Mr. Nicholas A Di Girolamo
Chairman
Australian Water

Nick was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Australian Water in February 2007. Australian Water is a company within the Rouse Hill Infrastructure Consortium Group. Nick is a director of RHIC, a company which has been responsible for the delivery to Sydney Water of water based infrastructure in the Rouse Hill Development Area over the last 17 years.
Prior to this, Nick was the Managing Partner at one of the Sydney’s leading law firms and has practiced extensively in the area of commercial litigation. Nick has developed an expertise in the area of corporate governance, and has been retained by Boards to act as an external General Counsel on complex commercial projects. In both business and the law, Nick enjoys a reputation for providing practical and innovative solutions to problems. 

Mr Nicholas Caré
CEO/Secretary General

Mr Caré has 25 years experience in international trade and liaison between Private, Public and Government enterprises and currently is a Committee Member of SBS Community Advisory Committee (CAC), Board Member of Assocamerestereo (worldwide Association of Italian Chambers of Commerce), where he represents, together with representatives of the Italian Government the CEO’s of 72 Chambers worldwide. He has been the President of the European Chambers in Australia, National CEO Representative for the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Asia Pacific and was conferred the title of Cavaliere (a Knighthood) in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in May 2006.

Mr. Nicky SCALI
Deputy Chairman
Nick Scali Furniture
www.nickscali.com.au

Mr. Marco BELGIORNO-ZEGNA
Avesta Corporation

After a career spanning 20 years with the Transfield Group, including 10 years as Managing Director, Marco is currently managing his portfolio of private equity, investments and property. He is Executive Chairman of Lidco, a leading designer and supplier of architectural framing systems. Marco has a strong interest in the arts, and was President of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences from 1998 to 2002, and a director of the National Portrait Gallery from 1999 to 2000. Marco was awarded Professional Engineer of the Year by the Institution of Engineers in 1996 and Business Leader of the Year BRQ (Construction and Property) in 1991.
He is a member of the Order of Australia and also Ufficiale Nell Ordine “Al Merito della Republica Italiana” (the Italian Honours System).Marco was born in Sydney of Italian parents, and lives in Sydney with his wife and two children.

Ms. Sara DELPOPOLO
Axis Legal
www.axislegal.com.au

Sara was appointed to the Board in 2007. She is the founding principal of Axis Legal. The hallmark of her professional experience, which spans over 10 years (with some of Australia’s major law firms), has been achieving sustainable and effective outcomes within the business framework of her clients. Sara works closely with Australian and International clients in various industries including entertainment, sports, manufacturing and retail, new media service providers, insurance, telecommunications and FMCGs. Sara is a commercial lawyer specialising in Intellectual Property (from protection to commercialisation), Information Technology (including Internet domain names), entertainment and trade practices. She is a mediator for LEADR (Association of Dispute Resolvers) for the resolution of intellectual property disputes involving .com.au domain names. Sara is a member of International Trademark Association (INTA), .au Domain Administration (auDA); Computers & the Law and the Communications & Media Law Association Inc (CAMLA). She is also Secretary of the Italian Opera Foundation, Inc.

Mr. Nicholas MARTINO
Nicholas Agency & Co

Ferdinando Scali
Hill Rogers Chartered Accountants

Ferdinando Scali is a Director at Hill Rogers Chartered Accountants, joining them in 1975. He was admitted to practice and partnership with them in 1983. Ferdinando is responsible for his own business services team, as well as serving as Director of Taxation services. He holds many Executorships and Trusteeships for his clients and their interests.
Ferdinando is a Board Member of the Skin and Cancer Foundation Australia, for which he also chairs the Finance and Audit Committee. Ferdinando is a first generation Italo-Australian, and this combined with his Chartered Accountant experience has created a passion for the cultural and trade riches of Italy, and the opportunities and respect Australia has shown towards Italian products.

Stephanie Spadotto
Italy Online

Stephanie is the Director of Italy Online Pty Ltd, a portal to all things Italian within Australia, which strives to preserve and promote the Italian culture, heritage and customs to people of all ages.

Stephanie completed a BS in Recreation in the United States, and is a trained Diversional Therapist. She is a member of the Diversional Therapy Association of NSW, and also does private consulting.
Stephanie migrated to Australia from the USA in 2005, and since then has immersed herself in a variety of roles within the community including serving as a Board Member of the newly formed Italian Opera Foundation Australia.
As a Board Member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Stephanie would like to further her involvement in the Chamber, and bring her experience, energy and enthusiasm to the organisation, while helping the ICCI to realise its goals in the local and international business sectors.

Mara Ashmore
DSV Air & Sea P/L

Mara has had over 20 years international freight forwarding experience in a variety of sales and management positions with a close interest in the Italian market.
She is a current Board Member of the Italian Opera Foundation Australia.
Formerly, Mara spent 15 years on the Committee of Management of the Property Owners’ Association of NSW, the last nine years as President; and was founding member and Chairman of the Coalition for the Reform of Land Tax. Both organisations involved community involvement and government lobbying. Mara has served over four years as a member of the NSW Government Property Services Advisory Council, appointed by the NSW Minister of Fair Trading.

John Caputo
Caputo Real Estate

John Caputo established Brookvale Travel and Caputo Real Estate in the 1960’s, and is Managing Director of this family company. He has had extensive experience in local government, and was first elected for Warringah Council in 1987. He was Shire President from 1989-2001, and was elected Mayor in 1998.
His professional qualifications include courses at the University of NSW in Planning Law and Practice, Certificate Course in Real Estate at Sydney Technical College, Advance Valuation Diploma, Registered Valuer NSW and Licensed Travel Agent.
He is actively involved in the community and in recognition for this and his work for local government, he was awarded an Order of Australia in January 2000, and was also accorded a Knighthood by the Government of Italy.

Adrian Guido
Adrian F.Guido & Co. Lawyers

Adrian Guido served as the Sydney Italian Chamber of Commerce President from 2000 - 2004. During this time, he was also elevated to serve as President of the National Council comprising the five Italian State Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Australia. Adrian was also appointed to the Board of Assocamerestero, based in Rome. This is the central co-ordinating and policy making body for the entire network of all the Italian Chambers of Commerce throughout the world.

Adrian is certain that all members can share a deep sense of pride and admiration in being part of an institution which has attained a formidable status not only within the Italo-Australian business community, but also within the international network of Chambers of Commerce worldwide.