LCCI Board Profiles
Our Board members regularly attend Chamber functions and you will usually find them at Business After Hours every month. Take the opportunity to say hello and have a chat about any relevant issues or concerns you may have. We’re here to support you! If you would like to arrange a meeting with any of our Board members, please contact us.
The Board meet on the third Wednesday every month. You can read a brief profile for each Board member below. You can see previous board members here.
Rodney Jenkins
President
Rodney Jenkins is a Registered Sales Agent with Lismore Property Managers, also known as “The Little Real Estate Shop on The Hill”. Spending 15 years in Financial Markets and Financial Services, Rodney has gained extensive experience in Negotiating, Market Research, Investment Advisory Services and above all Communication. He gained this experience while working for reputable firms including, RBS Mongans on their Institutional equities team. Rodney has joined Lismore Property Managers to apply that knowledge and experience to the local property industry. Rodney has built his reputation on research, negotiation, and communication, and is brining those attributes to the Property Market. Rodney is client focused and results driven, which he believes are the core elements of quality service.
Patrick Healey
Vice President
Patrick is General Manager of NORPA, a leading regional theatre company, renowned for presenting curated and home-grown works that are both challenging and accessible to regional audiences. Increasing access to the performing arts is at the core of NORPA’s artistic program, embracing the diversity of the region, and engaging with the community in relevant and dynamic ways. NORPA is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status led by a management committee of local professionals, run by a small team of theatre and venue professionals, and supported by a large group of volunteers. NORPA also manages the Lismore City Hall, on behalf of Lismore City Council, as a venue for hire as well as a space for many different community gatherings.
Patrick was elected to the Board at the AGM in September 2016 and has taken on the role of LCCI Secretary and stepped into the role of LCCI Treasurer in October 2018.
Stephen Oliver
Treasurer
Stephen was elected to the Board at the AGM in October 2018 and is LCCI Treasurer.
Sarah Smith
Secretary
Originally from the UK, Sarah emigrated to Australia when she was 23 “in search of sunshine and opportunity” after attaining an honours Degree in Law from Nottingham University. Sarah has 18 years experience in the Automotive industry in the areas of Finance and Management and has been instrumental in the growth of a number of Dealerships not just in terms of profitability and sustainability but also in setting new standards of customer satisfaction and advocacy. Sarah is now co-owner of Lismore Toyota. Sarah has built her reputation on honesty and integrity, and believes that ”If you look after your staff. they in turn will look after your customers” and is passionate about promoting the growth of local businesses in the Northern Rivers region and believes “there is no better place to raise a family”.
Sarah was elected to the LCCI Board at the AGM in September 2016.
Paul Deegan
Board Member
Paul Completed a B.Build at UNSW and worked for Lend Lease for 8 years from 1978 until 1986 in the positions of Site Engineer and Site Manager based in Sydney, and concurrently completed the educational requirements for a Real Estate Licence at North Sydney TAFE college. He also worked for Hooker Projects in Sydney for 12 months as a Project Manager, before returning to Lismore after his father’s death in 1987.
Paul operated LJ Hooker Lismore for several years before buying the business off his family in 1992. He also owned and operated the Dixon Homes Northern Rivers Franchise as a Licensed Builder between 1994 – 2000. He was a Member of the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Institute of NSW for 11 years from 1996 until 2007.
He was Chairman of the Real Estate Institute, Northern Rivers Branch between 1994 – 2000. In 2007, made a Life Fellow of the REINSW. Paul is currently and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Employers Federation of NSW (REEF) since 1997. He is also a board Member for Norsearch, SCU property management company and was on the board for Realestateworld property listing Company between 2008-2011. Most recently he was a member of the Lismore Business Panel 2012-2016.
Chris Knight
Board Member
Chris graduated from St. Johns College Woodlawn after which he went straight into the family business, Knights Butchers which was located in the Lismore CBD. Over the past 50 years he has managed many businesses in and around Lismore including a car dealership, butcher, a food distribution company, farms and a supermarket. Chris and his wife opened the Thai Satay Hut on Keen Street in 1999. Chris is the Chamber representative on the Lismore Business Promotions Panel, and the City Safe Advisory Group.
He is passionate about representing the views and needs of the business community to ensure that Lismore can still be the Heart of the Northern Rivers.
David Martin
Board Member
Casey Withers
Board Member