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.

Werther Esposito

Vice-chairman
ENEL Green Power

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.

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.

John Barilaro

John was Deputy Premier and held many Ministerial Portfolios for the Parliament of New South Wales over a 10 year career. As Deputy Premier and Minister, John has inspired and delivered high impact transformation, fuelling investment and improving the social and economic prospects of NSW communities for years to come. First and foremost a businessman, John founded and built Ryleho Home Solutions, a manufacturer of energy efficient building products, into a multimillion-dollar operation, earning a reputation as an innovator and a transformative industry leader, by adopting and investing in advanced manufacturing technology solutions from major markets such as Italy, Germany and USA. With a bold vison to grow NSW’s international footprint, expand markets and grow inbound investment, John delivered Global NSW, a government-wide initiative to support the State’s outstanding industry, innovation, trade, investment and industry area development. With the key goal to build the prosperity and international status of NSW.

John is known for his energy, resilience and passion, and as a leader, his ability to build this in others. Creating cultures that value collaboration, accountability and community service, John broke the mould by empowering the public service to become ‘warriors’ delivering ambitious industry level missions and change.

Serving as a foundation member of the COVID-19 Crisis Committee, from January 2020, John was instrumental in shaping management plans and steps to recovery including engagement with industry and lifting of interstate border restrictions, being the architect of the 2021 COVID-19, three stage Reopening Roadmap, a key turning point and milestone of the crisis.

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

Pino is also the founder and Managing Director of the Cultural Perspectives Group: Cultural Perspectives, and CIRCA Research, sector leaders in consulting to, researching and communicating with culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. Pino is also distinguished in his pioneering work around multicultural and multilingual communications, applying communications theory and strategies to the fast growing and diversifying CALD segment in Australia. Over 25 years he has retained currency in the plethora of developments in the ethnic media space and the growing impact of digital media both locally and serving worldwide diasporas. Pino is a leading commentator and expert around cultural diversity, multicultural marketing & engagement in Australia. He was most recently Honorary President of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia and Member of the Federal Governments Access & Equity Review Panel.

Pino sits on various including Migration Institute of Australia (MIA); information & Cultural Exchange (ICE); Italian Chamber of Commerce & Industry; the Expert Advisory Group on Suicide Prevention and has just concluded terms on the NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Interpreters and translators) Board and ANROWS (Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety) Board.

Pino is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (FPRIA) and a Qualified Practicing Market Research (QPMR) and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAIDC).Pino was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2017 and made a Commendatore (Knight Commander) all'Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta Italiana in 2000.

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.