About Us
At New South Wales Leaders, we inspire the next generation of leading privately-owned companies.
Established in 2006, we have an ever-growing alumni of more than one thousand companies right across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Our big difference is that we surround Members with a highly supportive and trusted community of Industry Experts and likeminded peers. You will have both in person and online access to knowledge, connections and resources.
This holistic experience has been designed exclusively for founders and leaders of ambitious businesses. Our ultimate goal is to help fast track personal, professional and business outcomes through proven and effective initiatives:
NSW Leaders has engaged a highly qualified and respected Advisory Board to assist in strategic direction provide strategic insight, support and connectivity to the broader network. This Advisory Board includes:
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Kerry ChikarovskiKerry Chikarovski is a former NSW Liberal Leader and first woman to lead a major political party in New South Wales. She is also the founder and Director of Chikarovski & Associates, a government relations, community engagement and stakeholder relations consultancy, which she founded in 2003, whose expertise spans a wide range of industries including financial, government, community, property and technology startups.Knowing the ins and outs of working with government and its departments, has seen her assist a wide range of clients achieve success in circumstances where bureaucracy has been challenging to navigate. Removing these roadblocks via sound policy and strategic approach is what Kerry is widely known for in the industry. Kerry holds a number of non-executive board roles including, NSW Waratahs Rugby Union, Our Watch, Adopt Change and the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. She is the Chair of NSW Women’s Rugby Union, an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, and a mentor with the Minerva Network, supporting professional sportswomen on and off the field. |
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Michael CrismaleMichael Crismale is Founder - Executive Chairman and President Matrium Technologies Pty Limited and Chairman of Board and Finance, Audit, Risk, Remuneration and/or Compliance Committees. Fellow Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors, Member of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, with background in corporate accounting, taxation, business strategy advice, specialising in sports administration, "not for profit" and corporate governance. Michael has extensive experience in developing businesses to reach their full potential through strategic direction, sales, marketing and general management.He is recognised as a leading figure in administration across a number of sports and dedicates a significant portion of life to the love of sport. Current executive and non-executive roles include Matrium Technologies Pty Ltd, Matrix Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Racing New South Wales, Emjay Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, JSA Financial Services Pty Ltd and Sydney Football Club Pty Ltd. Previous roles include Australian Turf Club, Surf Life Saving Australia and the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust. |
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Matt MurphyDriven by a commitment to guide and support business owners, Matt has had a diverse career in business, spanning from start ups to public companies. As a Chartered Accountant, he has advised thousands as a CFO, Mentor, and Advisor. With a passion for education, he shares insights in his book, *Dream to Realisation – The Business Owners Journey*, and his podcast, *The Spirit of Business*.
Matt founded a unique Accounting & Advisory firm that evolved through a merger with Prime Financial
Group Ltd, where he now serves as Executive Director and continues to assist business owners in realizing their goals and aspirations.
Additionally, he has advised the Victorian Government Small Business Council and continues to support businesses as a Board Advisor for
Victorian Leaders & NSW Leaders. |
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Clare Pearson
Clare is the CEO at Little Wings, commencing her tenure in 2019; she has dedicated her career to
the not-for-profit sector. Most recently she has fulfilled roles as CEO in the anti-human trafficking and dis-ability industries. Clare is a
qualified psychologist, specialising in child and adolescent welfare, and is passionate about working in community-based projects aimed
at making a difference in the lives of children and their families. |
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James PaulsenJames initially worked in investment banking and private equity for several years assisting private companies access new opportunities, capital and exit strategies. He also founded Enterprise Angels, one of the first cloud based business angel networks in Australia.In 2006 he founded Queensland Leaders, a platform based business initiative to work with leading private companies to assist them become national and international market leaders. After the success in Queensland, he established the Leaders business platform across Australia, New Zealand and the UK through the International Leaders business. James studied accounting at QUT and then completed an MBA with Bond University. His focus for the last 25 years has been to assist private business owners achieve their best through access to expertise, experience and inspiration. |
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Patrick SchillingPatrick Schilling brings a wealth of experience from both the corporate and venture capital worlds. As a Director at Citi, he honed his expertise in listed equities, guiding large-scale investment strategies for multi-billion-dollar portfolios. His deep understanding of financial markets is complemented by his work in the unlisted space through Squareknot and 50cc, where he has been instrumental in identifying, funding and scaling early-stage ventures. As a founder himself, Patrick leverages his operational insight and entrepreneurial drive to mentor startups, guide listed entities and help turn around struggling portfolio companies for VC firms and family offices. |
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Angela VithoulkasAngela Vithoulkas is a multi-award-winning business owner who has forged a successful career in public, business, and corporate life. Angela’s business experience spans more than 30 years, having bought, sold and built dozens of businesses and employed hundreds of people. As a Customer Service Strategist, Angela now shares her expertise and her proven systems to help business owners be more profitable and grow their businesses just like her.Angela is also the founder, executive producer and host of SME TV, a new YouTube Channel dedicated to giving SMEs a voice. Angela’s many awards include NSW Entrepreneur of the Year as well as Telstra Women’s Business Owner of The Year. In 2017 Angela was named one of Australia’s Top Nine Influential Female Entrepreneurs. Angela has also served as a twice elected City of Sydney Councillor, representing and advocating for businesses in Sydney. |
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