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Advance Office
Serafina Maiorano
Chief Executive Officer
Serafina was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Advance in January 2008. In many ways she presents as a snapshot of the organisation's mission: global experience and a global outlook, with roots in Australia but connections across the world.
Serafina has brought to Advance a diversified and impressive professional skill base and an international reach. Since joining Advance the organisation's membership has increased from 10,000 to over 20,000 and reached out to establish a presence in the Asia region. Currently living in New York, she has lived in Australia, Italy and Dubai, and developed projects in London, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Singapore.
She has held Board and Committee positions with the Adelaide Fringe Inc, Australia's largest multi art festival and second largest Fringe in the world; the Australian Network for Art and Technology, Australia's peak network for artists working with science and technology; the South Australian Women's Advisory Council; and the Council for Italians Abroad in South Australia, an official Italian Government representative body for global Italian diaspora. In 2004 she received an Australia Council award to undertake international cultural partnership research in USA, Mexico and UK.
Serafina has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide, and Honours Degree in Italian Language and Literature from Flinders University, a Diploma in European Economics from the Foreign University of Perugia in Italy, and a Graduate Diploma in Management (Arts) from the University of South Australia.
Chief Executive Officer
Serafina was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Advance in January 2008. In many ways she presents as a snapshot of the organisation's mission: global experience and a global outlook, with roots in Australia but connections across the world.Serafina has brought to Advance a diversified and impressive professional skill base and an international reach. Since joining Advance the organisation's membership has increased from 10,000 to over 20,000 and reached out to establish a presence in the Asia region. Currently living in New York, she has lived in Australia, Italy and Dubai, and developed projects in London, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Singapore.
Prior to joining Advance, Serafina worked in the field of management and HR consultancy in Dubai, where she managed mentoring, leadership and employment reform programs. Over a number of years, Serafina also worked as an arts producer and manager in new media, performance, public art and festivals, developing, presenting and touring innovative cultural and arts programs to national and international audiences. In its many facets her work has involved showcasing dynamic Australian talent and 'know how' abroad, and facilitating Australian innovation to global markets.
She has held Board and Committee positions with the Adelaide Fringe Inc, Australia's largest multi art festival and second largest Fringe in the world; the Australian Network for Art and Technology, Australia's peak network for artists working with science and technology; the South Australian Women's Advisory Council; and the Council for Italians Abroad in South Australia, an official Italian Government representative body for global Italian diaspora. In 2004 she received an Australia Council award to undertake international cultural partnership research in USA, Mexico and UK.
Serafina has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide, and Honours Degree in Italian Language and Literature from Flinders University, a Diploma in European Economics from the Foreign University of Perugia in Italy, and a Graduate Diploma in Management (Arts) from the University of South Australia.
Denisse, originally from Mexico, joined the Advance team in August 2008. She has a background in communications, sales and marketing and has worked in Australia, Mexico and the United States in those fields.After winning a scholarship from the Mexican Ministry of Education, Denisse moved to Australia in 2005 where she studied business courses at the University of Queensland, did an internship at 96five radio station in Brisbane and ultimately obtained a Masters of Business (Marketing) from Swinburne University of Technology in 2007 before moving to New York.
Prior to joining Advance, Denisse was the Assistant to the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Mexican Mission to the United Nations, worked as a Sales Consultant for COTY Prestige in Melbourne and worked in Mexico as a Communications Associate for Grupo FEMSA, the largest beverage company in Latin America.
Denisse is loving life in New York and enjoys the challenge of settling in to new cities and foreign countries. Denisse is currently focussed on her professional development and growth and looks forward to working with the Advance community.
UK/Europe Manager
Sharon has lived in London twice, once in 1989-1990 on a travelling/working holiday, and most recently, since November 2008. Arriving during the start of the economic downturn, Sharon started her own consultancy business, taking a change in direction from human resources and operations management to social media business strategy consulting. Sharon now works with a select group of clients, helping them to use social media as a communication and business development tool for both employees and customers.
Sharon’s most recent Australian career experience was within the higher education sector in Queensland as the Manager of Operations and Human Resources for the University of Queensland Press. Her role oversaw change management strategies, leadership and development and business process re-engineering. Sharon has held similar positions at the University of South Australia.
Sharon has broad experience in the Australian public and private sectors working for the Department of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia, Optus, Millicom Communications and P&O Services, in areas of sales and marketing, client relationship management and project management.
Sharon holds a Post Graduate HR Development degree from the Queensland University of Technology and is currently studying French in London. When not at work, Sharon is a talented amateur photographer and enjoys travel, running and cycling.
