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.
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.
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. He strongly believes that praise be given when due and constructive criticism be given when required of the elected members of the community who Andrew believes should represent all members of the community. It is Andrew’s goal to leave this City in a better position and he hopes that effective representation of genuine concern will allow this to happen.
Gail Fuller
Joint Vice President
Gail has been a resident of the shire for 23 years and has been in the real estate industry for 20 years as well as working in merchant banking and foreign exchange money brokering in London.
Her passion is community and bringing the people back together with communication being the key driver. She is actively involved supporting many local events, schools, business groups and also sits on many council steering committees. Gail knows it is important that the business community feels supported and that a board voices and represents its’ members. She is passionate about youth and ensuring we shape our young to build careers and get behind them through mentoring, providing opportunities to engage and employ them so that they stay and invest in our area.
Gail brings a wealth of connections and knowledge after having worked closely with council and staff. She has sound knowledge of the property market, development and retail challenges. She is engaged heavily in the tourism sector including conferencing in the region and supports tourism disbursement in our area.
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.
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.
Paul Deegan
Membership Chair
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.
Ray Karam
Board Member
Ray was born raised in Casino where he spent time after school working in businesses from a young age. He lives in Goonellabah with his wife and 5 school aged children. He joined the NSW Police and served for 13 years in Sydney before retiring at Kyogle Police Station. He had prior to that started his first business, a car detailing business, which now operates in the Northern Rivers area. Ray and his wife Sarah are involved in operating another 3 businesses in retail, bulk and hospitality in our local area.
With experience on numerous local boards, business and a diverse life history, Ray brings a strong care for every part of business and community. Representing all aspects of business into all levels of Government is a focus. He brings a real and down to earth approach, that looks to connect people with people. Ray is looking forward to working with our strong local business community and continuing to move our community forward.
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.
Sarah Smith
Board Member
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.
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.