Invest Melbourne works with state and federal governments in a highly collaborative way to enable and reinforce Melbourne as a key investment destination and the easiest place to start and grow a business, attracting domestic and foreign direct investment and opportunities of capital city significance.
The board's purpose is to:
- Provide strategic advice and independent thinking to inform policy and productive investment in the municipality.
- Champion and proactively advocate for Invest Melbourne to Australian and international business communities, as well as key government departments, industry associations and other prominent stakeholders.
- Provide critical understanding of business, market and industry trends while also providing insights and options for improving the delivery of strategic business development initiatives in Melbourne.
- Provide advice on ways to streamline business processes making it easier for the business community to operate in and with the city.
The City of Melbourne is pleased to announce and welcome the following members of the Invest Melbourne Advisory Board.
Dr Julie Wells (Acting chair)
University Executive
Dr Julie Wells has sat on the Executive of two great city universities over the past 15 years – RMIT University (2009-2014) and the University of Melbourne (2014-2023). During that time, she led the development of University strategy and policy and had the opportunity to work closely with both the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government on significant partnership projects, including the Melbourne Innovation District, Melbourne Connect, Fishermans Bend and the development of the Parkville Biomedical Precinct.
Julie has extensive experience in the tertiary education sector as an educator, a senior administrator, advocate, adviser to Government and policy analyst.
Mr Ian McCall, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) / Digital Innovation
Partner, Strategic Project Partners
Ian McCall has more than 30 years' experience advising senior client Boards and Executives as a Strategy Consultant. He has worked for a variety of organisations including Andersen Consulting, The Mitchell Madison Group, Strategic Project Partners and Deloitte.
Ian specialises in assisting clients with their growth strategies, incorporating mergers and acquisitions, market entry, customer segmentation and channel strategies in the ICT sector. He has been an Asia Pacific Managing Partner and member of the Global Executive for Deloitte's Strategy and Operations Consulting Practice.
Ian's experience includes eight years as an elected member of Deloitte Australia's Board, appointment as an Advisory Member of the Board of Deloitte (New Zealand) and 10 years on the Board of Advanced Paediatric Life Support, a clinical not-for-profit organisation. He also has experience at a range of smaller private, start-up and not-for-profit organisations.
Mr Andrew Carter, Life Sciences
Founder and
Managing Director, Commercial Eyes
Andrew Carter has over 30 years' commercial experience working in the medical technology and pharmaceutical industry.
In 2001, Andrew established Commercial Eyes Pty Ltd - a full service capability company that supports all stages of commercialisation from planning to regulatory approval for pharmaceuticals, nutritional products, blood products, vaccines, devices, diagnostics and medical services. The company now employs over 110 staff, and has grown to become the foremost pharmaceutical and medical technology commercialisation firm in Australia and New Zealand.
In 2014, Andrew received the Australian medicine industry's most prestigious honour, the Pat Clear Award, in recognition of the significant role he has played in supporting companies to bring important medicines into the Australian market.
Andrew is the President of ARCS Australia Ltd; a member of the Medicines Australia Advisory Council and University of Melbourne, Masters of Biotechnology Advisory Board. He has also been Chair of the Bio-Melbourne Network Inc. and has chaired and been a member of numerous industry association committees including Industry Policy, Strategy, Access, Quality Use of Medicines and Continuing Education.
In addition to Andrew's health technology industry roles, he is interested in social justice and disadvantage, and was Chairman of Melbourne City Mission, a trustee of the Dr. John Singleton Trust and a former Councilor of Whitley College, University of Melbourne.
Mr David Chen, Shipping, Technology and General Business Leadership
Chief Executive Officer, JPC International
David is an experienced executive and specialist in logistics, supply chain and strategic procurement.
Driven to identify value creation opportunities, David draws on his direct operational knowledge to execute effective and efficient outcomes. Coupled with his strong international knowledge particularly in the Asia Pacific Region, David demonstrates careful navigation through sensitive environments.
David is the Chief Executive Officer of JPC International where he has helped develop capital structure optimisation and growth facilitation across a multitude of industry segments. He has also guided the group's entry into New Zealand, Vietnam and Korea.
David serves as a board member of Pacific Shipping and advises on the Greater China market. Prior to joining JPC, David worked at KPMG in the risk consulting and defence divisions.
David holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and is a Trinity College Alumnus.
Ms Amy Foo, Technology and Digital Innovation
Senior Vice President, Global Revenue Operations, Culture Amp
Amy Foo's esteemed career in finance started after the completion of a double major degree at Deakin University where she graduated top on the Dean's list. Amy then worked in the technology and software space in various roles including auditor, business analyst and senior accountant.
In 2006, Amy joined OgilvyOne, a creative division within Ogilvy & Mather, which specialises in customer engagement and direct marketing. She led the finance division in Singapore, working alongside the Managing Director and increasing revenue to double digits growth and personnel to 100 full-time employees. Amy also managed a team of 10 finance staff and built a robust team the business could not function without.
Amy's extensive experience includes Zendesk Managing Director for the Australia / New Zealand region and Global Senior Vice President, Finance Operations. Amy now manages Global Revenue Operations at Culture Amp.
Ms Rachel Watson, Energy Professional Services
Country Manager Australia of Ox2
Rachel Watson is Country Manager Australia for Ox2, a leading Swedish renewable energy development company. Rachel is a global executive, and a recognised leader in the Australian renewable energy industry, as former CEO of Pacific Hydro Pty Ltd and former Chair of the Clean Energy Council.
Rachel has over 20 years' experience in major transactions. She started her career as a commercial lawyer, first in private practice then in a number of in-house counsel roles in large corporations both in Australia and overseas.
Rachel joined Pacific Hydro in 2006 as a Corporate Lawyer, and during her nearly 16 years in the company held a range of roles, including Executive Manager, Finance and Legal, Head of Commercial, General Manager, New Business and General Manager, Australia before becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2018.
Rachel is a dynamic leader who combines a considered and thoughtful approach with the capacity to enthuse and energise others. Rachel also has experience as a non-executive director in the not-for-profit sector.
Mr Scott Tanner
Executive Chairman of Kay & Burton
Scott Tanner is Executive Chairman of Kay & Burton, the leading luxury real estate agency in Victoria.
He is Chairman of the Committee for Melbourne, and Chairman of GrowthOps, a creative, digital marketing / tech and leadership and coaching accreditation company.
Scott is Chairman of NEEON, a new start-up in the B2B2B banking as a service space. He is also Founder and Managing Director of SMT Advisory Services, Chairman of the Board of Advisors of UbiPark (a parking solutions company) and Executive Chairman of PropertyShares (a non-bank commercial property lender).
Scott is a Director of Melbourne Business School, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Scott was previously the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Digital Officer of Westpac Consumer Bank. Prior to that he was Chief Executive of Bank of Melbourne, a bank that he and his team relaunched to Victorians in 2011 and grew its market share in Victoria to 7.5 per cent over six years. Prior to that, Scott was a Director of Bain & Company, a global strategy consulting firm.
Scott's experience spans digital transformations, company turnarounds, mergers and acquisitions and growth strategies in banking, wealth management, insurance, retail and professional services.