Board Members – ICCI

Board Members

Fabio Grassia

Chairman
Viano Corporation Pty Ltd

Fabio Grassia founded his first company in 1989, Natcomp Technology Australia Pty Ltd, an importer and distributor of IT hardware and consumer electronic products supplying mass retailers and computer stores throughout Australia and New Zealand. In 2007 following a market demand for good quality yet affordable digital TVs for the modern household, Grassia created the consumer brand Viano. Grassia expanded investments in China by opening an office in Shenzhen with a joint venture in manufacturing flat panel digital televisions. The factory is now manufacturing televisions for the Australian and New Zealand markets under the Viano brand and OEM. In 2014, the company commenced with new markets in the Middle East, Europe and South America.
Grassia previously served on the ICCI board in 1998 and from 1999-2000 he was a Board Member and part of the Social Committee. From 2001-2003 he served as Vice-President on the board, whilst also a member of the Constitutional Committee. In 2019 he was named as President of the Chamber.

Vittorio Tarchi

Vice-chairman
mondiale VGL

Vittorio Tarchi founded VISA Global Logistics (VGL) over 30 years ago and today it is the leading privately owned freight forwarding company in Australia, as well as the market leader in the Italy to Australia trade lane, with a portfolio of blue-chip Italian companies, as well as global. Vittorio Tarchi is the Founding Director of VGL and in his nomination brings with him a wealth of quality experience to the board of the Italian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Vittorio Tarchi provides the Chamber with invaluable Italian and Australian networking opportunities and corporate expertise. Through his actions, strategies and dedication he has constantly demonstrated that he has all the hallmarks of a business leader and Italian community advocate.

Sarina Roppolo

Treasurer
Kardos Scanlan Corporate Lawyers

Sarina Roppolo is a partner at Kardos Scanlan Corporate Lawyers. After being admitted as a solicitor in 1996, she joined Kemp Strang Lawyers later that same year and was appointed partner in 2001. Sarina has worked as a senior corporate lawyer in the insolvency division of ANZ bank from 1997 to 2001 at the same time as working at Kemp Strang. In 2018 Sarina joined Kardos Scanlan as a partner and has been recognised as a Best Lawyer in Australia for Insolvency and Reconstruction by Australian Financial Review for the years 2019 and 2020, featured in the 2018 edition of the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, and also featured in the IFLR1000 Guide to Leading Financial Law Firms. Sarina is currently a Board Member of Asset Resolution Limited.
Sarina is striving to promote Italian culture in Australia and is passionate about strengthening the commercial links between the two countries.

Matteo Accornero

Luxottica

Matteo Accornero is the General Manager of Luxottica Retail in Australia and New Zealand. The company is the global leader in manufacturing and distribution of glasses and sunglasses; in ANZ it employs approximately 5000 people and operates a network of more than 600 directly owned stores, under the banners of OPSM, Laubman & Pank, Sunglass Hut and Oakley. Before joining Luxottica, Matteo was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. Matteo holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and a Master Degree in Corporate Finance both from Bocconi University in Milan.

Marco Baccanti

Trajan Nutrition

Graduated in industrial chemistry in Milan, Marco Baccanti started as research scientist at Carlo Erba Instruments, filing four patents. He became Managing Director of “Centuria Science Park”, then CEO of “San Raffaele Biomedical Science Park” in Milan, while serving as President of the International Association of Science Parks. In 2008 Marco became Executive Director of the Dubai Biotechnology Research Park, free zone authority for life sciences of the UAE Government. Back to Italy in 2010, he ran the Health global business unit of Technogym, while joining the “Healthy Living” Leadership board of the World Economic forum and servicing as President of the Innovation Committee of Confindustria Emilia-Romagna. In 2014 he moved to Adelaide as Chief Executive of Health Industries SA, agency of the Government of South Australia that he led for five years, reporting to the Minister of Health. From 2019 he is CEO of Trajan Nutrition, branch of Trajan Scientific and Medical.

