40under40 Judges

40under40

Our 12 judges were buoyed by the strength of the field, even if it made their job harder.  Let us introduce them to you ...

Rami Brass joined RSM Bird Cameron in 1994 and a year later was admitted into the partnership. In his current role as managing partner, Mr Brass is responsible for the development, strategic planning, and day-to-day management of the Perth RSM Bird Cameron office. He is also the company’s director of Perth tax services. Mr Brass has more than 19 years of experience in providing taxation advice and specialist tax consulting services. His experience includes providing income tax and fringe benefits tax advice to various businesses ranging from non-profit organisations to multinationals.

Wally Cox’s roles at the helm of many businesses have provided him with years of management experience. His former roles include the executive director of the Department of Conserv-ation and Land Management, CEO of the East Perth and Subiaco Redevelop-ment authorities, managing director of the Water Authority and director of the Department of Regional Development and the North West. He is also a former commissioner of the State Planning Commission, and the Coastal Shipping Commission. Professor Cox’s extensive experience is now utilised in his capacity as executive dean of the Faculty of Business and Public Management at Edith Cowan University.

As Woodside Energy LNG marketing manager Lucio Della Martina is responsible for marketing the Greater Sunrise gas fields in the Timor Sea and for LNG marketing strategy and assurance processes. Before taking up the position in June last year Mr Della Martina was the vice president of ALING, the marketing arm of the North West Shelf venture for markets outside Japan.

Mr Della Martina successfully coordinated the China LNG Supply bid submission and subsequently led the LNG Supply and Purchase Agreement negotiations with China.

Greg Devine is both an experienced small businessman and financial ad-viser. Setting up a small chain of Mexi-can restaurants in the late seventies, Mr Devine sold them to head back into his trained profession, financial planning. After a stint at Armstrong Jones he gain-ed his own dealer’s licence under the name Portfolio Planning Services. It grew into a national enterprise and was sold to Bain and Company in 1993. Mr Devine took on the role as adviser and national sales and marketing manger. Bain and Company later merged with Deutsche Bank. During a restructure Mr Devine acquired the WA affiliate office known as Godfrey Pembroke and continues to operate the business today.

Prior to joining the City of Perth as its CEO in April 2002, Frank Edwards was the CEO of the Town of Kwinana. Before entering local government he was a full-time officer in the Australian Army, rising to the rank of Colonel. He served in command, staff, and instructional billets in Australia, the United States, and Papua New Guinea. Mr Edwards still plays a role in the defence force as an army reserve officer, commanding the 13 Brigade as a brigadier.

Barry Knight joined the recruitment and consulting industry after gaining 10 years of management experience. Before being appointed as TMP Worldwide eResourcing general manager WA, Mr Knight was the TMP Worldwide eResourcing Auckland general manager and Morgan and Banks (now TMP Worldwide eResourcing) New Zealand south island general manager. He is a life fellow of the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and an associate fellow of Australian Institute of Management.

In his capacity as UWA faculties of Economics and Commerce, Education, and Law executive dean Paul McLeod is responsible for business administration within the university. He is part of several decision making bodies within UWA, including the planning and budget committee and the vice chancellor’s advisory committee.

Marita Naude took up the position of Curtin University’s Graduate School of Business director of the Masters of Leadership and Management Program at the beginning of this year. She has extensive experience in teaching in the areas of leadership development, global and cross-cultural leadership, and organisational change and development. Dr Naude has a background in health services management and has consulted on health sector issues in South Africa. She is currently involved in national and international collaborative research projects within the nursing sector.

As part of his role as Murdoch University director of postgraduate studies Grant Robertson is responsible for the Master of Business Administration course. He is a Murdoch University Master of Electronic Commerce graduate and is currently completing his MBA. Mr Robertson grew up in South Africa and during his required national service  developed the South African police force’s Child Protection Unit. Mr Robertson spent four years with the South African police and was awarded the J&B Rare Achiever Award at 25 years of age.

Darren Tyrrell returned to Perth to take up a position as sales manager for the WA region with Emirates. Prior to joining Emirates Mr Tyrrell was Ansett Australia commercial sales manager, Victoria and Tasmania. Before taking up an eastern States role with Ansett Australia Mr Tyrell was the sales and marketing manager for Skywest Airlines.

Paul Tzaikos has held senior government positions within the WA public sector, primarily in the areas of online services and public sector management and reform. Mr Tzaikos, a Certified Practising Accountant, has also worked in the corporate and securities regulation areas with the predecessors of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and is an associate of the Securities Institute of Australia.

Commencing with National Australia Bank in 1992 as a corporate lawyer in Adelaide, Stuart Wright has since contributed to numerous areas of the bank including corporate real estate, asset structuring, transaction and lending processes, strategic sourcing, and collections. Mr Wright has also been involved in strategy and finance for information technology and human resources functions. Now, as the general manager of business financial services WA, Mr Wright leads a team of people to help the bank’s business clients with financial advice.