Board Members 2024-2025
ShireBiz AGM and Election of Board
Shirebiz AGM by TEAMS July 26th 2024 8am
The following ShireBiz members were elected to the Board: Steve Atherton [Southern Strength], Samantha Britton [Britton Maritime], Oleh Nakone [ANSTO], Paul Degnan [The Chrome Factory], Michael Forshaw [Retired Federal Politician], Jeff Forsyth [Metro Remedial], Malcolm Ker [Retired NSW Politician], Mike Schrafft [VMS Conferences], Michael Schoettler [SaleSense], Richard Walker [ShireBiz], Julian Sammut [Sammut Group], Darian Brooker [We Future Leaders].
At the Board meeting by TEAMS following the AGM the following officers were elected;
Chair Samantha Britton; Deputy Chairs Darian Brooker, Julian Sammut
Secretary Mike Schrafft Treasurer Jeff Forsyth
Events Co-ordinator Michael Schoettler Editor Richard Walker
Samantha Britton (Chair)
Samantha Britton is the Chief Operations Office of Britton Maritime Systems, a company based in Kurnell, that focuses on the design, manufacture, and supply of Defence and commercial vessels. Samantha has been working at BMS for 18 years, starting out as an administrator and working her way up to the position of COO. Samantha is currently studying a Diploma of Law through the Legal Profession Admission Board. She has been a lifelong resident of the Shire.
Darian Brooker (Deputy Chair)
Darian Brooker founded We, Future Leaders in 2017 with the vision of positively impacting 1 million Australian school children by 2040.
Darian grew up in the foster care system and had changed schools 26 times by the time she graduated high school in 2014. Frustrated by the lack of support, stability and consistency in her education, Darian was fuelled by the dream to ensure that eventually, all Australian school aged kids could still have a quality education despite their circumstances.
Prior to We, Future Leaders, Darian gained experience working for NSW State Parliament, Science Space (formally, Science Centre and Planetarium), University of Wollongong – Science, Medicine and Health faculty, and in the solar energy industry.
Julian Sammut (Deputy Chair)
Julian Sammut, Chief Operating Officer, Sammut Group, is an aspiring leader in the development industry, adopting a multi-faceted approach to drive the success of Sammut Group. Having completed a Bachelor in Construction Management & Property and with over 6 years’ experience within the property industry working for a leading real estate agency and an award winning construction company prior to joining Sammut Group, Julian has end-to-end experience in the development lifecycle.
As Chief Operating Officer, Julian is heavily involved in managing the functions and operations of all company ventures including new business opportunities, site acquisition, managing the design and development of each project and ensuring all deliverables are achieved.
Mike Schrafft (Secretary)
Mike Schrafft is a small business owner in the conference industry, following a lengthy general management career and ownership in the printing industry, serving on the committees of related industry associations. As the Executive Director of the NSW Rugby Union managed the creation of the Southern Districts Rugby Club and subsequently served on the committee as well as President of the Junior body. After 10 years contribution Mike recently retired from the board of the St George & Sutherland Shire Community College while previously being involved with other community and sporting organisations. Experienced in both local and international business.
Jeff Forsyth (Treasurer)
Jeff Forsyth is a director of several construction related companies. He has a background in engineering, building and education. He has, over many years been a member of various committees of Sutherland Shire Council, including the Economic Development Committee, the Port Hacking Management Panel and the Housing Strategy Review Committee. His professional memberships include the Australian Institute of Building, the Australian Society of Building Consultants and the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia. His formal qualifications culminated in a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
Michael Schoettler (Events Coordinator)
Mike came to Sydney from the United States in 1979 with a BA, and MBA, and memories of his R&R visit. He was the National Sales Manager at Hunter Douglas prior to founding Sales Sense Pty Ltd and as a speaker and business educator has helped hundreds of teams to use the sales and negotiation skills that build profitable relationships. Mike was a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce, President of the NSW Chapter of the National Speakers Assoc and has worked with the Sutherland Shire Relay for Life since its founding in 2001.
