Who is ICN Victoria

ICN Victoria cannot exist without our people. Lead by our Board and Leadership team we aim to foster an engaged, inclusive and high-performance culture.

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Our board

The current Board consists of representatives from AI Group (Chair, Tim Piper AM), The Australian Workers’ Union (Deputy Chair, Ben Davis), the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (Tony Mavromatis), the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Dr Gillian Sparkes AM), Engineers Australia (Alesha Printz) and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dugald Murray).

 

Head - Victoria, AI Group

Tim Piper AM

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Tim Piper is the Victorian Head of the Australian Industry Group which represents a range of companies across a broad range of industry sectors in Australia. Tim is Chair of the Industry Capability Network in Victoria and sits on the Portable Long Service Leave Authority, CoInvest Board, GS1 Board, WorkSafe Victoria Advisory Council and Occupational Health & Safety Committee. He also sits on a number of Victorian Government committees covering many areas, including environmental matters, COVID19 recovery, the rail industry, skills development, and industrial issues. Tim has practised as a barrister and solicitor in Australia and the UK and worked as a journalist in television, radio and newspapers. He also has completed an MBA. Tim was honoured last year with the Member of the Order of Australia for his services to industry and manufacturing, to skills training and to multicultural youth. He has also been an Australia Day Ambassador and was the recipient of the Centenary Medal for services to the business community.
Victorian Branch Secretary, AWU

Ben Davis

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Ben is the Victorian Branch Secretary of The Australian Workers’ Union. Further, he has been the AWU Victorian Vice President since 2007. Ben has experience across a range of industries, especially through his 10 years as AWU’s Organiser for Victoria. Ben has a deep passion for major projects and by extension, the provision of opportunities to local SMEs through the Local Jobs First policy.
Victorian Branch State Secretary, AMWU

Tony Mavromatis (AMWU)

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Tony became a Director of the ICN Victoria board in August 2018. Tony is the Victorian Branch State Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU). He has been involved in the manufacturing and construction industries for many years and is a long-time member of the AMWU. Tony is passionate about the Local Jobs First policy and supporting local manufacturing in Victoria.
Chief Advocacy, Strategy and Transformation, VCCI

Dugald Murray (VCCI)

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With an extensive background in public affairs and policy, Dugald joined the ICN Victoria board in August 2018. Dugald is currently the Chief Advocacy, Strategy and Transformation at the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Dugald has held senior roles at state and federal government levels. Further, he is also an Independent Non Executive Director at the Australian Energy Foundation. Dugald was attracted to ICN Victoria given our mission to support local SMEs and strengthen Victoria’s supply chain.
General Manager – Victoria, Engineers Australia

Alesha Printz

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Alesha Printz is a Chartered Engineer and the General Manager, Victoria of Engineers Australia, Australia’s peak engineering association representing around 100,000 engineers. Alesha joined the ICN Victoria board in October 2018 and is also a board member at Engineers Without Borders Australia. She has an extensive industry experience based on a background in the delivery of major infrastructure projects for Victorian water authorities. One of the motivating factors to become a Director at ICN Victoria was the organisation’s role in supporting Victoria’s economy, specifically through connecting local SMEs to project opportunities. The subsequent capacity expansion and job creation is able to provide ripple effects for our local supply chain and the long-term sustainability of manufacturing. Alesha is also passionate about family and as mother of two young children is currently role modelling flexible work in practice.
Board Member

Russell Rolls

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With over 20 years on ICN Victoria’s board, Russell has an extensive history in the heavy resource engineering industry. As a professional mechanical engineer, Russell operated at one of the oldest Australian engineering companies, Jaques Limited. Another business Russell was involved at is Clyde Industries Limited, with export operations primarily to Asia, North and South America and South Africa. The focus on local content and strengthening our supply chain has been the core reason for Russell’s involvement with ICN Victoria for over two decades.
Victoria’s Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability

Gillian Sparkes AM

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Dr Gillian Sparkes FAICD Gillian is Victoria’s Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, an independent statutory role that reports and advises the Victorian government on the environment and a non-executive director. Gillian has been a board member of ICN Victoria since 2014 and is also a board member of the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Country Fire Authority and Chair of FrontierSI. An accomplished leader in complex stakeholder environments across multiple sectors, risks and settings, Gillian was initially an industrial chemist and later operations manager with BHP Steel and Brambles Cleanaway. After two decades working in industry, Gillian decided to pursue public service and as an establishing Centre Director for the Commonwealth Enterprise Connect Program from 2008-2010, was fortunate to experience first-hand the critical role of ICN in supporting industries and creating jobs. Gillian continues to be excited by the work of ICN and the opportunity to be a part of the highly skilled, experienced and diverse ICN Victoria Board. Gillian was awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours “for significant services to environmental sustainability, and to public administration”.

