey is front of mind when it comes to making financial and ultimately life decisions. When not helping others professionally, professionally, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, travelling and experiencing different ways of life, camping throughout WA and enjoying the great outdoors.

YWSBA Committee Member

Maggie Bussanich

‘Maggie is a commercial litigation lawyer who assists clients find a solution to their disputes. Maggie acts for all clients from individuals to global companies.

In addition to being as litigation lawyer, Maggie is involved in multiple committees and networking groups. Maggie truly believes in the benefits of young professionals coming together and supporting one another. Maggie says that ‘YWSBA is an opportunity for the young professionals of Perth and the Western Suburbs to come together, find common ground and grow their network in a supportive environment’.

YWSBA Committee Member

Kiah Bradford

I have been a member of the WSBA since 2020 and have loved meeting new people and the energy I got from attending the events.

I really enjoy meeting new people and organising events to bring people together, so I’m thrilled to be a part of the YWSBA committee, to help young professionals establish and deepen working connections with others in the Western Suburbs community.

In my job as a financial adviser at Empire Financial Group, I help people to understand the implications of their financial habits and create strategies to work towards their dream life.

I love the social aspect of my job and getting to know my clients on a more personal level, and am fortunate to share in the excitement when they tick off their big goals.

YWSBA Committee Member

James Ahern

I have always valued strong relationships both in my personal and professional life which is why I was driven to become a member of the WSBA. The weeknight catch ups and impromptu coffees at different venues with others who have the same intention of building a strong network has been a thoroughly rewarding experience.

I would actively encourage any professional to get involved in the WSBA or similar organisations as they help build strong relationships and connections to other like-minded professionals. This has been particularly useful for me in my role as a Finance Executive at Ledge Finance as it enables me to confidently introduce my clients to members of my network knowing they will be able to work together to achieve the right outcome in areas outside of my profession. The essence of this, building good professional relationships, is something that I feel has only recently started to become more accessible and common amongst young professionals.

This is why the YWSBA is something that I and the rest of the committee have become extremely passionate in trying to help deliver. To create a successful, useful and enjoyable professional networking environment for those young professionals looking to build on, or create their own professional network. Outside of work I’m a follower of nearly all sports, enjoy beer food and wine, and try to make the most of the unreal coastline we’re blessed with here in WA.

YWSBA Committee Member

Imogen Blow

“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.

My work is in the content creation space, helping brands bring more authenticity to their online presence. I do this as a drone pilot, creating beautiful content for the mining industry’s professional documentation. In addition, I partner with luxury hotels around the world to uplift their content and online presence.

With my background in marketing and psychology, I also work as the Marketing and Community Manager at Bloom, the Centre of Youth Innovation. By instilling young people with innovation and entrepreneurial skills, we can help them prepare for the ever changing demands of today’s job market.”

 

What our members say

testimonial
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