Richard Walker (Editor)
Richard Walker, B.Sc. (UNSW), M.Sc. [McQ) was the Australasian Director of TCI (The Competitiveness Institute)[2011-2015]. He has more than 20 years experience in senior management and director roles in Not For Profit companies and Professional Associations including nine years as Chief Executive of Macquarie Research Ltd a University commercial company [NFP]. In that role he supervised the formation of the Macquarie University Research Park at North Ryde. He is also experienced in developing economic strategies for local governments, and in evaluating and commercializing new technologies.
Steve Atherton JP
Steve holds a Bachelor of Science (Engineering) and a Master of Engineering Science degree from the University of NSW.
After completing a traineeship with Email Ltd in the 1970’s Steve gained further experience in HVAC in Email Ltd eventually rising to the General Manager’s position in Email’s Building Products Division in the early 1990’s.
During his years in Email’s Air Handling Division he was awarded patents for the development of high efficiency filtration products and became a NATA signatory for the Email laboratories. Steve was also the recipient of the George Westinghouse Marketing award from Westinghouse USA for the work he did in the Biological safety cabinet and HEPA filtration fields and was a member of several Standards Australia revision committees in the air handling fields.
Following several years in the building industry as General Manager of Australian Kitchen Industries & later Stegbar, Steve took on the role of Director & CEO with Air Change in mid 2008 where he led the Airchange team to one ARBS award and two AIRAH awards for innovation in the HVAC industry.
Steve took on the challenge of Group CEO with BioGill in 2014 – A technology based water treatment company in the Aquaculture and Waste Water Treatment markets.
Steve has been a speaker and expert panel member in the manufacturing sector on numerous occasions and has been a Board member (5 years) and Chairman of Southern Strength Agile Manufacturing Network for the past 4 years.
Paul Dengan
Paul is a qualified Accountant [C.P.A.], holds a Diploma in Technology [Commerce] NSWIT and is a Fellow member of The Australian Institute of Company Directors. [FAICD He is Manager Director and Chairman of Docy Holdings Pty Ltd. Since June 1987 he was executive chairman. of Enware Australia, a Shire based Australia that manufactured specialized plumbing products for commercial, institutional and industrial applications.
Enware employed over 200 personnel, mainly in three factories in the Shire with branches in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane. Overseas operations in Singapore and Dubai [UAE]. Enware was sold in March 2023 to Watts Water, a large American manufacturer.
Paul was Founding President of P.P.I.G.[Plumbing Products Industry Group], Vice Patron of Eloura Surf Life Saving Club and Past Cronulla Lions Club.
Oleh Nakone
Oleh Nakone, Group Executive Commercial Products and Services, ANSTO, is a experienced Executive with over 25 years within the Pharmaceutical , Technology and Nuclear Industries. In his role at ANSTO, Oleh is responsible for several businesses providing services into sectors including Health Care, Mining, Manufacturing & Government as well as the nandin Innovation Centre.
Oleh served as Director Customer Services at Aktana, a startup global technology business delivering AI services to the Health Care Industry. He has held various commercial leadership roles in the pharmaceutical sector with Merck & Co and Inova across Australia, Korea and APAC. Oleh holds Degrees in Science, Accounting and Master of Commerce.
Malcolm Kerr
As the former MLA for Cronulla Malcolm has a deep and passionate knowledge and understanding of The Shire and brings a commitment to a change culture that will make The Shire an even better place. With a wealth of high profile local contacts through his many years as a State Member of Parliament, Malcolm has enabled opportunities to be developed and enhanced.
Michael Forshaw
Michael Forshaw is a former Senator for NSW serving in the Australian Parliament from 1994 until he retired in June 2011. Michael attended school in Cronulla and then graduated with Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney in 1974 and Law from the University of NSW in 1984. He was admitted as a Barrister in 1985. Michael has been a lifelong Shire resident and is a strong supporter of many local organisations. Throughout his career Michael has been actively involved in representing and promoting the Shire.