MIA NSW/ACT Election - Our Team for 2011

Voting for the MIA state branch elections is now open.

The 2011 elections have drawn a significant number of interested candidates, which is a great sign of a healthy organisation.

I would urge all MIA members to take an interest in the elections as this is one of the best ways that you can have a say in the direction of your professional body.

You can cast your vote by logging into the MyMIA website at https://mia.org.au/mymia/ and navigating to the "Elections" tab on the right hand side.

I have served continuously on the NSW/ACT committee since 2003 during a time of very significant development and re-development from a small "industry" association, elevating to now a peak professional body of significance. In this election, I seek a second term as your state president to continue to work for progress of the MIA. The new constitution permits me to stand for a second term, possibly my last term, to finish this work. The MIA is now poised to make great strides forward. I do want your vote. I want to continue as your president.

My advice is to focus on all issues and needs when it comes to this election, and not just one or two issues in considering your vote. With the experience of my current term as ACT/NSW president (I was previously vice president) I have sought to bring together a highly capable team of candidates from diverse and strong backgrounds to ensure the NSW/ACT committee can maintain its contribution to the progress of the MIA...remaining strong into the future. This is to develop those coming into the committee with the skills to carry on this work, bringing their skill and experience base together as a team.

I have faith that this team will be able continue working in the years ahead - at the state and national level - to build the MIA's standing for the benefit of members, their clients and the Australian community.

Our team members are:

• Mark Webster: President
• Ron Dick: Commercial Member (small practice)
• Jonathan Granger: Commercial Member (practice less than 5 agents)
• Alex Kaufman: Commercial Organisation Member (practice greater than 5 agents)
• Gareth Lewis: Member with Legal Practicing Certificate
• Andrea Christie-David: Non Commercial Member

If elected, we would ask John Hourigan to sit again on the committee for ACT representation.

The support of Canberra based members for this team is earnestly requested.

I would like to thank MIA members in NSW/ACT for their support over the years, and look forward to being of further service to the Institute.

Mark Webster
Current MIA ACT/NSW President

MARK WEBSTER

Running for: NSW/ACT PRESIDENT Owner, Acacia Immigration Current NSW/ACT President

Mark Webster is the Founder and CEO of Acacia Immigration Australia.

He has a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Science (Hons, University Medal majoring in Pure Mathematics) also from the same university.

Mark has been a Registered Migration Agent since 1999, and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) since 2001. He has served on the NSW/ACT Committee since 2003, and has been NSW/ACT State President and a member of the MIA Board since 2009.

Mark has presented numerous seminars on Australian Immigration Law for the University of NSW, IARC, and the MIA. He has been a contributor to a number of major MIA submissions to Government, in particular relating to the field of General Skilled Migration.

A recognised expert in the field, Mr. Webster has been quoted in print numerous times, including in Phillipe Legrain's 2007 book, Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them(Princeton University Press). He has also appeared on Radio with ABC's Peter Mares.

Mark wrote the chapters on General Skilled Migration and Temporary Workers for the current edition of the Immigration Kit (Federation Press), which is the definitive Immigration Law textbook used by migration agents.

Mark's major achievements in the last 2 years for the MIA have included:

• Fighting the Visa Capping Bill
• Assisting in opening dialog with Minister Bowen's office
• Instituting regular liaison meetings with NSW DIAC's various processing areas
• Advocating against DIAC policy on refusing visa evidencing to Registered Migration Agents
• As National Treasurer, assisting with completion of the financial separation from MARA and managing finances in the face of significant competition

RON DICK

Running for - COMMERCIAL MEMBER (SMALL PRACTICE) Owner, Hallmark Immigration Current NSW/ACT Vice President

Ron Dick is a registered migration agent assisting and advising on Australian immigration laws for those who are not from Australia and who are emigrating or coming to Australia to visit, study, invest, establish a business or work. Advice and assistance is also provided to employers and families sponsoring those coming to Australia.