Marketing Communications Advisor
After graduating with a BA from Melbourne University, Phil’s career took him from the advertising agency business in that city to London, New York and then Hong Kong . There, he worked in marketing communications for 25 years in various Asian and global coordination roles.
During this time, he witnessed and participated in the emergence of China as a consumer-led economy and the exciting growth of the marketing and communications industries in Greater China. He was privileged to work with some of the world’s great brands including Cathay Pacific, Regent International [now Four Seasons] Hotels, Seagrams [Chivas Regal], Apple Computer, Absolut Vodka, United Airlines, Samsonite, Sheraton Hotels, Chase Manhattan Bank, Rolex, Renault and many others.
In particular, from 1993 to 2000, Phil was closely associated with the Virgin Group, as part of the team responsible for the successful launch of Virgin Atlantic in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
In 2001 he relocated to Australia’s Gold Coast for family reasons. Since then, Phil has acted as a marketing consultant to a variety of clients including a dairy farm in China, the Indonesian Government Department for Culture and Tourism, a New York-based apparel company, and travel-related businesses in Australia [Tangalooma, Keep Australia Beautiful, Tweed Tourism].
His other interests include singing opera with a choral group, hosting a jazz program on a local radio station and volunteer work with Rosies - Friends on the Street.
After graduating with a BA from Melbourne University, Phil’s career took him from the advertising agency business in that city to London, New York and then Hong KongDuring this time, he witnessed and participated in the emergence of China as a consumer-led economy and the exciting growth of the marketing and communications industries in Greater China. He was privileged to work with some of the world’s great brands including Cathay Pacific, Regent International [now Four Seasons] Hotels, Seagrams [Chivas Regal], Apple Computer, Absolut Vodka, United Airlines, Samsonite, Sheraton Hotels, Chase Manhattan Bank, Rolex, Renault and many others.
In particular, from 1993 to 2000, Phil was closely associated with the Virgin Group, as part of the team responsible for the successful launch of Virgin Atlantic in Hong Kong
In 2001 he relocated to Australia’s Gold Coast for family reasons. Since then, Phil has acted as a marketing consultant to a variety of clients including a dairy farm in China, the Indonesian Government Department for Culture and Tourism, a New York-based apparel company, and travel-related businesses in Australia [Tangalooma, Keep Australia Beautiful, Tweed Tourism].
His other interests include singing opera with a choral group, hosting a jazz program on a local radio station and volunteer work with Rosies - Friends on the Street.
West Coast USA Manager
Louis MatthewsIn 2005, Louis received a Victorian State marketing and communications award from the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
Louis graduated from RMIT University, Melbourne Australia with a Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) degree, after completing his secondary education at Camberwell Grammar School, Melbourne Victoria. Louis is a passionate traveler with a strong interest in music, wine, arts and sport.
Kate Parker
UK/Europe Advisor
UK/Europe Advisor
Kate is a skilled and experienced senior manager in the public sector and entreprenuerial start up projects. She has dealt with organizations and operations in a broad selection of industry sectors, including life sciences, aerospace, automotive and services – specializing in the government-corporate interface. She brings to the position a portfolio of issue management skills having been involved in central policy development and implementation for the Australian and New Zealand Governments. Her policy experience is centred on innovation, investment and knowledge economy policy issues. While working at Invest Australia, in cooperation with her State Government colleagues, she expanded overseas interest in Australian biotechnology, revising the positioning material for the sector and implementing a new approach to identifying investment sources and investment ready companies. Kate worked for the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism in core policy and sectoral areas for eight years, including participating in Ministerial Task Forces on Automotive Policy, APEC, Innovation and Investment for Growth.
Kate has lived and worked overseas in Wellington, New York and London. She has therefore a firsthand appreciation of the value of building effective professional networks not just at a local level but globally.
Jess Pincombe
Online Services & Events Coordinator
Jess joined the Advance team in May 2009 as a volunteer, and has now come on board in her new capacity as Online Services Editor and Events Coordinator. She has a background in Human Resources and International Relations and has worked in Adelaide, Sydney, London and New York. Before moving to New York, Jess managed Graduate and Intern programs in the IT sector for an Australian Investment Bank. In between her volunteer work with Advance, Jess took on an Internship with the Australian Mission to the United Nations working in Public Affairs, Media and Policy. She also spent time volunteering as a Public Relations Assistant with Housing Works, a large not-for-profit organisation that is committed to ending the twin crises of AIDS and homelessness, through housing, healthcare, education and social support. Jess is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Arts (Politics & Counter-Terrorism) with Griffith University through Open Universities Australia. She is an avid traveller and hopes to touch down on more new and exciting destinations in the year to come.
