New Business Advisory Panel members appointed

Representatives from local agriculture, tourism, education, trade, resource recovery and manufacturing will make up the City of Whittlesea’s inaugural Business Advisory Panel announced this week.

Administrator Chris Eddy said the business operators appointed to the panel would bring a broad range of views, experiences and ideas to support the community’s strong local economy initiatives.

“The cultural and geographic diversity of the new panel members will enable Council to gather and use insights about challenges and opportunities businesses and industries are facing right across the municipality,” Mr Eddy said.

“It will also enable us to collect and implement feedback about the impact of local, state and federal policies and programs.

“We’re really pleased to welcome representatives from our key industries, including agriculture, tourism, education, wholesale trade, resource recovery and advanced manufacturing,” Mr Eddy said.

David Power, from Melbourne Market Authority, has accepted the position of Chair alongside the following panel members:

• Peter Vu from Costa Group
• Daniel Wilson from Quest Apartments Epping
• Kerryn Lester-Smith from Melbourne Polytechnic
• Catherine Cervasio from Aromababy
• Joshua Robinson from Lotus Energy
• Aristos Karavias from Repurpose It
• Giorgio Linguanti from That’s Amore
• Michelle Anderson-Sims from Wine in a Glass
• Paul Hearne from Limelight

The panel, joined by City of Whittlesea Administrators Lydia Wilson and Chris Eddy and Council officers, are set to hold their first meeting later in October.

“Next year we hope to help establish an additional chamber of commerce style group for small and micro businesses in the City of Whittlesea and propose that a representative from that group join the Business Advisory Panel,” Mr Eddy said.

“In the short term though, Council is looking forward to collaborating with the Panel members to continue building upon our vision to grow key industries, support business innovation and facilitate employment and educational opportunities for our community,” he said.