Ron is the principal of Hallmark Immigration which is a firm specialised in providing Immigration advice and assistance. This firm is based at Level 7, 91 Phillip Street, Parramatta and provides comprehensive advice and assistance to clients located all over Sydney. It also provides advice to clients located in country areas, interstate and overseas.

Hallmark Immigration prides itself on being comprehensive and proactive in finding solutions for its clients, endeavouring to go that one step further in ensuring the client's interests are best met.

Career Summary: Ron Dick

• Principal of Hallmark Immigration; a specialist firm launched in March 2003, to provide advice and assistance (www.hallmarkimmigration.com.au) to corporate and individual clients.
• Established Hallmark Consulting in late 2002; a firm advising corporate clients on matters relating to employment related taxation, contractor arrangements and recruiting in the healthcare field, in particular advice on policy and legal matters connected to international movement of staff.
• Term as Company Director on the board of management of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club from 2001 to 2003 (served part time); a multifaceted operation involving sports event management, yachting safety, facilities management, construction project management and finance, membership strategies, food and beverage, receptions and conferencing, concessionaire leasing, marina and slipway, waterfront land management.
• Tax Manager as part of transition management at Sydney Water Corporation from 1992 to 2002; a very large State Government Utility with diverse operations which underwent considerable transition as part of microeconomic reform of government trading entities in NSW. The reform agenda included corporatisation with submission to commercial taxation liabilities, as a preliminary to possible privatisation. The senior management role included membership of the Finance Executive of the Corporation and included appointment as Director of the GST Implementation Project in 1999 for over 3 years.
• Attorney at IBM Australia Ltd from 1969 to 1992: a career of development in this organisation, a leading worldwide computer company with a tradition of excellence in management. The career based in Sydney, that included appointments as Senior Tax Attorney, Legal Attorney, Assistant Company Secretary to General Counsel, Manager of Intercompany Practices.

Education, Qualifications, Professional Associations

• Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Economics from the University of Sydney, graduating May 1969.
• Admitted 6 May 1983 as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and Member of the NSW Law Society after completing a Diploma of Law at Sydney University & the College of Law. Became a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia.
• Registered Migration Agent
• Pro bono adviser at the Parramatta Baulkham Hills Holroyd Migration Resource Centre in 2003 on a volunteer basis.
• Associate Fellow Member of the Migration Institute of Australia.
• Served and elected on the NSW/ACT Branch of the MIA Jan 2006 to Oct 2009.
• Elected Vice President of the NSW/ACT Branch of the MIA and served Oct 2009 to Sept 2011.

Interests

• Family, including 4 grandsons and 1 granddaughter.
• Reading, some writing, Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

JONATHAN GRANGER

Running For: COMMERCIAL MEMBER (practice less than 5 agents) Owner, Granger Australia Current NSW/ACT Treasurer

Jonathan is the Director/Founder of Granger Australia Pty Ltd and is currently also Treasurer of the NSW branch of the Migration Institute of Australia.

Jonathan has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and History from Macquarie University and aCTEFL (RSA/Cambridge Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language)from INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, LONDON. UK Granger Australia is both a migration agency and education agency.

The migration practice primarily advises international students with applications for temporary and permanent residence applications, compliance matters and appeals. Jonathan's key areas of expertise are Student Visas, General Skilled Migration visas and partner visas.In addition to these core areas, Jonathan's practice also represents clients in employer sponsored visas, family visas and a broad range of temporary visas.

Jonathan is a regular CPD presenter on General Skilled Migration and Student Visas for the MIA and participates on MIA Forum Panels in Sydney.As NSW Branch Treasurer for the past 2 years he has worked to ensure members' concerns and opinions on core business areas of international students and general skilled migration have been pushed forward to the National executive and DIAC.

Jonathan is a recognised expert on student visas and international student matters and has been interviewed for newspaper and radio and television media in The Australian (29.06.11), The Australian (26.08.2008), ABC Radio National (Background Briefing), SBS 10.1.11

Jonathan was also a contributor to the MIA's submission to the Knight Review into the Student visa program as well as contributing his own submission to the Review.

