ABOUT US

ABCSA is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes good business relations between Australia and Southern Africa. ABCSA plays an integral part of bringing together both local and foreign businesses in many forums such as business and social events.

Our membership is not limited to Australian and South African nationals but can incorporate anyone doing business in this region. We keep members informed of news and topical issues through regular communications.

Purpose

Strengthen trade and commercial relationships between Australian and southern African companies to operate in the Republic of South Africa, SADC and Australia.

Vision

Support opportunities for companies via round tables, leadership conversations, events and information sharing; working collaboratively with Australian and Southern African business communities, government and trade representatives

Mission

Deliver timely, relevant information, events and opportunities to members to support their business objectives.

Value Proposition

ABCSA is a member supported social business Chamber that provides dynamic membership for individuals, small and large companies to network.  It assists to connect those individuals and companies with building relationships in support of bilateral trade.  We meet informally at least four times a year in Johannesburg to network, build new relationships and learn from each other’s experiences.  We distribute emails of business relevant information and events to our members. Our platform is available for our members to promote their businesses operating in South and Southern Africa and Australia.  The Chamber is aligned and supported by the Australia High Commission (Pretoria) and Austrade.

Shaun Mills

Shaun Mills

Chairperson

Since joining Worley in 2007 Shaun has held various Leadership roles in Project Delivery and Operations based in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. These roles have included both location and regional responsibility for project delivery and operations management. Shaun is currently the Senior VP for Qatar Kuwait and Sub-Saharan Africa and prior to this he held the role as VP Operations for Worley Matasis RSA (2020). With over 30 years of industry experience Shaun started his career in South Africa as an Electrical Engineer in the Petro-Chemical Industry where he held various roles in engineering design, project engineering and project management in the delivery of EPC and EPCM greenfield projects, before deciding to join Worley to gain international experience. Shaun is process orientated and enjoys working with international & multi-cultural teams. Shaun has a strong passion for safety, employee wellbeing and identifying and developing the talent within the teams he works with.

Yvonne Lekalakala

Yvonne Lekalakala

Deputy Chairperson

A Business development manager with a technical background, Yvonne’s passion and strong focus on relationship building, combined with Electrical Engineering and corporate travel experience allows her the unique ability to work seamlessly with a wide range of industries within the multinational space.  

Having graduated at the University of Cape Town, and worked within her technical field for 5 years, she made the decision to build a new career in travel in 2015 and since then has moved quickly from leisure sales consulting, through a combination of corporate Key Account Management and SMME Business Development to a pure focus on multinational and enterprise Business Development Management.

As a dedicated mother of two young girls, she strives to achieve a healthy work life balance, and always keeps in mind, Henry David Thoreau’s “Life isn’t about finding yourself; it is about creating yourself. So live the life you imagined”.  

Eugene Olim

Eugene Olim

Advocacy

Eugene Olim is First Secretary (Trade and Economic) at the Australian High Commission in Pretoria where he is focused on promoting Australia’s bilateral trade and investment relationship with South Africa and Southern Africa more broadly. Eugene works to support Australian businesses in South Africa and promote cooperation between government and business organisations in both countries. Before coming to Africa, Eugene coordinated Australia’s multilateral trade and economic policies in the G20. He has assisted Australian businesses manage regulatory challenges in China and played a role in advancing negotiations on Australia’s Free Trade Agreement with Japan. Eugene has lived and worked in a number of overseas economies, including China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Scott Morriss

Scott Morriss

Trade and Investment Commissioner, Africa

Scott Morriss is the Trade and Investment Commissioner for Africa, for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). Scott leads a team of eight highly qualified Business Development Managers supporting Australian business across Africa out of four Austrade offices: Johannesburg, Nairobi, Accra, and Rabat. Scott is based in Johannesburg.

