Board of Directors

Richard has been a member of the ALABC board since 2003 and was appointed Chairman in 2018.

He is the Executive Chairman of Cutting Edges Equipment Parts, one of Australia’s largest suppliers of equipment parts for the mining, construction and infrastructure industries, operating since 1960. They have a national branch and distribution network throughout Australia, with links to Latin America dating back to 1996 when they established manufacturing operations in Chile and since then have been supplying products into Latin America. They also import from manufacturing operations in Latin America and greatly value their connection with the region.

Kim Prior has over 30 years experience in the Engineering and Mining sector with particular expertise in Latin America and the Caribbean, having worked extensively in and travelled frequently to the region.

After early finance roles in theatre production, newspaper publishing & mining exploration, Kim went on to work in the engineering sector as a company accountant, financial controller, CEO & Managing Director of her own engineering company which specialized in process and combustion engineering for mineral extraction and heavy industry. Her most recent roles were executive directorships in Australian/LATAM joint venture companies which focused on mining from exploration to production and commercialisation stage of battery and precious metal commodities. Kim also founded and Chaired the Australia-Cuba Business Council for many years.

Kim has an extensive background and her engagement with Latin America bring knowledge and experience including leading trade delegations both overseas and within Australia and has strong working relations at all levels of industry and government.

Kim hold a BA from UQ and a B.Bus (Accountancy) from QUT and holds MAICD, MAusIMM and is a member of CPA Australia.

Liliana's experience as an Accountant in Australia and my Peruvian legal background allow her to work with businesses of all sizes and identify opportunities, provide solutions and advice with a multidisciplinary approach.

Liliana is one of the Partners at Mazars in Australia, an international integrated partnership of accounting firms with global presence in Latin America, North America and Europe. She provide clients with advice that facilitates the decision-making process at various stages of their businesses including the most appropriate business structure to set up, strategies for profit maximization and business succession.

Liliana is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Her qualifications also include a Bachelor of Law in Peru, a Master of Commercial Law in Peru and a Master of Accounting in Australia. Her Latin American background has allowed her to build networks and connections in Australia with Ambassadors, Government Agencies and representatives from Latin America who are interested in promoting the development of business opportunities with Australia.

Liliana is passionate about helping businesses achieve their goals and serve as a link between Australia and the LATAM region. She aims to have an active role in contributing to ALABC by helping its members and providing them with important and relevant business information.

Julio is a Chilean/Australian citizen with an MBA from Melbourne Business School & UCLA. Julio has substantial experience in business development, trade, business strategy and engineering.

Julio holds a Master’s in Mining from Melbourne University. He has worked on successful projects in BHP, MMG, Newcrest, Orica, Glencore and South32 in Australia, Chile & Peru.

Julio founded Andes Agile, a successful company supporting Australian businesses in Latin America. Julio is well known in the Latin American business community in Victoria.

Julio has actively supported ALABC by sponsoring and promoting several events. He has strong business connections in the private mining sector in both Australia and Latin America and developed good connections with the Victorian Government.

Julio is known for bringing new, fresh ideas to transform them into successful initiatives. Julio’s passion, commitment, and strong connections will enhance ALABC to strengthen business ties between Australia & Latin America.

Paola is an international leader with over a decade of proficiency in governance frameworks, risk management and technical mining industry expertise. She is a trusted advisor to Boards, Senior Management and Civil Society. She takes pride in delivering win-win outcomes through effective organisational analysis, stakeholder engagement from the shop floor and employee empowerment.
 
Paola is the current Upstream SA Operations Lead at Santos. She has previously held management leadership positions in health and safety, fixed plant maintenance, reliability improvement and external affairs with Catalyst Metals and Newcrest Mining. Prior to these roles, she worked together with teams across the Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia as part of OceanaGold Corporation and Kingsgate Limited to deliver her passion of transferring the benefits of mining to impacted communities. As a former senior diplomat for the Colombian government in Australia, Paola values and advocates for transparent public policy processes supportive of attracting and maintaining foreign direct investment. 
 

Her qualifications include a Master of Business Administration, Master of International Business, a Bachelor of Law, a Certificate in Applied Finance and Diplomas in Mineral Exploration Geoscience, Mining Processing and Mechanical Reliability and Maintenance.

Harris has over 25 years of cross border experience in corporate and business law, employment law, technology and software companies, real estate, commercial and M&A (Australia and LATAM).

He is fluent in English and Spanish, spoken and written. On the Board, he will be able to share his personal experience and the experiences of others in establishing small and large businesses abroad, and able to share the wisdom from his experience setting up Harris Gomez Group in Chile in 2001.

Monica is a senior international leader with extensive experience across North, Central, South America, South East Asia and Europe, dealing mainly with Central Banks and government agencies in the development of new currency family projects.

Throughout her career, she has held Global Leadership roles in Program Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, IT Operations, Commercial and Security. Currently, she is the Chief Delivery Officer for SECOS Group.

Felipe has been the Managing Director of Balance Energy since May 2021. In parallel with this role, he works as a Business Development Latam for Evergen, an energy-tech Australian start-up based in Sydney and Newcastle, providing Software as a Service (SaaS) to battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Felipe has been involved in the energy sector for more than a decade, leading teams in several roles and helping the energy transition, working as a New Business Development Manager at Gasco, one of the most recognized energy companies in Chile and Colombia. Felipe gained considerable experience in commercial areas, new business development, marketing, designing and implementating growth strategies for companies looking to enter new markets. Previously to this role, he exercised different supply chain positions in retail (Kimberly Clark Chile) and shipping agency (Ultramar Agencia Maritima).

In addition, Felipe is also part of the Advisory Board & Angel Investor of SUNCAST, a Chilean SaaS (Software as a Service) start-up which provides artificial intelligence for renewable energy with major contracts operating in Chile and Mexico. Additionally, contributing as Non-Executive Director of ALAYP (Australian Latin American Young Professionals).

Felipe has over 15 years of industry experience in corporate sustainability and system decarbonisation. Felipe is a Commercial Engineer from The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (Valparaiso) and Master of Sustainable Energy from The University of Queensland.

Rob Whiddon was Managing Director of Trade and Investment Queensland, the international arm of the Queensland Government, for six years from 2008 to 2014.

TIQ assists Queensland business with export advice from its professional team in its Brisbane headquarters, and through its many international offices in The Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Under his stewardship of TIQ the Queensland Government opened a trade and investment office for Latin America based in Santiago, Chile, the first Australian state to have a base in the region.

As MD of TIQ he had a very close relationship with ALABC, and he continued that involvement by joining ALABC in a personal capacity after his TIQ term concluded. He has been a Director of ALABC for the past twelve months.

Now living on the Gold Coast, Rob remains involved in international trade and investment activity. As well as ALABC he is on the board of the Council On Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR) , and also on the Management Committee of the Queensland Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He received an Australia Latin America Business Excellence Award in 2013 for an “outstanding contribution to business between Australia and Latin America”.

As MD of TIQ he served on the board of Australia Trade Coast, and was Chair of the Queensland Government’s G20 Economic Benefits Working Group when the G20 met in Brisbane. He is a member of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Prior to his appointment to TIQ, Rob was Chief of Staff to Queensland Premier Peter Beattie for eleven years, and before that a Private Secretary to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bill Hayden.