State Government of Victoria logo

Department of Business and Innovation

Multicultural Business Advisory Council

Topics on this page include:

Overview of the Multicultural Business Advisory Council

The Multicultural Business Ministerial Council is established with the aim of facilitating business opportunities that take advantage of Victoria's cultural and linguistic resources.

The Multicultural Business Ministerial Council provides important input from the perspective of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) business communities. The Council focuses on developing Victoria's export capabilities through better use of the multicultural diversity which exists in Victoria.

The Council is chaired by Ms Cynthia Balogh, and reports directly to the Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business.

Terms of Reference

The Multicultural Business Ministerial Council provides a peak body facilitating Government interaction with Victoria's multicultural business community. It contributes to the Government's overall aim of improving the utilisation of business skills and opportunities presented by people from non-English speaking backgrounds to assist in employment and wealth creation for all Victorians and will:
  • identify trade opportunities and recommend strategies for developing the export capabilities of Victorian small business
  • advise the Government on potential trade fair and mission opportunities and strategies to involve Victorian small business
  • actively promote Victoria as a culturally diverse business centre by assisting the Government communicate policy and programs to the multicultural business community
  • support the development of Victorian trade in emerging markets by identifying opportunities and utilising overseas networks
  • provide a forum for strategic business networking between multicultural business communities.

Small Business Victoria, within the Department of Innovation, provides secretariat support to the Multicultural Business Ministerial Council.

Multicultural Business Ministerial Council Members

Name Position Organisation
Mark Ahn
President
Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Melbourne
Omar Baarini
Public Podiatrist
Western Region Health Centre
Cynthia Balogh
National Program Manager
Women in Global Business
Luca Bottallo
Secretary General
Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia - Melbourne Inc.
Jianming Chen
Chief Executive Officer
Australian National Institute of Business & Technology Pty Ltd
David Chu
Managing Partner
ShineWing Hall Chadwick
Emily D'Cruz
Director
Silver Fox Partners Pty Ltd
Raj Dudeja
Editor
Indian Voice Newspaper
Wilkin Fon
Director
Jeanswest Corporation Pty Ltd
Fotini Kypraios
Committee Chair
Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI)
Frank Greenstein
Director
Illys Good Taste
Yousef Ibrahim
Associate Professor & Director
Gippsland Regional Automation Centre (GRACe), Monash University
Marion Lau
Director
Management Consultants and Technology Services Pty Ltd
Ayal Marek
Chief Executive Officer & Director
Sustainability Ventures Pty Ltd
Herbert Portanier
Managing Director
Freight Forwarding Consulting Services Pty Ltd
Vagif Soultanov
National President
Australia-Russia Business Council
Manny Spiteri
Chief Executive Officer
BusinessAide Pty Ltd
Vasan Srinivasan
President
Federation of Indian Association of Victoria (FIAV)
Nagarjun Surapaneni
Director & Chief Executive Officer
Victorian Institute of Technology Pty Ltd

Contact

Multicultural Business Ministerial Council Secretariat
Tel: (+61 3) 9651 9127