SmallBusiness.wa.gov.au
The Small Business Specialists
Phone: 131 BIZ
Website: www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au
13 July 2010
The Small Business Development Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chair, two new members and the reappointment of two existing members for the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) Board.
Mr Ray Mountney has been appointed to the Chair of the SBDC Board, Brent Pollard and Merrill Dalgleish as new members of the Board while Geoff Brayshaw and Chris Jones have had their appointments extended for a further 12 months and six months respectively.
The new Chair of the SBDC Board is:
Mr Ray Mountney – appointed to the Chair for a one-year term, effective 21 June 2010. Mr Mountney was appointed to the Board in August 2009 following his very successful business career in the motor industry. As owner and Managing Director of Fennessy Holden and Nissan in Busselton, Ray has also served as State delegate to the National Franchise Councils of Holden and Nissan. Ray has also been active within the broader community of the South West, holding executive positions with the Busselton Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Centre Vasse. Ray brings a set of skills which complement those of our existing board members.
The new Board members are:
Mr Brent Pollard - appointed as a new member for a term of two years. Mr Pollard has an extensive background in developing businesses in Britain and Western Australia. He currently owns Black Toms and Mosmans restaurant in Perth and has a number of other domestic and international business interests. With strong strategic skills and a thorough understanding of the contemporary issues facing business operators, particularly entrepreneurs, Mr Pollard will bring a new dimension of experience to complement the existing SBDC Board composition.
Ms Merrill Dalgleish - appointed as a new member (regional representative) for a period of two years. Ms Dalgleish is well known in the Mid West region where she operates a highly successful catering and events business which she started and developed with her husband. With experience on the Boards of the Mid West Small Business Centre and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ms Dalgleish is very familiar with the work of both the SBDC and the SBC Network and will be a valuable addition to the SBDC Board.
The existing Board members whose tenure is being extended:
Mr Geoff Brayshaw - appointed for a further term of one year. Mr Brayshaw was appointed to the SBDC Board in January 2005. He is a Non Executive Director, Audit Committee Chairman of the Fortescue Metals Group Limited and Poseidon Nickel Limited. Mr Brayshaw is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Associate of the Institute of Company Directors and past National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Mr Chris Jones - appointed for a further term of 6 months. Mr Jones was appointed to the SBDC Board in December 2004 and is a Director of Chris Jones Plumbing which services the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Mid West regions with bases in both Port Hedland and Kalbarri. He is Past President of the Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce and former Councillor of the Town of Port Hedland. Mr Jones is also Deputy Chair of the WA Plumbers' Licensing Board, representing regional plumbers throughout Western Australia, and a current member of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Other current board members:
Ms Larissa Beeson - has been a member of the SBDC Board since December 2004. Ms Beeson is also Regional Head of Transaction Banking WA/SA, Institutional Bank at the ANZ Bank and has worked with many business groups ranging in size from small to large, and with women in business during her career. Additionally Ms Beeson, together with her husband has also operated a furniture upholstery business.
Ms Caterina (Kitty) Prodonovich - was appointed to the Board in May 2008 and took up her position in September 2008. Ms Prodonovich has owned and operated a number of small businesses, including two award winning businesses in the Goldfields. She was the recipient of the Goldfields Young Achiever Award and winner of the 2002 Goldfields Business of the Year. She was elected the youngest executive member of the Kalgoorlie Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a past president. Ms Prodonovich is currently the president of the Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry in WA and Business Manager at Como Engineers.
Media contact: Di Graham on (08) 9220 0218 or 0432 750 565
