Dianne Reilly brings a wealth of expertise in communications, public policy, and leadership, drawing from her extensive career in both the public and private sectors. As Principal of Dianne Reilly Communications, she has provided strategic communications guidance, underpinned by her prior roles as a Public Relations and Communications Manager for the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE and Griffith University’s Gold Coast Campus.

Dianne’s dedication to public service is evident in her long-standing commitment to the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and her extensive parliamentary experience. She has held various ALP positions, including Member of Queensland Parliament, Vice President and Treasurer of the Nerang Branch, and has served as a member of several Ministerial Legislative Committees focused on critical areas such as Child Safety, Environment and Multiculturalism, Health, and Education. Dianne also played a key role as Chair and Member of multiple Estimates Committees, where her leadership helped oversee budget allocations and policies affecting communities across Queensland.

In addition to her professional achievements, Dianne is actively engaged in personal pursuits, including bushwalking, art, and community-building activities that enhance her insight into local issues and strengthen her ability to connect with people. Dianne’s background in policy, communications, and governance makes her an invaluable asset to the Chamber of Commerce, where she will contribute her vision for fostering robust business connections and enhancing community resilience.

The Math Genius Raised On a Secret Chinese Military Base Who Became an International Trade Guru

Lindy Chen is the founder and Managing Director of ChinaDirect Sourcing Services, author of ‘Import From China. How To Make A Million…and Not Get Burnt!’ and co-author of “Women On Top”.

Lindy is a dynamic, ‘bicultural’ business facilitator blending the best from the East and the West, with a natural ability to connect people from diverse backgrounds. She is considered one of Australia’s foremost experts on doing business with China, and was a finalist in the 2007 Queensland Businesswoman of the Year Awards.

As a world leading authority on doing business with China, Lindy has featured in publications from The Courier Mail to BRW magazine, and has been a finalist and winner in many prestigious awards, including:

* Winner – International Woman of the year Awards Stevie awards 2015

* Winner – HKABA-QLD Chapter Business Awards 2014 Excellence in importing

* Finalist – My Business Awards (2014) for Women in Business & Best Business

Leader

* Winner – Australian Small Business Champion Awards, Entrepreneur of the Year

2013

* Winner – Lord Mayor Multicultural Award Entrepreneur of the Year (2013)

* Winner – HKABA-QLD Chapter Business Awards 2012 Excellence in importing

* State Finalist – Telstra Business Awards 2012

* Q400 – top 400 Queensland business 2012

* Finalist – Young entrepreneur of the year Brisbane 2011, 2010

* Finalist – My Business Awards 2011, entrepreneur of the year 2011

* State Finalist – Telstra Business Women Awards 2010

* State Finalist – Telstra Business Awards 2009

* Winner – Australian Small Business Champion Awards, Entrepreneur of the Year 2009

* National Finalist – Ethnic Business Awards 2009

* Women In Business Queensland Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2010 ’09, 08 and ‘07

* Australian Institute of Management’s Management Excellence Awards 2008

* Winner – Australian home-based business awards 2007

* My Business Awards, Fastest Growing Small Business 2007

Lindy has more then fifteen years’ experience in International Trade, and is a member of the Australia China Business Council.

She is also the founder of the Australian Charities Buying Group, which makes it possible for charities to source and import commonly needed products from China cooperatively, thus saving on costs and time.

Her business goal is to grow ChinaDirect into the world’s leading sourcing firm.

She is also a mentor for the QLD government. So far she has mentored more than 600 different business’s and has been instrumental in helping them achieve their objectives.

Lindy has helped many of her clients entering into the China market.

Her government profile is:

http://www.smallbusinesssolutions.qld.gov.au/content/sbs-standard.asp?name=MentorsBNN- LindyChen

Lindy Chen Wikipedia profile on Lindy Chen:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Chen

Her accountant’s testimonial:

http://smaccountants.com.au/client-focus-lindy-chen/

Her Chinese profile:

http://baike.baidu.com/view/12122186.htm

Her website:

http://www.lindychen.com.au/index.php

CHINA DIRECT SOURCING

Lindy formed ChinaDirect Souring in 2005 to assist Australian Companies source and import products from China. The company now includes assisting Australian companies who wish to export products to China.

ChinaDirect won the overall award in the 2007 Australian Home-Based Business Awards, as well as the Business Services category.

They were also honored by being named a finalist in the 2007 Australian Small Business Champion Awards, and a finalist in the 2007 ActionCOACH My Business Awards.

In less than six years since staring her business in 2005, Lindy has saved her clients over $5 million in procurement costs.

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In 2008, ChinaDirect were again honoured by winning the Business Services category of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards for Qld, and in 2007, won the Australian Home- Based Business Awards.

Additionally, ChinaDirect Sourcing made the BRW Fast Starter List in April 2010 as one of the 100 fastest growing businesses in Australia. ChinaDirect has also made Q400 in Dec 2011.

CHINADIRECT INVESTMENT

Lindy formed ChinaDirect Investment in 2015 together with her business partner Robert Li to assist Australian Companies distribute products to China, expand into the Chinese market, with product and service knowledge to help them gain a market and attract Chinese investment for Australian business.

ChinaDirect investment scope of work, to assist Australian Business: • Product/Service export to china

* Product distribution to china

* Attracting Chinese Investors

* Finding a Chinese JV partner • China market entry analysis

* Business strategic acquisition

LINDY’S HISTORY AND BRIGHT FUTURE

Born in China, she migrated to Australia in 2002.

