The Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) is a not-for-profit organisation whose focus is to build and strengthen trade and business connections between Australia and Canada. The Chamber is pleased to present the volunteer members of the CACC Victoria Committee.
To contact please email: globalengagement@cacc.com.au
Ben Quirin is Head of APAC at Invert. He is a seasoned corporate leader with over two decades of experience across Telco, Software, Pharmaceutical, and Climate Change industries. As the former Regional Managing Director at Canopy Growth in Asia Pacific, Ben has spearheaded initiatives across Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific with companies like BlackBerry, SAP, and Optus. Leveraging his expertise, Ben is part of the founding team at Invert, a Certified B Corp company focusing on carbon reduction and removal projects.
Ben is part of the Strategic Advisory Board (SAM) for Atum / Kind Medical and Non-Executive Director for Melodiol Global Health. Ben's commitment extends beyond corporate success; he is deeply passionate about promoting well-being. His dedication to this cause reflects his compassionate leadership style and his belief in the holistic welfare of individuals within the corporate sphere.
Alanna is a Litigation and Dispute Resolution Associate at Johnson Winter & Slattery. Alanna was born and raised in Oakville, Ontario. Alanna has strong ties to Canada and Australia, with family residing in both countries.
Alanna relocated from Toronto to Melbourne in 2017 and obtained a Juris Doctor from Monash University in 2020. She previously obtained a Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario. Alanna looks forward to strengthening her relationships and ties between business and commerce in Australia and Canada.
Estelle Scanlan is the International Marketing Manager for National and International markets at MinterEllison. With over 15 years marketing experience across a number of industries, Estelle is responsible for developing and implementing Minter Ellison' international strategies for North America, North Asia, UK& Europe, Middle East and South East Asia, to increase visibility and nurture key relationships of the largest international law firm headquartered in Australia.
With over 30 years in sales leadership, primarily focused on retail supply chain management, Mark has contributed to the growth of software companies across the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region. Beginning in tech-centric roles, Mark combines innovative solutions with strategic business goals, resulting in market reach and revenue growth.
Mark’s sales approach emphasises strategic insight, cross-cultural communication, and creative problem-solving, fostering meaningful connections across diverse backgrounds. Committed to supporting innovation and increasing customer value, Mark seeks to sustain business growth in the region, embracing continuous improvement and forward-thinking strategies.
Christine Naylor (Furnell) is currently a Senior Strategic Campaigns Advisor for WSP Australia. Christine has worked for seven years in the same engineering firm in project accounting, management, marketing and events. She's currently working on a major highways project. Having family in Montreal, Christine sought out a role in the Toronto office and spent the last three years there as a Project Accounting Supervisor. This was an amazing opportunity not only to connect with my extended family and travel, but to broaden my industry knowledge working in another country.
Samantha is a communications adviser with a decade of experience in the media industry, working across federal, state and local government. Samantha has developed communications strategies, run election campaigns, managed events and coordinated stakeholder relations. She has a Bachelor of Mass Communications and has worked as a journalist, writing across a variety of subjects including courts, health, politics, education and tourism. While working in politics, she completed a Master of Public Policy and Management at Monash University, studying units in business relations and politics in Italy and South America.
Dr. Erik Denison is a researcher with Monash University, where he is leading multiple studies investigating the drivers of harmful and exclusionary behaviours in traditionally male-dominated settings, such as mining operations and sports clubs. He works collaboratively with businesses and governments to develop and then use high-quality research methods to measure the effectiveness of commonly used methods to stop these behaviours (e.g. ‘Bystander Training). As part of this work, Erik spent much of the last two-years at one of BHP’s fly-in-fly-out mines, investigating how it became the most gender-balanced operation in the world (see a recent article in the Harvard Business Review).
Prior to joining Monash, Erik was an investigative journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. A key focus of his journalism was uncovering the negative social, environmental, and business impacts of poor leadership at major resource companies. Erik has received over a dozen industry awards for his work in academia, public education, and journalism.
A citizen of New Zealand, Australia & Canada, Aaron Dodd is the founder and Managing Partner of Locum People, a leading recruitment, executive search and outsourced human resources consulting firm that operates across Australia and New Zealand. Locum People is also the premium distributor of the leading Canadian Prevue psychometric testing system and recruitment software platform across both countries. Aaron is industry recognised and a sought after speaker on talent sourcing, retention and individual and organisational performance improvement.
Paroma Dunbar is the Australian Industry Capability (AIC) Specialist at Hanwha Defence Australia and has held multiple positions across the defence and aerospace industries, particularly with the Space Industry Association of Australia, Defence Victoria (State Government of Victoria) and in her current role as a national board member for the Women in Aviation / Aerospace Australia committee.
Originally from Toronto, Paroma completed an Executive Certificate as part of the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program with the International Space University (2022), a Graduate Certificate in Space Operations at UNSW Canberra (2021), a Master’s degree in International Relations at University of Melbourne (2016), and a dual Bachelors’ degree from Carleton University in musicology / music performance, political science and French studies.
Conrad is dual Canadian-Australian citizen and has spent his career in the mining industry in various capacities. He is currently Chief Commercial Officer at Alkemy Capital, which is developing projects in critical mineral processing in Australia and Europe. Conrad was previously director of a consulting and advisory practice in critical minerals at a large professional services organisation, working with a range of private and public sector clients. Prior to that, he was on the investment team at a leading mining and resources private equity firm. Conrad is a geologist with degrees from Queen’s University in Canada and University College London.
The CACC is looking for a senior executive to Co-Chair the Victoria Committee. This position would lead the Committee and relevant activities in Melbourne as well as act as CACC Ambassador within the international trade community. If you are seeking to volunteer please submit your expression of interest to CEO, Melissa Wharton at melissa@cacc.com.au.
The CACC is looking for a data analyst and marketing/communications professionals for the Victoria Committee. If you are seeking to volunteer please submit your expression of interest to globalengagement@cacc.com.au.