Werther Esposito

Enel Green Power Australia

Werther Esposito is an executive with +10yrs experience in the energy sector, with different roles within the Enel Group that allows him to have a deep cross-functional knowledge of the energy market: Merger & Acquisition, Head of Business Development for North Africa and Middle East, Country Manager for Morocco and currently Country Manager for Enel Green Power Australia. He began his career at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and in consulting, before joining the Enel Group in 2010. Mr Esposito holds a degree International Relations from the University of Trieste as well as an Executive Master from the Bocconi Business School of Management and Executive Education certificates from the Harvard University in the fields of renewable energy and sustainable development.

Gabriele Flisi

Smeg

Gabriele has been part of the Smeg group for more than 10 year. After an initial experience within the Italian H/O, Gabriele moved to the UK and has now been in Australia for nearly 8 years. He is currently National Divisional Manager at Smeg Australia, one of the biggest subsidiary of the group, after various roles in sales as Account Manager and National Business Development Manager, as well as in finance and operations. Gabriele, after a Master degree in Finance and Risk Management at Universita’ di Parma in 2010, is currently an MBA candidate with Deakin, Melbourne. A father of two kids and fan of (European) football, Gabriele has been a member of the board since September 2020.

Andrea Kraus

Prysmian Group

Andrea Kraus started his career in Investment banking working in London, Paris and Milan for Merrill Lynch advising clients across different industries. In 2014 he joined Prysmian Group in the HQ controlling department, he became the Controller of Brasil operations and later took over the role as CFO Australia and New Zealand for 3 years. During 2019 he moved to Berlin as CFO of Germany and Head of Controlling CEE and in 2021 returned to Sydney as CFO Oceania. Andrea holds a degree in Economics and Finance from Bocconi University He is married with Hannah, a very talented Australian designer working in sustainable fashion.

Pino Migliorino

Cultural Perspectives

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Trish Pegorer

Mutti Australia

A Commerce graduate of the University of Sydney, Trish Pegorer is an FMCG sales and marketing specialist with over 20 years' experience, 10 of those years spent working global food brand, Mutti. Mutti is the market leading tomato brand in Europe and in 2020 was the fastest growing large consumer goods company in Italy. Trish launched Mutti into the Australian retail market in 2011 and has been instrumental in the rapid growth of the brand in the retail sector. In 2019 Trish was appointed Managing Director of Mutti Australia Pty Ltd, now one of the largest export markets for the Mutti Group, accountable for developing the strategic growth roadmap for future expansion. Trish leads a team of senior sales and marketing specialists charged with growing range, distribution and brand through Food Service, Independent retailers and Major Grocery channels. Trish is a loving mother of two energetic young boys and when not at work, enjoys spending time outdoors in nature, practicing yoga and being involved in local charity and community initiatives.

Terry Ryan

Illy Coffee Australia

Terry Ryan is a Marketing graduate of University of NSW with over 30 years’ experience in FMCG businesses, principally in the Food Industry. Post University, sales and marketing experiences at Johnson and Johnson and Schwarzkopf prior to joining Goodman Fielder for 14 years with roles included Marketing & Sales Director of Meadow Lea Foods; General Manager, GF Fresh, a startup Fresh Ready Meals business and Managing Director, GF Food Services.

In 2003, joined Barilla as Managing Director, Australia &NZ where the business has enjoyed double digit growth annually for the last decade with a focus to promote the benefits of the Italian lifestyle and wellness based on the Mediterranean diet. Most recently, in April 2020, Managing Director of illycaffe Australia and NZ with the purpose to build the illy brand in this region to replicate the iconic global status illycaffe enjoy’s globally. Married with 4 children with interests in travel, sports, fitness and great food & wine experiences, particularly Italian cuisine.

Kevin Salerno

Intesa Sanpaolo

Kevin has over 30 years of corporate, commercial and international banking and finance experience along with extensive experience across the banking spectrum. This has included treasury, acquisition finance, project finance, syndicated finance and leasing. Prior to becoming the General Manager of Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., Sydney Branch, Kevin led the Australian Representative Office.

In addition he worked predominantly for Citibank for 10 years, where he was the Head of Treasury, Bank of America, where he worked for 11 years based in Hong Kong as Regional Head of Syndicated Finance and on his return to Sydney, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where he was Managing Director Corporate and Commercial Banking.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Economics from Sydney University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Technology. He was also recently appointed a Director of the Italian Opera Foundation, Australia.