South Australia

Cameron Henderson – YCP Councillor and Georgia Gray – Runner up.

Presidents Report

This is my first report as President of the South Australian Division and I would just like to say that I am incredibly honoured and proud to be leading our Division throughout the next year.

I have been a member of the AICM for a number of years now, and during that time have served on the council and was awarded the South Australian Young Credit Professional of the Year in 2020.

As we approach the end of this year, I look back and reflect on the hard work that the Council has done throughout the year to organise events and bring credit professionals together in what can only be described as uncertain times. It is clear that everyone is facing challenges on how to navigate through the impact of the pandemic on businesses and it is important that we lean on each other for support and guidance during these times.

We recently held an evening seminar on Best Practice Credit Management where we heard from a fantastic panel of credit and insolvency specialists. Lisa Anderson of Coopers Brewery, Ratibor Mirkovic of NCI Commercial Collections and Matthew Ormsby of SV Partners each gave some insight into how they have managed the past 6-12 months, and what they are expecting to happen in the next.

Thank you to our South Australian Council who were recently re-elected at our AGM – James Neate, Alice Carter, Neil Fennel, Gail Crowder, Clare Venema and Cameron Henderson and our National President Trevor Goodwin. We have also recently had two new Council members come on board namely, Rob Jackson and Adrian Stewart. We are very lucky to have your experience and support on the Council.

I would also like to offer a big congratulations to Clare Venema for being awarded this year’s South Australian Young Credit Professional of the Year and we are proud to have her representing South Australia at nationals. Speaking of nationals, we are all very excited to attend an in person National Conference this year in Brisbane and I know that our National Office has been working tirelessly to put on a fantastic event. I am looking forward to catching up with everyone at the Conference in what will be a great end to 2022.

YCP Event

On Thursday the 11th of August, the South Australian Division of the AICM met up at the Bath Hotel in Norwood for the Young Credit Professional of the Year awards night. Clare Venema from People’s Choice Credit Union took home the prize and will be headed to Nationals. The Division’s runner-up Georgia Gray, Senior Associate at Lynch Meyer Lawyers, was an excellent candidate and has some truly impressive professional accomplishments worth celebrating.

Namely, not only is Georgia diverse in her delivery of dispute resolution, insolvency, and recovery advice to a broad range of clients, but she also is actively involved in her community, and is a 2022 Community Ambassador for Catherine House. Georgia has been a committee member of the Women’s Insolvency Network of South Australia since 2018, and is also a member of the Australian Restructuring, Insolvency and Turnaround Association. In 2021, Georgia was named as a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards for insolvency.

With a focus on providing clients with exceptional service and cost-effective outcomes, the SA Division would like to take this opportunity to recognise Georgia as an excellent young credit professional, and a rising star in her field.

Recognition of a member’s anniversary

Eddie Bastiani

Oakbridge Lawyers

The SA Division is delighted to celebrate the 5 year membership anniversary of Eddie Bastiani, who is a Senior Associate at Oakbridge Lawyers. Eddie provides a client-centric approach to his role and balances both a commercial and pragmatic focus on his Eddie Bastiani clients’ objectives. Eddie has the following perspectives and advice to share in reflection of his career and membership with the AICM.

Biggest professional accomplishment to date:

Eddie’s biggest professional accomplishment to date was being successful in resolving a consumer law claim

brought against a client (which included, being successful in starting the proceedings on the basis that they were brought in the wrong jurisdiction and without pre-action meeting protocols taking place).

Eddie’s advice for emerging credit professionals:

Eddie advises that working in credit can be tough, and to be persistent, learn from (and embrace) your mistakes and always strive to learn and improve your skills on the daily. Further, to not be afraid to ask others for help, and that you can never ask enough questions.

Biggest professional challenge to date:

Eddie’s biggest professional challenge to date has been getting across all the case law in preference claims brought by liquidators and learning what to look for when acting on either end.

What being a member of the AICM has done for Eddie

Being a member of the AICM has put Eddie in touch with like-minded individuals and given Eddie the opportunity to meet and strengthen his relationships with people and businesses in the credit industry that he might not have otherwise met.

Eddie’s favourite things to do outside of his profession:

Eddie enjoys spending time in nature and visiting wildlife parks with his wife and daughter. Eddie notes that making time for family and having a good work/life balance is important to leading a happy and successful life both in and outside of work.

Recognition of a new Sub-Committee member

Adrian Stewart

Australian Clutch Services

The SA Division Council would like to take this opportunity to welcome Adrian Stewart from Australian Clutch Services as a new member of the Council’s subcommittee. Adrian has been a member of the AICM since 1986, completing his Credit Management Certificate at Sydney Technical College in 1985, and becoming a CCE in 2012.

Adrian’s biggest professional accomplishments to date

Adrian’s biggest professional accomplishments to date has been implementing a credit policy at Landmark Operations while he was based in Melbourne, Centralising the Credit Functions and Policies for the South Australian Boral Group Companies, and reducing the overdue debt in his current role from 12.27% to 1.34%.

Adrian’s advice for emerging credit professionals:

Adrian advises to join the AICM, keep updated with legislation that affects their roles, continue their credit education by undertaking various training courses (such as CCE), and building their network of credit colleagues to bounce ideas around with.

Adrian’s biggest professional challenge to date:

Adrian’s biggest professional challenge to date has been rolling out the Centralised Boral Regional Credit Team, incorporating various operating systems, and various differing credit policies.

What being a member of the AICM has done for Adrian

Adrian says that being a member of the AICM has allowed him to keep up to date with legislation and making friends from all over Australia.

Adrian’s favourite things to do outside of work

Adrian enjoys going on holidays in Penang, Malaysia, particularly the street food, along with relaxing at home and reading spy novels.

The SA Council is excited for Adrian to bring his professional expertise and experience and are very happy to have him on board.

The Australian Institute of Credit Management welcomes our Partners for 2022

National Partners

Divisional Partners

Official Division Supporting Sponsors

Our National, Divisional and Professional Partners support and work with the AICM to promote the Institute’s activities, represent the Credit Industry and develop the careers of all Credit Professionals. As these organisations support your Institute and your Industry please consider them when you require assistance.