The role of the highly qualified and respected Advisory Board is to support the strategic direction of Western Australian Leaders and inspire our Members with valuable insights and connections.
Advisory Board
Simon is an International Keynote Speaker, Business Mentor, Presenter, and Author whose method of using models to accelerate thinking and elevate influence is used in over 30 countries and nine languages.With a diverse background in electrics, electronics, teaching, university lecturing, executive management, corporate consulting, and peak-performance coaching, Simon has developed a unique framework that transforms how business leaders, consultants, and salespeople unpack complex concepts and inspire agreement. His innovative approach is reshaping the way professionals think, communicate, and influence in high-stakes environments worldwide.
Advisory Board
Vijay is a seasoned business executive with expertise in financial, operational, legal, sales, inventory, and HR management. He has a deep understanding of diverse business needs and extensive knowledge of the uniform industry, including global supply chains.
Vijay has owned and operated businesses in Africa and Australia. In Africa, his ventures included equipment reclamation, access systems, epoxy flooring, lock manufacturing, and establishing a paint plant in Nairobi. In Australia, he focused on anti-graffiti solutions, wholesale grocery supply, health supplements, and uniform manufacturing with imports from China. His experience showcases adaptability and strategic leadership across industries and markets.
Advisory Board
Charlie has spent 20+ years in Perth’s business, tech, media and startup sectors, from founder through to exit, as CEO, mentor, advisor / investor, and in federal and (now) state government.
Arriving in Perth in 1997, he graduated top of UWA Business School with an MBA, co-founded property listings site aussiehome.com which was sold to REIWA in 2010. He then ran reiwa.com, went on to be CEO of Business News, and work on the federal government's Accelerating Commercialisation fund. In 2021, he was awarded WA Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year at the 30th Incite Awards, and in early 2022 joined the state government as Director Innovation at the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI).
Advisory Board
Elizabeth Knight is the CEO of the Fogarty Foundation, driving education philanthropy to transform lives in Western Australia. She leads initiatives that enhance student outcomes, build teacher capacity, and cultivate future leaders. With a decade of experience in education, startups, and youth empowerment, she founded Purposeful, a social enterprise helping young people discover purpose-driven career paths. Through its programs, Purposeful has guided over 20,000 young Australians toward meaningful careers. An IVLP alum, TEDx speaker, and BCG Scholar,
Elizabeth is passionate about technology, entrepreneurship, youth agency, and innovation in education.
Advisory Board
Nicole is a seasoned executive with 20 years in law and strategic advisory, including 15 years on government, corporate, and nonprofit boards. Her expertise in infrastructure, economic development, and community engagement gives her unique insight into planning and delivering large-scale projects amid evolving social expectations.
With extensive experience across regional WA and national initiatives, she navigates complex governance systems to drive results for industry and communities. Currently, she merges innovation and infrastructure to advance climate action through roles in entrepreneurship, venture capital, and carbon capture. As Chair of Infrastructure WA, also Deputy Chair of the Green Building Council of Australia, and a Venture Partner at Purpose Ventures, she champions innovation for a sustainable future.
Advisory Board
Michael founded iiNet in Perth in 1993, which he led as CEO for 21 years. iiNet listed on the ASX in 1999, and grew to over a million
customers, three thousand staff, and a billion dollars in revenue.
Michael also co-founded and Chaired Diamond Cyber, a leader in cyber security, and co-founded Autism West.
He has been director of nbnco, Seven West Media, Superloop and many other listed companies. Michael is a graduate of UWA (Maths) and a fellow of the AICD.
Advisory Board
Heiko is a globally Certified Fund Raising Executive with extensive expertise in managing fundraising and corporate partnership programs. With a strong background in strategic marketing and major gifts fundraising, he has worked across health, medical research, arts, education, and community services sectors. Heiko has held leadership roles with organisations including Brightwater Care Group, St John of God Health Care, Perth Zoo, and the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation. Currently, he serves as Chief Development Officer at Youth Focus. He is a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute of Australia and a Chuffed.org Community Ambassador. A recipient of multiple awards, including the inaugural Centre for Social Impact Scholarship from the Qantas Foundation, Heiko holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Management and Marketing from the University of Western Australia, alongside other professional development qualifications.
Advisory Board
Greg brings over 20 years of experience across corporates, SMEs, and start-ups, specialising in identifying opportunities where enabling technologies and scalable business models drive fundable, high-performance businesses. He managed Perth’s first technology incubator, co-founded several tech ventures, and led a fund investing in start-ups. Greg focuses on helping founders become investment-ready, scale effectively, and maximize value creation and returns for stakeholders. His expertise includes assessing and structuring ventures for investment, acquisition, or divestment, offering deep insights into the perspectives of capital providers, investors, and business owners. In 2020, Greg’s contributions were recognised when he was named Australian Angel Investor of the Year and received the WA Pearcey Entrepreneur Award. His extensive exposure to the innovation ecosystem positions him as a trusted leader in aligning ventures with growth and investment opportunities.
Advisory Board
Paula has over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience, including founding Australia’s largest personal development school, being a franchisor, hotel owner, professional speaker, business coach, and now CEO of the Global Institute of Training and Presenting. Paula holds a Bachelor’s in Training and Development, a Master’s in Leadership, and a PhD in Organisational Leadership. She is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. Renowned for her decades of research in Presentation Intelligence® and human behaviour, Paula is a leading expert in powerful presenting and leadership communication. Based in the Perth Hills, Paula balances her professional expertise with family life, triathlon attempts, and caring for her beloved alpacas.
Advisory Board
Boris Wong is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in economic development, strategy, and advocacy. With a background in e-commerce, logistics and local government, Boris is committed to fostering prosperity and sustainable growth in communities across Australia. Boris has a proven track record of fostering collaboration across community, industry, government, and academia to drive innovative projects and impactful policy development.
As well-renowned companies with headquarters in Western Australia, our Industry Partners provide the Leaders community with access to proven leadership and extensive experience.
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Our panel of Industry Experts represent leading professional services firms and provide Members with specialist knowledge, experience and mentoring support across key business disciplines.
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To drive personal, professional and business growth, more established companies participate in the Executive Leaders Series, followed by ongoing involvement as part of the Alumni community.
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To build capability and accelerate business development, earlier-stage companies participate in the Future Leaders Series, followed by ongoing involvement as part of the Alumni community.
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To ensure ongoing personal and professional development as well as networking opportunities, Members have the opportunity to stay connected through the ever-growing Alumni Series.
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Western Australian Leaders is part of the International Leaders Group, which was established back in 2006. Our Members enjoy reciprocal rights to all International Leaders Series.
