Board Members

Amanda Paterson

Amanda has been working in her family business BBQs-R-US since beginning as a part-time machine operator in high school. She is passionate about small business, and is keen to learn from and engage with other business owners in the community. Running a small business comes with many daily challenges, and sharing these challenges and experiences is a vital part of the Whitehorse Business Group.

Amanda has worked for the federal government in Canberra and spent a year living in China working as an English teacher. She has also previously been involved on the committee of her local tennis club and on the board of the Whitehorse Business Group. All of these experiences are invaluable in her current role managing BBQs-R-US.

Outside of work Amanda enjoys tennis and walking her dogs. She also loves to read and listen to podcasts, and is interested in conservation.

Amanda is excited to be on the board and is really looking forward to meeting and learning from the many varied and interesting members of this wonderful group!

Bobby Thai

Bobby Thai currently serves as the Deputy Chair of Whitehorse Business Group (WBG). Fostering connections and driving business growth are some of Bobby’s key strengths. Throughout his career, Bobby has demonstrated a strong commitment to building thriving business communities, and in facilitating collaboration among industry leaders. He is also passionate about giving back to the community and supporting the next generation of young leaders through mentorship and education initiatives.

In his role as Deputy Chair, Bobby plays a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of the WBG, leveraging his expertise in identifying opportunities for growth and development. Apart from working closely with the Chair and fellow Board members to develop and implement initiatives that promote networking, professional development, and knowledge sharing among members; Bobby also actively engages with members to understand their needs and challenges, advocating on their behalf and championing initiatives that drive value for the entire network.

Known for his strategic vision and effective leadership style, Bobby is dedicated to ensuring that the WBG remains at the forefront of industry trends and best practices. He is committed to lifelong learning and staying abreast of emerging trends and technologies that can benefit the WBG and its members.

Bobby holds a postgraduate qualification in Workplace Risk Management from Federation University, complemented by Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification. He is a seasoned Workplace Health and Safety professional with 25 years’ experience in the industry, and the Director of a Workplace Health and Safety consultancy (iiNexus Global), assisting global organisations and Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in achieving EHS excellence.

Beyond the WBG, Bobby is actively involved in promoting mental wellness and physical fitness in the wider community through the Australian Martial Arts Foundation Inc which he co-founded. In his spare time, Bobby enjoys spending time with family and friends, finding inspiration and rejuvenation in Pokémon-hunting with his children.

Bobby is honored to serve as Deputy Chair of Whitehorse Business Group and looks forward to contributing to the continued success and growth of the organisation.

Vanessa Ng

Vanessa Ng is the Treasurer for Whitehorse Business Group and a Senior Accountant in the Business Advisory section at Saward Dawson Chartered Accountants. A qualified Chartered Accountant with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), she also holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from the University of Melbourne.

With extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector, Vanessa brings valuable expertise to the Whitehorse Business Group, providing strategic financial insights and support. She is passionate about developing innovative solutions for clients and thrives in dynamic, challenging environments.

Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys reading, hiking, and spending quality time with her family.

Denise Massoud

Denise has lived in Whitehorse since 1986 and is always looking to support local businesses, both large and small, in their growth through networking, promotional activities, parking adjustments to support customer access and experience plus opportunities for outdoor dining.

Denise has tertiary qualifications in Science, Teaching, IT and Business, with varied roles through her career including Head of Chemistry, Learning Technologies Coordinator and established and managed a Business Intelligence practice for an International IT company working with large corporates and government agencies across Australia and New Zealand. She is currently the Registered Electrical Contractor for Mass Lighting Services P/L.

Denise has been a councillor for Whitehorse City Council continuously since 2012 and held the positions of Mayor (2017 and 2024) and Deputy Mayor (2022). She currently represents Council on the following committees:

Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance (Deputy Chair)
Eastern Region Group
Environment and Sustainability Reference Group (Chair)
Municipal Association of Victoria
Whitehorse Business Group
Whitehorse Disability Advisory Committee(Chair)
Whitehorse Reconciliation Advisory Committee (Chair)

As a graduate and member of Australian Institute of Company Directors, Denise is focussed on strong governance and is President and Board Chair of VLGA (Victorian Local Governance Association).

As a member of the Whitehorse Business Group Board, Denise enjoys the collaborative approach to supporting business growth in Whitehorse and values the business development events and networking opportunities which Whitehorse Business Group provides for their members.

Merrell Harris

Merrell Joined the WBG in 2012 after being involved in a number of Business networking groups, she found the WBG flexible and enjoyed attending the many and varied functions.

She was asked to become a Board Member in 2017.

She has been in the print industry for over 35 years and has seen a number of changes in that time.

She still enjoys helping Not for Profit Organisations with their print, design and marketing needs, and has helped the WBG with their brand identity over the past 6 years

Nabil Salameh

Nabil Salameh is no stranger to business. He's a Profit Growth Strategist and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of business owners - to have thriving businesses & fulfilling lives. He coaches and mentors them to grow their cashflow and profits, have more free time, and create their ideal business. And, eventually to create their business as a valuable asset that can be sold, passed on, or run under management.

Drawing on 20 years of corporate experience & another 20 years running his own business coaching practice as well as having run a family business employing 32 staff, has given Nabil an intimate understanding of what businesses need to be successful. He has a toolkit of proven strategies & tactics to grow any business and find any business owner additional revenue & profits.

Paul Newnham

An accomplished and focused Senior Professional experienced in Multiple organisation formats including Not For Profit, Community Controlled, Business Advisory, and Retail Operations.

Experienced in leading, influencing large cross-functional workforces from Front-line to Executive level in a complex environment with transformational growth accountability.

A collaborative leader with a track record of optimising team performance to achieve and exceed business expectations through sharing a clear vision, strategy, values, and best practices.

Very passionate about increasing the social and economic value in the community, through enabling positive outcomes and engagement.

Paul is the Executive Director Strategic Engagement (Commercial) at Box Hill Institute.

Jacky Wright

Jacky joined the Whitehorse Business Group in 2022 as Administrator and Events Co-Ordinator.

Jacky has a strong events background, having previously worked at Presbyterian Ladies’ College for 17 years in events and marketing, it was time for a change in sectors.

Jacky has lived, been educated in and worked in Whitehorse and Boroondara for the past 40 years, she currently lives in Balwyn North with her husband and is a proud mother of two adult children.

With a love of people, projects and service to the community, Jacky is keen to explore and support the business sector in the City of Whitehorse and the ensure the continued success of the Whitehorse Business Group.

Andrew Kent

Andrew Kent has been an active member of the Whitehorse community for over 20 years, including 17 years coaching community soccer teams. Andrew and his wife own several businesses including business consulting firm Growth Creators and the famous Handorf's Fine Chocolates in Blackburn.

Andrew is currently the National President of the Australian Landlords Association, the Chairman of two multi-million dollar digital marketing companies and has held Director and C-suite roles at Fairfax, Bounce, CPA Australia as well as being appointed to the International Federation of Accountants. He has written over 100 business articles and is a major contributor to Honest Economics

Recently appointed to the board of the Whitehorse Business Group, Andrew looks forward to helping Whitehorse Businesses to thrive.