Prior to joining Austrade’s Africa team, Scott was Trade Commissioner to Tokyo responsible for defence industry, advanced manufacturing, education and technology and services sectors. Before joining Austrade in 2017, Scott served in the Australian Navy for over 20 years in a variety of operational and strategic analysis roles – the highlight of which was serving as an Australian Attaché to Japan from 2012 to 2015.  Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canberra and is a Japanese language speaker.

Milan Bossinger

Milan Bossinger

Finance

Milan is currently employed as a Corporate Credit Manager at Nedbank Johannesburg in the Corporate and Investment Banking division, having assisted the front office at Nedbank CIB in the implementation of a number of small and larger deals. Gaining exposure to the overall private debt market and managing a portfolio consisting of listed and unlisted clients in the Mining and Resource space as well as the Infrastructure and Public Sector, in South Africa, so as to contribute to the enablement of Nedbank optimally managing the credit risk associated with the portfolio & of quality assets on Nedbank and its subsidiaries books. Prior to being employed by Nedbank, Milan was an Assistant Manager at EY post his Chartered Accountant articles gaining a wide array of audit experience.

Fabienne Rossouw

Fabienne Rossouw

Business Development Manager

Fabienne has over 20 years of experience working in the service industry. She has worked for conferencing and technology organisations running the administration and co-ordination. Prior to that she worked for national hotel groups focusing on events co-ordination and customer fulfilment. Fabienne specialises in administration as well as her ultimate passion of event management. Fabienne joined ABCSA in April 2018 and is responsible for the event management and co-ordination as well as business development and administration for the Chamber.

Bill Guy

Bill Guy

EXCO Member

Bill Guy (Chairman Theta Gold Mines Limited) is a professional Mining executive and geologist with over 25 years of experience in exploration and resource development in Asia, Australia, and Europe. In previous executive and geology roles, he has been involved in all aspects of the mining industry inclusive of capital raisings, project acquisition (European Zinc) project development (Cockatoo Island Fe), project discovery (Mt Ida (Fe), and large scale JV (Newcrest JV (Au)), in both the corporate and technical roles. As MD of Longford Resources, he progressed the Keel zinc project in Ireland to its first JORC Resource within just a few months. He previously served as Exploration Manager of Jupiter Mines Limited (Posco/Pallinghurst). At Jupiter Mines, he developed exploration protocols and a team that grew resource inventories to significant levels being the Central Yilgarn Iron Project (CYIP) Mt Ida Magnetite project was part of CYIP. Mt Ida, was progressed from zero to an Inferred Resource 530M tonnes @31.94% Fe with a conceptual target of 1.85 Billion tons.

Michelle Compton

Michelle Compton

EXCO Member

Michelle Compton is the National Sales Leader for Corporate Traveller with over 20 years’ experience in sales in the FMCG and Travel Industry. Michelle has developed her skill through many Executive courses and built a strong global network over this time. Her passion for the travel industry is contagious and she is continuously driving new strategies and approach within her business unit. Michelle currently resides in Johannesburg but grew up in Cape Town where her heart remains in the sun, waves and vineyards.

Mark Hocker

Mark Hocker

Exco Member

Mark is the founder of The Boiler Room in South Africa and Australia. The Boiler Room is a dynamic production company that has been around for 21 years, specializing in 3D animation, eLearning, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and many other Industry 4.0 disruptive technologies. Originally from a small country town, Coffs Harbour in NSW, he moved to Sydney to obtain a degree in Computer programming. He worked in television animation and special effects that led him to the UK. Mark introduced 3D animation to SA and lectured at most universities and colleges before starting The Boiler room. He currently resides in Johannesburg with his wife and two children.

Jacqui Burn

Jacqui Burn

Web Manager

Jacqui Burn has been running her own consultancy business since December 2015 and is based in Pretoria and aids companies in the development and management of their various communication, marketing and digital programs and activities. Previously she worked for a large corporate specialising in web and digital communications, PR and marketing communications as well as having involvement in the heavy electrical engineering industry for many years.

Her qualifications include a Bachelors Degree in Communications and English, a certificate in Inbound Marketing Methodology as well as a diploma in Photography and Digital Marketing.