DEETA COLVIN
In 2007, Deeta Colvin joined Consolidated Press Holdings in a Marketing and Special Events role working with the teams on Crown and Ellerston Capital as well as corporate work in the marketing area for CPH – brands and client relationships.
Immediately prior to this Colvin was Director of Corporate Relations and Events for PBL Media. During the two years she held this position Colvin was responsible for several high profile events including the TV Week Logie Awards, Cleo Bachelor of the Year and ACP Melbourne Cup marquee. She joined PBL Media after selling her successful marketing and public relations company, Colvin Communications, which she ran for 16 years, attracting an impressive client list that included international luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Veuve Clicquot. Prior to establishing Colvin Communications, Deeta was Secretary of the Wine and Brandy Association for 10 years. She sits on committees for the Art Gallery of NSW and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and is well known for her commitment to charitable organisations. She was a founding member of both the Sydney Cancer Centre for Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Breast Cancer Centre’s Pink Ribbon Breakfast committee. She was previously a member of the committee for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of New England and also has a post-graduate degree in Industrial Relations. She was honoured by the French Government when she was presented with an Ordre de Merit in Paris in 2001, for fostering business relations between France and Australia.
COLETTE GARNSEY
Colette Garnsey commenced at Pacific Brands in May 2011 as Group General Manager for Underwear & Hosiery. Colette is responsible for market leading brands Bonds, Berlei, Rio, Jockey, Holeproof, Voodoo and Razzamatazz.
Prior to Pacific Brands, Colette spent 16 years at David Jones Ltd, most recently as Group General Manager, Apparel, Cosmetics, Accessories & Footwear. Ms Garnsey held a pivotal role within David Jones’ senior management team and was a member of the Management Committee for 13 years.
Whilst studying a Bachelor of Business, Ms Garnsey began her career with a retail cadetship and has held various roles across all areas of retail. In the twenty five years she has been in the industry, Ms Garnsey’s experience has led her to be one of the most influential figures in the fashion industry, having been instrumental in the launch of many young up and coming Australian designers such as Sass & Bide, Kirrily Johnston, Fleur Wood, Willow, Thurley and Ginger & Smart along with many more.
In addition, Ms Garnsey was instrumental in planning the refurbishment of the David Jones stores, among them Bourke Street Melbourne, Queen Street Brisbane, Sydney City and Bondi Junction. Through these refurbishments Colette introduced to Australia major international brands such as Prada, Dior, Jo Malone, Kiehls, Christian Louboutin, Tods and Burberry.
Ms Garnsey recently completed the prestigious Stanford Executive Program, Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.
Colette is a board member of L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, the TCF Innovation Council, a member of the RAFW Advisory Board and a member of Chief Executive Women.
JANET HOLMES À COURT, AC
Mrs Holmes à Court is Chairman of the John Holland Group, one of Australia’s leading construction and engineering companies; the West Australian Symphony Orchestra; the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and the Urban Design Centre of WA. She is a Board Director of Vision 2020 Australia, a Governor of Sony Foundation Australia and Board Member of the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund. She is a science graduate from the University of Western Australia and taught science for a number of years before working more closely with family business matters. She has won numerous awards recognising her contribution to the community and to business and is a previous winner of The Veuve Clicquot Award.
STEPHEN H. ROBERTS
Stephen Roberts was appointed Chief Country Officer for Citi Australia effective April 2008. Stephen is also CEO of the Institutional Clients Group for Australia & New Zealand and has held this role since 2003.
Stephen began his career with Salmon brothers in 1984 as an investment banking associate in New York. In 1985 he was transferred to Sydney and was given responsibility for opening and heading the firm’s Melbourne office in 1989. In 1992, he transferred to London as Director of European Capital Markets. In 1995 Stephen moved to Hong Kong with responsibility for all of the company’s regional fixed income activities prior to returning home in 2003 to his current role.
Stephen is an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the University of Sydney and sits of the Board of Advice of the Faculty of Economics and Finance and the United States Study Centre. He is a Board member of the Australian Bankers Association, the Australian Financial Markets Association and the Australian American Association. Stephen is Citi’s representative on the Business Council of Australia and is Chairman of their Task Force for Indigenous Affairs. He is Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, and is on the Advisory Board of the indigenous education body, Dare to Lead. He also sits on the board of the Ponting Foundation and the Bradman Foundation.
Stephen is a member of the “Male Champions of Change”, a 12-man group of CEOs and Chairpersons coordinated by Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick. The group’s aim is to use their individual and collective influence and commitment to ensure the issues of women’s representation in leadership, pay equity and flexible working conditions, are promoted on the national business agenda.
Prior to joining Salmon Brothers, Stephen held positions with the Australian Treasury and the Australian Foreign Service as Vice Consul in New York. He holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Australian National University.
MARILYNNE PASPALEY, AM
Marilynne Paspaley, AM is a Director of the Paspaley Group of Companies. Paspaley’s diverse portfolio includes rural properties, wine production, real estate and aviation, but its principal interest is the production of Australian South Sea Pearls, which it has pioneered since 1952. The Company is internationally acknowledged as the producer of the finest South Sea pearls in the world.
Marilynne was instrumental in developing and expanding Paspaley’s retail network, including the establishment of Paspaley’s in-house jewellery workshop, the development of the Paspaley jewellery collections and the publishing of the “Paspaley Magazine”.
Marilynne is now focusing on tourism and hospitality interests in WA. In addition to her boutique retreats McAlpine House and Captain Kennedy House in Broome, and The Kimberley Grande, a 73 room hotel and conference centre in Kununurra, she is about to commence the development of the 70-room Pinctada Broome Resort & Spa. In addition, she is creating a hotel management company, MP Personal Hotels & Resorts, to manage the properties in the portfolio. Marilynne is on the Board of Management of the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park, and Honoree of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World.
BORIS DE VROOMEN
Boris de Vroomen is the Managing Director of Moët Hennessy Australia & New Zealand and a member of the Moët Hennessy Asia Pacific Operational Committee.
Boris is a native of the Netherlands and father of two children. He has extensive experience in Asia Pacific where he has been living and working for the last fifteen years. He holds a joint Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Erasmus University of Rotterdam and Chinese Language & Culture from University of Leiden in the Netherlands.
He had been living for over five years in Shanghai where he became active in the drinks industry with Lion Nathan before he joined the LVMH group in 2000 as Deputy General Manager of Moët Hennessy Korea. In 2004 he then moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to take up the Managing Director position at Moët Hennessy Indochina.
In his previous role, Boris was the Managing Director of Moët Hennessy Diageo Hong Kong Limited where the company’s principal shareholders are LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton from France and Diageo plc, United Kingdom. In Hong Kong, Boris served as the chairman of the Hong Kong Food, Drink & Grocery Association (FDGA) and co-chairman of the Hong Kong Wine & Spirits Industries Coalition (HKWSIC).
PAST JUDGES OF THE AWARD INCLUDE: