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ALABC was established in 1989, and today our membership is comprised of leading companies and individuals who are at the forefront of forging business links between Australia and Latin America. We attract both large and small companies to our membership base and from sectors such as resources, mining services and technology, education, agriculture, manufacturing, transport, and professional services firms. The diversity of our membership reflects the growing trade linkages between Australia and Latin America, and guarantees a strong network of experienced business people who are committed to developing business in the region. Our PurposeOur purpose is to help our members succeed in doing business in Latin America by providing: - Important and relevant business information;
- Access to business and government contacts in Australia and Latin America;
- Opportunities to exchange information and ideas, and to learn from experts;
- Lobbying and representation to Government in Australia and Latin America.
We provide a unified voice in improving market access and reducing trade barriers, while ensuring our members have the right information and contacts to increase business opportunities. Learn more about us and the benefits which we provide. Key ActivitiesALABC is committed to providing our members with a range of activities and information which will benefit the growth of their business in the region. Key activities include: - Functions and Events – Regular functions are organised throughout the year. These take the form of breakfasts, luncheons and seminars with expert speakers on matters of current interest.
- Major Dinners – Major dinners are held each year in capital city locations. Key note speakers include politicians and leading business people, and members have the opportunity to network with each other while celebrating their accomplishments.
- Trade Missions – ALABC works with government and industry partners to organise trade missions to Latin America. These range from sector specific missions, to more general visits and exhibitions.
- Visitors and Delegations from Latin America – ALABC hosts special visitors and delegations from Latin America on a regular basis. Members have the opportunity to meet with these visitors to expand their network and contact base.
- LATAM News – Published each month, LATAM news updates our members about the latest business and political developments in Latin America. Members can showcase their business achievements in the LATAM news, and/or update other members about the latest company developments.
- Website – Our interactive website allows members to promote their business, and seek advice by asking questions about doing business in Latin America. We update the website on a regular basis with important information about trends and opportunities in the region.
- Australia-Latin America Business Excellence Awards – Each year we recognise the achievements of our members through our awards program.
Chairman - José Blanco
 Banco Santander S.A. (Sydney Branch)
Email - chairman@alabc.com.au
Served as chairman of the ALABC since its incorporation. Also served as deputy chair of the Council on Australia Latin America Relations from 2001 to 2010, and Chief Representative of Banco Santander SA’s Sydney Representative Office from 1990 to 2011.
Other positions held include: member of the executive committee of the Australia Chile Chamber of Commerce 1991-2000; member of the Advisory Council of the Institute for International Studies of the University of Technology, Sydney 1997-2001.
Jose Blanco currently holds the position of Senior Advisor, Australia and New Zealand for Banco Santander, S.A. (Sydney Branch).
Prior to joining Santander in 1990 to set up its Australian Representative Office, Jose worked as a lawyer from 1981.
Jose has a detailed knowledge of the cultural aspects of Australian and Latin American companies working together, and is at the forefront of building business links between these markets. In addition to his role as Chair of the Australia-Latin America Business Council, he serves as Deputy Chair of the Australian Government’s Council on Australia Latin America Relations and as a member of the Australian Industry Group’s Australia-Chile Bilateral Business Committee.
Jose was awarded the Chilean “Orden de Bernardo O’Higgins” (Comendador Class) in 1995 for services to the Republic of Chile. He has also been awarded the Spanish “Orden de Merito Civil” (in 1992) and the “Orden Olímpica” by the Spanish Olympic Committee (in 2001).
Vice-Chair QLD - Thomas Schroeder
 Individual Member
Email - vicechair.qld@alabc.com.au
Bachelor and Master of Business Science/Economics, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Thomas is a partner at Strategic Endeavour Partners Pty Ltd - an Executive Coaching and Corporate Advisory firm. He is the former Director of Education City Queensland. Prior to that he has held senior management positions at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and the Melbourne Business School (MBS) where he successfully spearheaded the foray into a number of Latin American markets. Previous experiences include Head of Research at a global executive search firm working in New York and Frankfurt.
Thomas also served at the DFAT / COALAR Latin America Education Action Group (EAG).
Vice-Chair SA - Michael Blake
 Individual Member
Email - vicechair.sa@alabc.com.au
Michael Blake is the Senior Manager for the Agribusiness unit at Elders; he was formerly Marketing Manager - Wool at Elders; with a focus on market access, market intelligence, domestic and international market development as well as industry relations and innovation.
Following 20 years in the global wool arena, encompassing procuring, manufacturing and marketing throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Michael BSc degree in Agriculture, focussed on Animal Science, and has lived and worked in Australia, New Zealand, the Americas and Europe. He has also travelled extensively throughout Asia and the Middle East for the wool textile industry. He grew up in Argentina and speaks fluent Spanish and French.
Vice-Chair VIC - Ben Foskett
 Pathway Services Pty Ltd
Email - vicechair.vic@alabc.com.au
Director Pathway Services Pty Ltd.Member of Council, Victoria University since April 2008 and Chair of Council’s Strategy Committee since Jan 2010. Director, national Board of the Australia China Business Council (ACBC) and Vice President of the Victorian Chapter of ACBC. Director, national Board of the Australia Latin America Business Council (ALABC) and the Board’s Vice President for Victoria. Former Deputy Secretary (industry & Trade) Dept of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development, State Govt of Victoria. Former Special Trade Envoy for Victoria to Latin America and Nth Asia. Former Chief Representative (Country Manager) for AMP Ltd in China
Vice-Chair WA - Steve Hall
Individual Member
Email - steve.hall@alabc.com.au
Perth-based experienced project manager, mine manager and general manager with tertiary qualifications in Engineering; holds an MBA qualification from Monash University.
