Peter Church is an international lawyer and business adviser who has lived and worked in the South East Asian region for more than 20 years. Peter advises a varied group of major Australian and international companies in relation to their Asian investment and trading activities. He was for many years President of the Australia Indonesia Business Council and sat on numerous Australian Federal Government Boards such as the Trade Policy Advisory Committee. Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1994 for his services to the promotion of business relations between Australia and the South East Asian region.

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Glen Robinson's experience and expertise lie in the manufacturing, processing and distribution areas, with specific emphasis on business management through planning, productivity and training. Glen has more than 20 years' experience in management consultancy and has worked with a wide range of industries from agriculture through to manufacturing and distribution industries. He gained his South East Asian experience as chief executive officer for the Asian subsidiaries and joint ventures of a major International manufacturing and marketing organisation. Glen sits on the board of many Asian related business organisations and has for many years advised a number of Foreign Investment Boards in the ASEAN region.

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David Duckett is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and spent over 10 years with Arthur Andersen during which he was involved with clients in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia as well as in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1975 he commenced an 18 year involvement in the international food industry, including 7 years with Goodman Fielder. During this period he was Head of Taxation and later Head of Strategic Planning, both global roles.

Throughout his career David has had extensive involvement in Mergers & Acquisitions as well as capital raisings, structured finance and other areas of corporate advisory activities. It is this experience and expertise he brings to Asean Focus Group.

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Ron Davenport has had more than 20 years’ experience in Canberra working in various Australian Government Departments and with the then Confederation of Australian Industry (CAI), the major employer association. Ron initially spent a number of years with the Department of Trade and was involved at a senior level in negotiations of trade policy with the ASEAN Governments. During his time with CAI, he was the Executive Director of the ASEAN Australia Business Council and the bilateral Business Councils with Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. Over the years Ron has built up an impressive network of contacts throughout ASEAN.

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Michael Fay is an international education specialist who has lived and worked in the Asia Pacific region for over 20 years where he has been a leading member of Australia's international education and training sector. He was the co-founder and managing director of Insearch Language Centre at the University of Technology Sydney from 1987-1999. Insearch has been one of the major success stories of Australia's international education sector. In 1997 Insearch Language Centre won the Citibank award for best Australian Service activity in Asia. In 2000 he was made a Fellow of UTS for his contribution to the profile and reputation of the university. Michael advises a varied group of public and private educational organisations as well as government departments and peak industry bodies in marketing strategies, establishing and managing offshore education sector investments and building cross sector networks and linkages.

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Patrick Skene has extensive experience in the Sports, Property and IT industries in North America, Asia and Australia. In 1995 he co-founded a software database company, IDC Global Inc in Vancouver and moved the company to New York in 1997. Patrick was responsible for executing a number of Asian projects, most notably the design and implementation of AssetManagement software system for the IMF funded Indonesian Bank Restructuring Authority (IBRA) and consultancy for the Ministry of Construction in China. Patrick has also consulted for Basketball Australia, Football Federation Australia, Special Olympics Australia, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sydney FC and the Sydney Kings and has developed the inaugural Commonwealth Bank Cricket Masala event and Sweet Science Boxing Show on the National Indigenous Radio Service. Patrick joined Asean Focus Group in 2001 to leverage his regional sports, IT and property experience and is currently a Director of Asean Focus Group’s Mergers and Acquisitions team.

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Khimji was born in India but grew up in England and has been in Australia since 1994. He is currently completing his PhD in banking technology innovation – a comparison between Australia and India.

Khimji’s whole career has been focused on IT where he has had over 17 years’ experience in R&D, technology management & commercialisation within the banking, telecommunications, manufacturing and R&D sectors. This included 5 years as a Director of a $100m technology centre as well as running a Corporate Venture Capital unit of Westpac Banking Corporation. He has been at the leading edge of a number of emerging technology developments and a judge at a number of high profile technology awards in Australia. Khimji brings this significant experience to AFG’s clients.

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Mitchell Brown has a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Sydney where he majored in Economics, Finance and Agricultural Economics. He has also completed a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment at FINSIA.

Mitchell has been with AFG for 6 years where he has undertaken two roles– firstly, managing the information technology department including software and hardware installations, as well as website development, and secondly, managing and undertaking research for a variety of projects, including assisting in the management and execution of IMAP mandates.

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Daphne has more than 15 years’ experience working in senior administrative positions in Singapore, New York and Sydney. Daphne has extensive and detailed knowledge, both of operating in the South East Asian region and of servicing the diverse needs of our clients.