Leadership team

The current Leadership Team, lead by CEO, Dianne Smith consists of managers from Client Services, Communications and Marketing, Corporate Services, Industry Engagement, Policy Implementation and Programs, Process and Systems.

CEO

Dianne Smith

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Dianne became CEO of the Industry Capability Network (Vic.) in November 2020. She is a proud Victorian, passionate about growing industry capability and local jobs and has a well-connected business and government network in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Prior to ICN, Dianne held various senior positions including Chief Executive at the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce (part of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Chief Executive of the Victoria Tourism Industry Council, Manager of Tourism Partnerships at Parks Victoria, and CEO of Ballarat Tourism. Her skills are in the areas of Government Relations, Advocacy and Communications, Business and Industry Development, and Commercial Operational Management. Dianne was appointed to the Victorian Ministerial Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Council (2016-2018), Adjunct Professor Victoria University, and she is currently a Board Director of Puffing Billy (Emerald Tourist Railway Board). She is a graduate of the AICD and has a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University.
Manager – Industry Engagement

Andrew Bradley

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Having joined ICN Victoria in 2007 as Grampians Regional Manager, Andrew is currently the Manager of Industry Engagement, with six years’ experience in the position that is crucial to delivering the state government’s Local Jobs First Policy. Andrew leads a dynamic team of Industry Advisors spread across the metropolitan and regional areas of Victoria. Maintaining and improving the level of Australian businesses with onshore operations acts as one of Andrew’s key motivators, which in turn involves regularly bringing together project owners, buyers, and suppliers from across the state. Andrew’s career commenced in the UK working for a Builders Merchants Group which lead to spending time living and working in Jordan and Qatar in the same field. A year working as Export Manager for Johnson Tiles in the UK was followed by a move to Australia with the same company. A subsequent move to Ballarat to work at Eureka Tiles as National Sales Manager and then as Export Manager for Athlegen has ensured that Andrew well and truly calls Ballarat home.
Manager – Business Development and Client Services

Andy Balmain

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Andy Balmain has been with the Industry Capability Network since 2010, starting as an Industry Advisor before gradually making his way into his current role as Manager – Business Development & Client Services for the organisation. Prior to joining ICN Victoria, Andy had more than 30 years of experience across construction, manufacturing, project management, product design & development, and commercial management. Specific areas Andy has worked in include yacht construction, automotive OEM and aftermarket components, commercial construction, and plastic thermoforming. Andy has played a key role in many projects since joining the ICN Victoria team, which can involve coordinating support for local industry engagement, import replacement, collaboration, as well as joint ventures. Some noteworthy projects he has involved with include the Melbourne Arts Centre Redevelopment, working in New Zealand on the rebuilding of Christchurch, the current HMAS Cerberus upgrade and Level Crossing Removal projects.
CFO

Lisa Ratcliffe

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Lisa has over 30 years of Financial and Corporate Services Management experience across a broad range of industries, including state government and the not-for-profit sector. Lisa is the Chief Financial Officer at ICN Victoria, a role she commenced in October 2019. Lisa provides high quality financial oversight and corporate governance and engages stakeholders, manages reporting and builds/manages high performing teams to streamline operations. She currently sits on the Board of the Australian Graphene Industry Association as a Non-Executive Director and also serves as the Treasurer. Lisa has held several senior management roles including ten years at the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (VCAMM). She has gained a Master of Business Administration along with a BA and Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management.
Manager – Programs, Process and Systems

Lynn Johnson

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Lynn Johnson is a qualified civil/structural engineer with a Master of Business Administration. Her career spans to Singapore, United Kingdom and Australia, and across many industry sectors including engineering, construction, manufacturing, renewables, transport and infrastructure. Lynn is the Manager of the Programs, Process and Systems team, delivering valued and distinguished offerings to Government and industry customers. Since joining ICN in 2001, Lynn has been committed to supporting local procurement and supply chain engagement. Lynn is a proud winner of the inaugural ‘2014 Women in Industry Award for Excellence in Manufacturing’; a culmination of hard work and passion to help Australian industry gain access to opportunities. Lynn is passionate about helping SMEs by supporting industry to be aware of business opportunities in Government projects and procurement as well as working with SMEs to promote local business capability.
Manager – Policy Implementation