His education agency was established as Granger Educational Services Australia in 1999 with offices in Bangladesh , Brazil and Australia and has formal representative agreements with over 60 Australian Universities, Colleges and ELICOS schools across Australia. Prior to this he has extensively travelled and worked as an English language teacher in Australia, the UK and The Czech Republic. His background in international education has been crucial to his ability to understand and assist international students.

ALEX KAUFMAN

Running For: Commercial Organisation Member (practice greater than 5 agents) Senior Associate, Malyon Lawyers B.A. (Asian Studies), LL.B.

Alex Kaufman is a qualified Solicitor and Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0601370) with over 5 years experience in business, investment and employment related migration as well as the provision of associated legal services.

Alex's migration experience includes:

• advising and acting for public sector, corporate and individual clients to achieve the best employment related outcomes through Australia's Temporary Business Entry program
• assisting corporate clients and entrepreneurs to facilitate trade and investment activity through Australia's Business Skills program
• advising and acting for individuals in obtaining Permanent Residence and Citizenship of Australia
• representing clients before Tribunals and Courts in visa decision review proceedings
• advising and acting for employers in relation to Departmental monitoring and auditing processes
• assisting clients in relation to ancillary and post settlement legal services including Customs / Australian Quarantine Inspection Service requirements, Foreign Investment Review Board applications, purchase of business / real property, leasing of commercial premises and referrals to integrated taxation and accounting services

After completing a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) in 1997, Alex spent a number of years teaching Business English in Guangzhou before returning to Australia, working in film production, marketing and completing a Bachelor of Laws in 2004. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Alex's client base includes mining interests, health service providers, financial institutions, recruitment businesses, education providers and high net worth individuals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies)
• Solicitor - Supreme Court of New South Wales and High Court of Australia

Memberships:

• Office of Migration Agent Registration Authority
• Law Society of NSW
• Australia China Business Council
• Migration Institute of Australia

ANDREA CHRISTIE-DAVID

Running For: NON-COMMERCIAL AGENT Principal Solicitor, IARC

Andrea Christie-David is the Principal Solicitor of the Immigration Advice & Rights Centre (IARC). Prior to this she was Education & Training General Manager at the Migration Institute of Australia, where she reinvigorated the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program by implementing tiered courses to suit varied levels of experience, a mentoring program in most States, tailored courses to suit agents' practice areas and by developing the Practice Ready Program for new Agents.

Andrea is a lawyer and a registered migration agent who has worked in the field of migration law for almost a decade. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University, a Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Technology, Sydney. She is currently completing a Master of International Law at the University of Sydney.

Andrea previously ran her own immigration law practice and currently teaches immigration law within the Master of Immigration Law program at Griffith University. She also taught business law at Macquarie University and worked as an in-house lawyer at 3 Mobile and as a senior paralegal at Clayton Utz, where she was involved in representing the Minister for Immigration in judicial review proceedings. In 2009 Andrea undertook an internship at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and remains heavily involved in human rights in her spare time, which includes membership of the board of an NGO that supports women and children experiencing domestic violence and acting as a volunteer solicitor at community legal centres.

Andrea also speaks French and Italian, understands basic Indonesian, Sinhala and Australian Sign Language.

Gareth Lewis LLB (UNSW)

Running For: Member with Legal Practicing Certificate Owner, Lewis Law

Gareth Lewis is a practicing lawyer and registered migration agent. Gareth graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Laws and holds a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Technology, Sydney. He has been working as a lawyer for almost 20 years and as a registered migration agent for almost 10 years.

Before establishing his own practice in 2003, Gareth worked as a Senior Associate in a large litigation practice where he developed outstanding negotiation and communication skills. Gareth acted for high profile corporate clients as well as individuals.

Gareth has had extensive experience in most areas of migration law from primary applications to reviews and appeals. Gareth also practices in other areas of law including small business, property law and family law.

In 2007, Gareth established Migration Seminars Australia with one of the most respected migration lawyers in Australia, Peter Bollard. This involves presenting CPD activities all around Australia to other lawyers and migration agents and means that Gareth is acutely aware of the changing needs and desires of his colleagues in the profession.

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