Education was Lindy’s access out of a poor background, so her personal goal is to provide education scholarships to 1,000 underprivileged children in China by 2017.

Her business philosophy is that the size of ChinaDirect’s cause will determine the size of its effect.

This led her to start Australia’s first national charities buying group, and plans to offer carbon neutral importing.

Lindy has strong leadership qualities that are demonstrated by her ability to motivate and inspire employees to fulfil their potential. Lindy’s contribution to the organisation’s success has been in developing a unique business model, and then systemising the business.

The company has experienced exponential growth, guided by a mission of “making clients prosperous and globally competitive”, with clients including MiniMovers and Merlo Coffee.

Her willingness to take risks and do things differently has had her overcome many obstacles to achieve success. This includes starting the business on a budget of only $2,000, and launching ChinaDirect Sourcing Services on a PC in an Internet café.

ChinaDirect operate differently to the average broker. For example, they are transparent in providing full details of Chinese suppliers they source for Australian clients, and refuse commissions from Chinese suppliers.

Lindy has an impressive track record in China and Australia.

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Before settling in Australia, she held senior management roles in Chinese and Australian companies.

However, it wasn’t all up and up. Upon arriving in Australia in 2002, Lindy couldn’t find a job, so took on various volunteer roles.

This included raising awareness of China by organising community events for her local council, promoting the use of public transport, and running events showcasing the talents of multicultural youth.

Then Lindy got a big break… Selling movie tickets door to door! After three weeks she’d made the grand sum of $100, and wore out two pairs of runners. But she learnt how to read a map and gained the confidence to talk English with people.

Lindy then spent seven months studying English, at the end of which she taught Business Administration at The Australian Business College in Adelaide. She then took up a position lecturing in International Trade at TAFE in South Australia.

During this time, friends were asking her to source products for them from China. She had an extraordinary talent for this, and with high demand for this service, turned it into a business.

With her strategic project management skills and strong business acumen, she continues to assist many Australian companies grow through product innovation and bottom line savings.

ChinaDirect gains most new clients after they see Lindy talk at China business seminars, or through word of mouth. Lindy is passionate about building bridges between China and Australia, and has given her time freely to speak for organisations such as the Australian Institute of Management, Queensland Police and James Cook University.

She has a strong desire to raise Australian’s awareness of China, and vice versa, so the two countries can grow harmoniously together. Recently her book, ‘Import From China…How To Make a Million and Not Get Burnt’, was published including a DVD version, both of which has made record sales and Lindy is already on her 5th Edition.

PERSONAL TIDBITS

* Prior to the Communist Revolution in 1949, Lindy’s forebears were reasonably wealthy, until they had all assets forcibly removed by the Government.

* Born and raised on a military base known only as ‘143’ in remote China, her father was imprisoned for three weeks when her sister stepped on a Chairman Mao chalk drawing on the footpath.

* After the Tiananmen Square incident, Lindy underwent ‘thought examination’ for two hours each week at University, made to spill any ‘not so good’ thoughts against the Communist Party.

* The Chinese know more about Australia than we think. Lindy learned ‘Click Go The Shears’ in Grade 3!

Secretary Afghanistan Australia Chamber of Commerce and investment

SeniorMigration Agent Registration Number (MARN): 1386407 | Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QEAC): L128

Lakmal Isuru Yapa is a seasoned international business professional with a distinguished career in migration and education services. Armed with an MBA from Griffith University, he has founded and managed multiple successful businesses, including Sirus Migration & Education, where he excels as a Registered Migration Agent. With a strategic vision, Isuru has led his organization to prominence through strong alliances and a focus on sustainable growth.

In his role as a director, Isuru is committed to building high-performance teams by recruiting, developing, and motivating skilled professionals. Leading a team of over 40, he drives business development and expansion efforts, securing key contracts and fostering relationships with local executives. His negotiation acumen has allowed him to create favorable agreements, control costs, and increase revenue streams for the organization.

As an executive board member of the Chamber of Commerce, Isuru brings his deep expertise in migration and international business, along with a proactive approach to industry trends and legislative developments. His dedication to adapting strategies to current market needs makes him a valuable asset to the Chamber’s mission of fostering growth and connecting businesses across borders.

Linna Reakes is an accomplished property strategist and business leader, with extensive experience in guiding investors through the Australian residential property market. As Director of OMR Property & Sunplace Rental, Linna has successfully helped hundreds of investors build and grow portfolios across Australia’s major cities, contributing to economic growth and empowering clients to achieve financial independence.

With over nine years in property strategy, Linna has a strong track record, recognized as a top performer by leading developers like Fraser Property, Marquee, Ausbuild, and Choice Homes. She is also a proactive investor, having built a personal property portfolio worth over $6 million.

Linna is deeply committed to community engagement and leadership, demonstrated by her role as Director of the Women Empowerment & Leadership Organisation. Her work includes supporting initiatives such as “The Meaningful Sharing Life Journey” with the Southside Migrant Association and leadership development programs for emerging professionals.

Her vision aligns perfectly with the Chamber’s mission to foster business growth, facilitate cross-border trade, and strengthen community ties. As an Executive Board Member, Linna brings her strategic insight, dedication to empowering others, and a commitment to advancing commerce and investment both locally and globally.