Also an active member of; 
- Australian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (AusIMM)
- West Australian Mining Club (WAMC)
- Asset Management Council (AM Council)
- Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA)
Working in Chile from 1989-1996 and 2002-03, Mr Hall speaks fluent Spanish and has travelled extensively throughout the Americas developing successful business in Chile, Perú, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, Suriname, Guyana and Mexico for several Australian-owned companies in the mining equipment, technology & services (METS) sector.
Has been closely involved with ALABC activities since 1990, and serves on the Board of Directors of the mining equipment technology & services export association Austmine since 2009.
Director - Christine Gibbs Stewart
Business Without Borders 
MBA, International Management, BA, Political Science
Christine Gibbs Stewart is an experience General Manager and has over 20 years experience in international business and export development. She is currently Director, Business without Borders, and specializes in helping companies to become more globally competitive. Because of her work, she has a well developed network of business and government contacts in Australia and overseas.
 Vice Chair NSW - Marcelo Salas
Australia Chile Chamber of Commerce
Group Business Development Manager (Australasia) of Vapor Industrial Group of Companies, one of the largest engineering and industrial groups in Chile, offering a wide variety of precision steel products, including the design and manufacturing of heavy mining and transport equipment.
Over 26 years of experience in international business development. Extensive career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile. Trade Commissioner in New York 1996-2001; Australia 1989-1994 and 2004-2010; Deputy Director of ProChile 2001-2004 and International Marketing Manager 1994-1996. He was also part of the team that negotiated the FTA between Chile and Australia. During his 10 years in Australia, he developed a deep understanding of the mining services and equipment industry and an extensive network of business contacts.
Chairman of the Australia-Chile Chamber of Commerce. Director of VinosOnline.com.au, an online retailer of Chilean and Argentinean Wines. Director of Wines of Chile Pty.Ltd.
Director - Paul Bradley
Australia-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Director - Mark Spurr
 Individual Member
Qualifications B.Bus, FAICD, FCIS, ASA
Latin American business experience includes managing Goodman Fielder’s food ingredient businesses in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, USA and joint ventures in Columbia and Ecuador and subsequent involvement with the region as Managing Director of Meat and Livestock Australia.
Previous directorships include the Australia Japan Business Council, the International Meat Secretariat and Treasurer of the Australia Brazil Chamber of Commerce.
Director - Richard Andrews
Cutting Edges Equipment Parts Pty Limited
Owner and Chief Executive
Cutting Edges Equipment Parts Pty Limited
- Australia’s largest aftermarket supplier of Equipment Parts for the mining and construction industry
- National branch and distribution network throughout Australia
- Local and international manufacturing and distribution
- Manufacturing and distribution links to Latin America dating back to 1996
Past President
Australian LPGas Association (ALPGA)
Construction & Mining Equipment Association of Australia (CMEAA)
Proprietor and Managing Director
- Tailored Solutions Group
- International company providing IT solutions and strategies to large IT multinationals
- Servicing a variety of industries from medium to large businesses specialising in special projects such as World Youth Day
Director
NK Industries specialising in property acquisition and development
Director - Harold Lucero
Lucsan Capital Pty Ltd
Harold has over fifteen years of professional experience in the banking, stockbroking and information technology industries. Harold holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Kean University, New Jersey and a Masters Degree in Banking and Finance from The University of Technology, Sydney. Harold is the Founder, CEO, Director and Board Member of Lucsan Capital Pty Ltd, an innovative technology, consulting services and advisory group. Harold's qualifications and professional memberships include being a Practitioner Member - Master Stockbroking of the Stockbrokers Association of Australia (MSAA), a Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD),a Senior Member of the Australian Computer Society (MACS), a Member of USA Dean’s List, and the US Who’s Who Among IT Professionals.”
Director - Tim McLennan
CSIRO
Director of Business Development, CSIRO Division of Exploration & Mining 
Executive Manager, Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies (QCAT)
- Broad experience in the mineral and coal resources and associated technology development sectors.
- Assistant Director of the Australian Geodynamics Cooperative Research Centre.
- Commercial Development Manager for the CSIRO Division of Exploration and Mining and the Commercial Manager in 2004.
- Tim is currently also a Director of Austmine, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Director - Carlos Pena
- Carlos has over 20-years of experience in the global mining sector with an outstanding background in the promotion, establishment and management of mining
 projects from exploration to extraction to processing and delivering final products.
- He has been involved in mining projects and operations in Latin America, India, Australia, Africa, France and the USA.
- Carlos has previously held senior positions in the areas of Process Engineering, General Management of mining operations and Business Development. Institutionally he has been Vice President of Latin American Mining Chambers and is currently Australian Director for the Latin American Mining Organization (OLAMI)
- Carlos is fluent in English, French and Spanish, is an active member of SME (The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration) and holds a Master of Science from the Paris School of Mines (France), a MBA from the University of Quebec in Montreal (Canada), a Bachelor of Science degree from St Edwards University and a Diploma in Mineral Processing from The Colorado School of Mines (USA)
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