Leadership and Governance

Matt overseas a large commercial portfolio focusing on workforce skills development and business support services at CCIWA. He has led the expansion of CCIWA’s various business services including in workplace relations, work health and safety, commercial law, and accounting and taxation.

With a background in professional services roles at KPMG and PKF, and in management across the United Kingdom technology and finance sectors, Matt has extensive executive leadership experience, including as an Executive Director of Apprenticeship Support Australia, the largest provider of apprentice and business support services in Australia.

In addition to his executive roles, Matt is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a graduate of the Harvard University Leadership & Culture Program, completed the Mergers and Acquisition program at London Business School and holds an Economics and Politics degree with honours from the University of Manchester.

Esme is a Director of Volunteering Australia and the Paraplegic Benefit Fund, and Chair of the WA Carers Advisory Council reporting to the Minister, a member on both the Ministers Community Volunteering Reference Group and the Ministers Single Use Plastic Action Group.

She is an RAC Honorary Life Member, RAC Past President and RAC Council Member retiring in March 2020, and a previous Director of the Australian Automobile Association. Esme is also a life member of Wheelchair Sports WA and is a 2024 WA Women’s Hall of Fame inductee.

Esme has been a company Director of, and remains involved in, a Perth-based family surf business. She has been involved in tourism and hospitality ventures in the Kimberley region of WA. Esme has almost 30 years of nursing and disability Board experience and worked as a community road safety advocate for many years. She holds a BSc (Nursing) FAICD. Esme joined CCIWA’s Board in September 2022 and has been Vice President since December 2022.

Mark was appointed to the role of Executive Vice President Marketing and Trading at Woodside in 2022. He has more than 20 years of commercial, marketing, trading, finance and mergers and acquisitions experience across roles based in Australia, Singapore, Japan and the United Kingdom. Mark has held several senior positions at Woodside with prior experience at the WA Department of Treasury and BHP Iron Ore.

Mark graduated from the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School in 2021, holds a Master of Philosophy in Finance from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and MBA from the University of Western Australia.

Mark is a Non-executive Director of the Asian Natural Gas and Energy Association (ANGEA), GLX Digital and he is a Director of numerous Woodside subsidiaries. Mark joined CCIWA’s Board in 2022.

After 10 years in operational and senior management roles at Wesfarmers, in 2009 Andy and his team purchased MAK Industrial Water Solutions (MAK Water), where he remains the major shareholder and CEO.

At the time of this acquisition MAK Water was a small service and maintenance provider to the mining and resources industry in Western Australia. It has now grown to be an Australian market leader in water treatment technology across a range of industries. With the acquisition of Queensland-based Clearmake in 2013, and WTS in 2021, MAK Water has developed a national service capability with service centres in all states of Australia and exports worldwide.

In addition to his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Manchester, Andy has an MBA from Curtin University and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) at Harvard Business School. Andy joined CCIWA’s Board in 2018 and has been Chair of the Manufacturing Committee since 2012.

Liz is the Managing Director of Argenica Therapeutics (ASX:AGN), a company developing therapies to treat neurological conditions. Liz has deep experience in both biotechnology and management consulting with more than 20 years’ experience across Australia and the United Kingdom, previously as KPMG’s National Director of Research Engagement and Commercialisation, as well as holding senior roles with Ernst & Young (EY) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Liz is also on the Board of AusBiotech, Australia’s biotechnology peak industry body.

Liz was named a winner in Women in Technology WA Tech Awards in 2019 and selected as one of 25 Australian Female Leaders in STEM for the 2022 Federal Government’s WILD program. She holds a PhD, MBA and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Liz joined CCIWA’s Board in 2022.

Nicolle is the immediate past President of CCIWA and has been a Director since 2015, and a member of General Council since 2012. She is also Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

Nicolle is Managing Director of The Hub Marketing Communications, established in 2005, and works across a variety of industries Australia-wide, from large multi-nationals organisations though to Aboriginal art centres in rural and remote Australia. Prior to starting her own business, she held senior management and marketing positions within the not-for-profit and corporate sectors across various industries. Nicolle is Director of Sport West and co-founder of Small Business Matters, a movement tasked to celebrate entrepreneurship and small business.

Nicolle holds a Bachelor of Communications from Edith Cowan University, an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of WA (UWA), a Master of Management Research from UWA and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Nicolle was awarded the national 2016 Certified Practicing Marketer of Year as a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and has won numerous national and state marketing awards. She was a 40 Under 40 Award winner (2012), a finalist in the 2011 Telstra Best of Business Awards and a finalist in the 2011 Telstra Business Woman of the Year awards.

Liz is a partner in the Disputes team of the law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and is the Managing Partner of its Perth office. She is also HSF’s Global Co-chair of the Progression to Partner Panel.

Liz is a dispute resolution lawyer with expertise in complex commercial litigation, corporate regulatory matters, corporate crime and investigations, climate-related litigation and international arbitration. Her experience encompasses all forms of dispute resolution including mediation, litigation, expert determination and arbitration, both domestic and international.

Liz is an Executive and Board Director of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) and is the chair of its WA State Committee. She is also Deputy Chair of Scitech and Chair of the Corporate Law Association of Perth.

From 2009 until her resignation in 2017, Liz was an elected member of the WA Legal Practice Board and was the Deputy Chair of the Admissions Committee for several years. From 2011 to 2020, Liz was a member of the WA Regional Council of Redkite, and she maintains an active interest in the charity. From 2020 until her resignation in 2023, Liz sat on the Curtin Law School Advisory Board.

Liz has taught international commercial arbitration, corporations law and regulatory theory at the University of WA (UWA). She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Murdoch University, and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in History and Psychology from UWA.

Liz is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of WA and the High Court of Australia. Liz joined CCIWA’s Board in 2023.

Simon is a digital communications and media specialist with more than 30 years’ experience. He is the Founder and Digital Communications Strategy Lead at Gramercy Park Consulting, an independent firm that assists organisations facing challenges from disruptive technology trends in marketing and communications. He is the Deputy Chair of the PeopleKind Group and chairs its Risk and Clinical Governance Committee.

Simon is also a Non-executive Director of Landgate and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. He has served on boards in various sectors, including the arts, media, human services, the public sector and peak bodies, and is a staunch advocate for Indigenous cultural heritage, diversity and inclusion, and small business.

Simon is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and joined CCIWA’s Board in 2021.