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Rawdon Dalrymple graduated with first class honours from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and following a period lecturing at Sydney University, joined Australia's diplomatic service from which he retired in 1994. He was one of the architects of the Asian Development Bank and served on its Board. He spent a total of seven years in Indonesia where he was Australian Ambassador from 1981 to 1985. He was Ambassador to the United States from 1985 to 1989 and his last assignment was as Ambassador to Japan. In addition to various business and governmental appointments Rawdon was a Visiting Professor at the University of Sydney from 1995 to 2002 where he taught courses in International Relations. He recently published a book, Continental Drift: Australia's Search for a Regional Identity (Ashgate Publishing). Rawdon brings to the Asean Focus Group his extensive network and insight into major Asian issues.

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John McFadden has recently become available to advise clients interested in the ASEAN region or ASEAN clients interested in Australia and New Zealand. John has had an extremely diverse career with James Hardie Industries Limited, covering both general management and finance. He was Executive Director responsible for Finance, Administration, Legal and Investments since 1992. Prior to that, John spent 10 years running the overseas or Asian operations of James Hardie, living in Indonesia for almost 8 years.

John has been on the board, or as an executive, of a range of industry-based companies, including building materials, entertainment and leisure, publishing, health care, packaging, building services and pipe/irrigation. These companies were based throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, USA and Europe.

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Hendi Kariawan graduated from Economics Department University of Indonesia and obtained Master degree in Economic Planning majored in Regional and Corporate Finance from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. He is Director PT Superintending Company of Indonesia (Sucofindo), state inspection, supervision, assessment and testing company. Hendi Kariawan was Commissioner PT Pembangkitan Jawa Bali (state electric company), Board Member of Indonesia Biofuels Committee (appointed by Presidential Decree No 10, 2006). He is a seasoned merchant banker with more than 15 years of experience. Hendi Kariawan was Managing Director PT Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia, state company, whose business covers Securities, Fund Management and Venture Capital. Bahana is in big 3 league largest merchant bank in Indonesia. Formerly he was Managing Director DMT Securities, Director Corporate Finance Standard Chartered Merchant Bank Indonesia. Hendi Kariawan was Board Member of Indonesia Securities Company Association (APEI). He started career at Citibank, NA.

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Stuart Craig is a professional CEO with a broad experience of companies, industries and operating environments within many different countries. He has experience of high level roles in a range of Multinational and Global companies from diverse industries such as mining, oil, textiles, telecommunications, and explosives. He also has extensive experience of start-ups in the fields of Biotechnology, compound semiconductors, lasers and acoustics.

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Ronachai is the Managing Partner of Bangkok International Associates, a well established Thai law firm in which Asean Focus Group is a shareholder. He is also Managing Director of Asean Focus Group’s advisory affiliate, Bangkok Focus Group. Ronachai has almost 30 years of professional practice as a lawyer and adviser; almost all of which have been spent in Thailand where he has specialised in Thai taxation, joint ventures, corporate matters and loan documentation. He was formerly a Judge Advocate of the US Air Force and the Head of the US Foreign Claims Commission in Thailand. Ronachai is also a part-time professor at the Bangkok University and has published numerous articles on Thai law, coins and medals. He has been decorated by the King of Thailand for his contributions to Thai culture and became a Thai citizen in 1998.

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Stephen Frost is a lawyer and business consultant who has spent the past 12 years working in Thailand. He has advised many foreign companies in takeover transactions or setting up joint ventures in Thailand. He has written extensively on the aspects of Thai law that are of concern to foreign companies investing in Thailand. In addition, he has also worked in the Business Development Division of a listed Thai company and in market research for an export-import company. He has built up a strong and detailed knowledge of the Thai economy, its business sectors and major private and listed Thai companies.

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Suresh Iyer has twelve years hands-on experience in the financial sector. During this period he has combined his operational and technical skills towards financial and business research. He has a formal background in both theoretical economics and finance and his skills have been honed in real markets, not "simulated" environments. Suresh has had an opportunity to prove himself in competitive environments during his tenure with global companies such as Lloyd Securities Ltd & GE Capital.

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Nguyen Dac Duc represents the Asean Focus Group's interests in Vietnam. Having graduated from the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi in 1978, he attended a number of post graduate programs before undertaking a Masters of Business Administration degree at the University of Hawaii in 1992. In addition to lecturing at the Foreign Trade University, Nguyen Dac Duc has worked for the Australian Embassy in Hanoi and has a deep understanding of both the business climate in Vietnam as well as what is required for international companies to be successful in the market.

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Lam graduated with a degree in Business Management at the University of Koeln (Germany) and spent over 7 years with retailer Co-op Zentrale and Lufthansa Basis. He established the first Vietnamese tour operator and business consultancy company, as well as representative offices in Vietnam for companies such as Toepfer International (Singapore) and Wuensche AG (Hamburg). He was chosen as one of the ten businessmen of 30 years of Peace in Vietnam by Saigon Economy Times 2005. He is known as an expert in public relations, risk management, IT-management, export consultancy, human resources and socio-economic problems. He is often interviewed by the BBC and Vietnamese media due to his intimate knowledge of the country and his vast business experience. He is now chairman of vieteuronet.com

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Arun is an international banking and commercial lawyer with expertise and long experience in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and India. Arun brings to the Asean Focus Group his extensive expertise and experience in those markets.