Tariro Makwasha

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Tariro Makwasha leads ICN Victoria’s Policy Implementation Team, with responsibilities for the administration and application of the Local Jobs First Policy. She also supports the organisation’s strategic projects outside of Local Jobs First, including advising on local capability, procurement, and opportunities for engaging and supporting local industry development. Tariro is an economist/econometrician with fifteen years’ experience in economics, public policy, senior stakeholder engagement, statistical analyses, and consulting. She has partnered with state and federal government on economic development policies, infrastructure investment, road safety improvement strategies and future policy directions. In her previous role with the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), Tariro worked on infrastructure investment, road safety and road pricing, authoring over 40 publications, mostly in support of the first UN Decade of Action on Road Safety, valuing travel time savings and measuring for reducing road casualties. She is experienced in growing and leading effective teams, mentoring, coaching, and fostering positive team culture, with strengths in economics, econometrics, strategy, and public policy. Tariro holds a master’s degree in applied econometrics from Monash University, an honours degree in economics from Murdoch University and is in her final year of an executive master’s of business administration candidature with the Australian Graduate School of Management.
Manager – Administration / EA to Dianne Smith

Yelena Kats

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Joining ICN Victoria in January 2019, Yelena is an administration-based professional with a background in the finance sector. Yelena has several years’ experience in the areas of consumer finance and lending policy, at companies such as Loan Market. Yelena was particularly attracted to ICN Victoria given the important support role she could play in a smaller organisation.

Our team & focus areas

Client Services

Phone 03 9864 6700

Email Info@icnvic.org.au

Communications and Marketing

Phone 03 9864 6700

Email Info@icnvic.org.au

The Communications and Marketing team is responsible for ICN Victoria’s relatable content and storytelling through LinkedIn, The Victorian Prospect, Fireside ‘Zoom’ Chats and many more channels. We love telling industry stories and encourage businesses to reach out for more information.

Corporate / Administration

Phone 03 9864 6700

Email Info@icnvic.org.au

The Corporate / Administration function is responsible for financial matters, administrative and operations support, people and culture.

Industry Engagement

Phone 03 9864 6700 (Bidder or Supplier Support: Select option 2 "LIDP then option 1 "Bidder")

Email Info@icnvic.org.au

Our team across Victoria assists to:

  • Activate local industry engagement and connections
  • provide advice on Local Jobs First Policy and Social Procurement strategies
  • maximise local, social, sustainable and employment outcomes for project opportunities

Our team brings extensive experience and knowledge across a broad range of industry sectors which enables us to offer well rounded advice whilst adhering to the strictest probity rules.

From working with bidders to identify local suppliers to post tender award support, our team are out and about in the marketplace every day engaging with suppliers and building supplier knowledge.

On key Victorian Government Strategic Projects, we allocate an Industry Adviser to each Bid Team to assist with policy and project requirements. Each of these experienced Advisers will be able to assist in connecting suppliers directly to their respective Bidders. Upon award of the contract the ICN team will continue to support the company on the delivery of project commitments.

Policy Implementation

Phone 03 9864 6700

Email policyadmin@icnvic.org.au

The Policy Implementation Team partners with the Office of Industry Participation and Jobs in the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions to deliver the Local Jobs First Policy (LJF) across state government procurements valued $1 million and above.

Our primary role is translating LJF from policy to application, advising state government on opportunities for local industry involvement, jobs creation and support, and the process and requirements of LJF.

The Policy Implementation Team has three function areas: Capability Advisory Services, Policy Compliance Services and Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination. Through these function areas, we deliver LJF training sessions, advise the state on Strategic Projects ($50 million and above), provide data and insights on current local industry capability and capacity to input into government procurements.

Why is our work essential?

Through our activities, the government can measure the impact LJF has on local industry and employment including the development and growth of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), skills development and pipeline, diversification and localisation of supply chains critical to Victoria, Australia and New Zealand.

Our continued involvement with government initiatives is driven by our commitment to uplifting local industry and jobs.

 

Programs, Process and Systems

Phone 03 9864 6700

Email Info@icnvic.org.au

The Programs, Process and Systems (PPS) team operates the Social Procurement Program and VMC, ICN Victoria’s information management platform, an accessible end-to-end system that collects data to support Government and Industry with policy, project delivery and performance.

The PPS team also manages data and systems that support local industry participation, local content considerations and assist with the project procurement process.

 

ICN HELP DESK

Phone 1300 961 139 (within Australia)
Phone +61 2 6285 2033 (outside Australia)
Email helpdesk@corp-dev.icn.org.au

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