Meet Our Team
Since its inception, the Australia Africa Chamber of Commerce has been focused on building a strategic, quality practice. The committee members have decades of combined experience and each has a track record of success in commerce or industry.
Duncan Harris, President
Duncan Harris has a longstanding interest in trade and investment with Africa.
A former Special Adviser to the Commonwealth Business Council in London, Duncan had established strong Africa connections. On becoming President of the AACC in early 2018, he was determined to put in place the building blocks that would establish the Chamber as the peak body for such business. His fundamental objective was to make the AACC the conduit to Africa. To do so, he set about creating a series of Partnerships with major bodies – both Government and private. These now include Austrade, Export Finance Australia, and DFAT and with Africa based organisations that provide the all-important on-ground intelligence and access such as Asoko Insight, Invest Africa, Trade Advisory, IHS – Markit and this culminating in Road-Map 2020.
Duncan is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Mossgiel Group, notable for its Corporate Advisory work, and is a director of the privately held Kilmour Investments which has major investments in the forestry industry along with real estate and other asset classes.
Julian Challingsworth, Vice President
Julian served as a Managing Director and Partner of The Litmus Group for over 10 years and a board member of PPB Advisory. He was a Director of Cordence World Wide a global consulting partnership with 2,800 consultants across 60+ locations. Julian worked with the international team to develop sales and growth strategies for the 8 member firms delivering international solutions for multinational organisations in all major continents. Julian is currently the CEO of Tesserent Ltd, Australia’s largest listed Cyber Security firm that provides cybersecurity services to 1000’s of Australian organisations and government departments and agencies.
He also holds a role as Chairman of Radian Energy a Queensland-based energy retailer that serves customers across the National Energy Market and is involved in supporting the transition to sustainable energy for 100,000+ Australian homes and businesses.
Julian is a Charted Accountant (CA) a Fellow of the CPA Australia and holds formal degrees in Accounting, Information Technology, and a Masters in organisational psychology.
Stephen Rando
Stephen Joseph Rando is a dedicated professional with a passion for driving innovation and efficiency in technology and governance. With a strong background in architecture and engineering, Stephen has developed a reputation for leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance process improvement initiatives.
Throughout his career, Stephen has been instrumental in leading cross-functional teams to implement best practices that align with organizational goals. His expertise in architecture assurance has enabled him to assess and refine frameworks, ensuring compliance and effectiveness in project delivery.
Stephen holds a Double Masters (MBA/MISM) from Swinburne University and has continually pursued professional development through certifications and now PhD research in AI technologies and governance frameworks. His analytical mindset, combined with exceptional communication skills, allows him to engage effectively with stakeholders and facilitate impactful discussions.
Margaret Brett, Operations Manager
Margaret Brett, a seasoned professional, serves as the Operations Manager at AACC. With a wealth of experience under her belt, Margaret has demonstrated remarkable leadership in her roles. Notably, she has excelled as the Manager of International Chamber House, where she held the pivotal responsibility of managing strategic relationships between international bilateral chambers and organizations and the Department. Her focus on trade and investment opportunities from key international markets has been instrumental in driving growth and collaboration.
Margaret's expertise extends to her tenure as the Operations Manager at Australian Trade & Logistics Corporation, where her adept management skills ensured the seamless coordination of operations. Her ability to streamline complex processes and ensure efficiency has been a hallmark of her career.
Margaret's academic achievements further underscore her commitment to excellence. Holding both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Tasmania, she has laid a strong foundation for her professional journey. Her educational background has undoubtedly contributed to her prowess in operational management and strategic relationship building.
As the Operations Manager at AACC, Margaret continues to leverage her extensive experience and strategic acumen to drive the chamber's success. Her leadership, combined with her academic achievements, positions her as an invaluable asset, guiding AACC toward continued growth and prominence in the field of international trade and commerce.
Bill Cole, Committee
Bill is an accomplished trade expert with a wealth of experience across government, industry, and consulting. With a proven track record of collaborating with global businesses, he excels in various facets of trans-national commerce, particularly in the analysis of border regulations' impact on business models and cost results.
Proficient in areas like Import/Export processing, Procurement, Business Development, and market entry, Bill maintains a robust professional presence encompassing both industry and government realms. His influential thought leadership extends to his ongoing PhD research at Murdoch University, concentrating on trade law
Linton Tarisai, Committee
Linton brings buyers and sellers of Commodities together to facilitate transactions effectively.
He is passionate about building sustainable mining practices and working towards a world where 3BL green mining is not only achievable but the new norm.
A strategic architect, Linton is experienced in negotiating high-value transactions and is an expert at establishing and maintaining authentic global networks and long-lasting relationships at corporate and Federal Government levels. Linton has a deep understanding of the risks and opportunities of the African commodities market.
With solid ties in Africa and a rich understanding of local mining risks and opportunities, Linton is bridging the gap between African commodities and the rest of the globe, delivering value to stakeholders and building strategic partnerships across the mining value chain.
Linton is an entrepreneur with a passion for solving complex problems, delivering value to stakeholders and building strategic partnerships across the mining value chain. With an MBA, Linton is pursuing a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) (sustainable mining practices and the triple bottom line (3BL)).