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Harjono Kartohadiprodjo is the President Director of the Asean Focus Group’s Indonesian operations. Harjono is a well respected Indonesian businessman with significant experience in shipping and trading. He is also a shareholder in a number of major Indonesian joint ventures including some associated with BHP and ACI from Australia and the international shipping and leisure group P&O. Harjono brings to the Asean Focus Group a particular insight into the workings of the Indonesian business community.

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Valeriano del Rosario is a partner in the law firm of VERALAW (Del Rosario Bagamasbad & Raboca).

He is a Philippine national, but he also has extensive education and business experience in the U.S. and Europe. He was educated at Georgetown Preparatory School and New York University. He returned to the Philippines and obtained his law degree at the Ateneo College of Law with honors. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1982.

He obtained a masters degree in maritime law from the University of Wales, Institute of Science & Technology, United Kingdom, followed by three years work experience at a prestigious commercial law firm in the city of London.

He is an associate professor in Transportation Law at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. He has 25 years of business law experience in the Philippines with emphasis on transportation and foreign investments.

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Soman specialises in M&A and corporate advisory work and is based in Bombay (Mumbai). He has worked as Managing Director of an Investment Banking Firm and has also worked in senior positions in merchant banking with Standard Chartered Bank and Canbank Financial Services Ltd, a fully owned Subsidiary of Canara Bank. During his more than 20 year career as an Investment Banker, Soman has handled some of the most well known capital market transactions in India. During his earlier career he worked as a full time faculty member at the Staff Training College of Canara Bank in Bombay, engaged in conducting programmes for Senior and Middle level managers of the bank.

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Shiban has 30 years’ experience in the financial sector (Investment Banking, Merchant Banking, International Finance including Sovereign Debt Restructuring of Developing Countries). Shiban has worked in senior positions with NatWest Markets, UK; Standard Chartered Bank, India; SBI Capital Markets and State Bank of India. Shiban has also worked as a consultant for over 10 years with the Ministry of Finance (Government of India); World Bank; Commonwealth Secretariat, London; IDRC, Canada; Crown Agents, UK; and Dua Consulting.

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Peter Murray is a commercial lawyer specialising in transportation and trade law who has spent most of his career practising in Asia including the past 10 years in Shanghai. Peter is the resident partner of Ince & Co, a London based international firm with offices in Europe and throughout the Asian region. Peter’s practice in China covers a wide range of activities for both Chinese and overseas clients. Recent emphasis has been in the inward investment sector advising companies setting up operations in China as well as Chinese companies extending their activities overseas. Peter is an Arbitrator of the Shanghai Arbitration Commission and a Visiting Professor of Dalian Maritime University. Admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales, Hong Kong SAR and New South Wales Australia, Peter is also a Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators, London.

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Lye Heng has more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, and in his last institutional appointment was the Managing Director of Carr Indosuez Asia (S) Ltd, the Singapore merchant-banking subsidiary of Banque Indosuez. He served as Chairman of the Standing Committee for Banking Practices and Regulations of the Singapore Merchant Bankers’ Association (SMBA) from 1992 to 1997 and was Treasurer of SMBA from 1994 to 1996. Lye Heng holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Singapore.

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Christopher is a founding member of DuaAFG Consultants Pvt Ltd, AFG's M&A advisory JV in India. He is responsible to originate and execute cross-border mandates. Prior to DuaAFG, Christopher has worked in the IT and Finance industries throughout Asia. His IT experience spans start-ups to MNCs (Swire, Reuters) running project and product groups. His finance experience is in alternative investments, responsible for investments due diligence and fund raising efforts. Christopher has been based in Asia continuously since 1990.

Christopher is a co-founder of the Yayasan Bali Purnati, a center for the arts focusing on collaborative productions, workshops, yoga and publications.

Christopher is fluent in French and conversant in Italian and German.

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Loy joined the Lao Patriotic Front in 1972 and started his career in the Ministry of Industry and Trade in 1975. He was appointed Economic and Commercial Counsellor in Moscow (1980-1988), Vice Minister, Ministry of External Relations (1988-1993) and Vice Governor of Louang Namtha Province (1991-1993). In 1993 he established a successful consultancy and has worked with a number of Australian and regional companies. He is fluent in Lao, Thai, French and English.

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Rosebud has recently taken over the role of representing Myanmar Asean Focus Group (MAFG) following the recent death of her husband, Harry who was founding Managing Director of MAFG. Rosebud brings to AFG her strong ethical beliefs and practices and her wide network in Myanmar, including a deep knowledge of the Myanmar education system.

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