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. The 2016-17 executive team, elected at the AGM on 21 September 2016, are Deborah Benhayon (President), Andrew Gordon and Ellen Kronen (sharing the role of Vice President), Patrick Healey (Secretary) and Rebecca Lane (Treasurer).
You can see previous board members here.
Deborah Benhayon
President
Deborah Benhayon Deborah has worked in the business and finance sectors throughout the region for the past 18 years through her own business db Business by Design as well as in an employed capacity. During this period, she has offered and supported businesses with her extensive experience in the many facets of financial and business services. Deborah’s formal qualifications include Diplomas in Business and Leadership & Management; Cert IV in Training & Assessment; Cert IV in Accounting; She is a JP, a registered BAS agent and Practicing Member of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. It is with this experience and her years of commitment supporting businesses that Deborah recognises and appreciates the value of the diverse range of businesses and professionals within the community.
Jen Berger
Joint Events Chair
Jen was born and educated in Casino and has lived in the Northern Rivers all her life. In her words… “I began my professional career in the family business Fairmarket Antiques where I worked for 21 years prior to joining Southern Cross Credit Union in 2003, where I am now Branch Manager. I love my job and have a team I am very proud of. I am on the Work, Health & Safety Committee and Enterprise Agreement committee at SCCU and I aim to always give exceptional customer experience. I joined the Chamber to add value in our business community. Being in a small family business and a smaller financial institution I can relate to and understand the needs of our businesses.”
Jen was elected to the Board in 2015 and is currently sharing the role of Events Chair with Ellen Kronen.
Andrew Gordon
Joint Vice President
Andrew Gordon is the Licensee/owner of a fifth generation real estate agency – R Gordon & Son – in operation since 1928. His family history has been in beef and dairy cattle and his grandfather was Mayor of Lismore. Andrew is also on the Board of Management for the Show Society.
Andrew has a strong belief that if you live in a community you need to participate in order to improve the conditions which will allow the community to thrive. Recognition should be given to those who deserve it, those being the portions of the community that have made it what it is today. I strongly believe that praise be given when due and constructive criticism be given when required of the elected members of the community who I believe should represent all members of the community. It is Andrew’s goal to leave this City in a better position and I hope that effective representation of genuine concern will allow this to happen.
Ellen Kronen
Joint Vice President
Ellen joined the Chamber in early 2013, and was elected to the Board at the AGM that year. She is proud to have been the first woman President of the Chamber (2014-15) and for the LCCI to be named Best Regional Chamber at the Northern Rivers Business Awards during her term. From July-September 2017, Ellen temporarily vacated her place on the Board to provide maternity leave cover for the Executive Officer.
Originally from Sydney, Ellen has lived in Lismore since 1990 and raised her family here. She has been designing websites since 1998, and worked at SCU for 20 years, including 12 years as Web Services Manager. Post-redundancy, she founded Leumesin Design in 2012 after participating in the NEIS program. She has completed a Cert IV in Micro Business Management, and is a member of the Australian Web Industry Association. She is a keen home renovator, an occasional gym junkie, blood donor, gardener, workaholic, budding traveller and lover of shoes.
Patrick Healey
Secretary
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.
Chris Knight
Board Member, LBP & CitySafe Representative
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.
Rebecca Lane
Treasurer
Born in Lismore, Rebecca obtained a Bachelor of Business from Southern Cross University, Lismore before becoming a Chartered Accountant. She has worked at WCA Chartered Accountants for over 11 years.
Rebecca was elected to the Board at the AGM in October 2014 and is LCCI Treasurer.
Sarah Smith
Membership Chair
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.
Jennifer Joy
Board Member
Jennifer is Director of Wrightway Prducts, a local business established in 1996. The northern NSW based family business has a history of producing and providing quality and reliable products and high quality service.
Jenna joined the LCCI Board in March 2017.
Rob Walker
Board Member
Rob has been involved in the property management industry in excess of 20 years. The last 15 years he has been heavily involved in the retail industry mainly in the management of Shopping Centres. Rob has recently changed employers and is now managing a portfolio of six shopping centres which include Lismore Central and Goonellabah Woolworths for Race Property. Prior to that Rob has managed Lismore Shopping Square, Kingaroy Shoppingworld and Westlands Plaza in Roma QLD.
Rob is committed to supporting the business community through his involvement with the Chamber and being a panellist on the Lismore Business Panel. ‘It has to be about Lismore as a whole not as an individual business’ is Robs catch phrase.
Rob joined the LCCI Board in March 2017.