Future Geelong 2025: Geelong’s top 25 connectors
They pull the strings, open doors, and make things happen. Meet Geelong’s 25 ultimate connectors.
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To launch the Geelong Advertiser’s Future Geelong campaign, we’ve compiled a list of 25 influential leaders who don’t just navigate networks—they create them. These are the people who open doors, broker deals, and connect Geelong to opportunity, whether it’s across town, across the country, or on the global stage.
Clare Amies
Clare Amies must have built up a solid contact book during her time serving for a broad range of organisations such as WorkSafe, the Justice Department, Bushfire Recovery Victoria, Western Region Health Centre, and Barwon Health.
She has been the CEO of Geelong-based genU – one of the state’s major disability service providers – since 2020.
GenU employs more than 5000 people nationally and has generated revenue of $345m in 2023/24.
The organisation has faced its fair share of internal turmoil due to workplace culture concerns and some financial losses.
However, given the sheer size of the organisation and Ms Amies’ extensive network, she deserves a spot on the list of the region’s top 25 connectors.
Nat Anson
Nat Anson is playing a key role in planning for the growth of the Geelong region.
The Urbis director is chair of G21’s economic development pillar and up until recently was the chair of the Property Council’s local branch.
A previous role at the City of Greater Geelong saw him lead the delivery of the largest master planning project ever undertaken in regional Victoria: the Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas Framework Plan.
Nigel Austin
The Cotton On empire founded by Nigel Austin has very much kept its roots in Geelong.
With its global headquarters in North Geelong, the company has become one of the region’s major employers and, in turn, Mr Austin one of Australia’s wealthiest people.
With stores in 18 countries across several brands, Cotton On could make a case of being one of the biggest connectors of Geelong to the rest of the world.
Notoriously publicity shy, Mr Austin has used his wealth to build a huge property portfolio.
Rebecca Bartel
As executive director of strategic relationships at Deakin University, Rebecca Bartel’s job is to connect people and organisations.
In her role she has helped facility cross-university collaboration and elevated the profile of Deakin’s research.
She also plays a key role in shaping the focus of the Committee of Geelong, where she has been deputy chair since 2022.
Jennifer Conley
Jennifer Conley is the chief executive of the Geelong Manufacturing Council and helps advocate for some of the region’s biggest operators.
She was the founding chief executive and remains a director of the Advanced Fibre Cluster Geelong.
Over the past decade, she has shaped and driven the manufacturing sector, bringing employment and industry to Geelong.
Frances Diver
As chief executive of the biggest employer in the region, when Frances Diver talks, people listen.
Barwon Health boss since 2019, her role is a complex one that involves overseeing an organisation that has almost 9000 staff in a sector where there is always a fight for more funding.
Ms Diver has the ear of politicians and powerbrokers across the board.
Peter Dorling
Peter Dorling has his hands in many pies.
Business development manager at Avalon Airport, a member on the Barwon South-West Regional Development Committee, a member of the Victorian government’s Barwon Regional Partnership, and a 13th Beach Golf Links director.
Additionally, he has a long history of helping out the state government when things go pear-shaped at City Hall.
His most recent report on Geelong council has yet to be released by the state government, the contents of which will be used by Local Government Minister Nick Staikos to determine whether monitors need to return.
Cadel Evans
Australia’s only Tour de France winner, Cadel Evans is now a Barwon Heads resident who helps bring international sport to the region with the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
The event sees elite athletes from across the world come to Geelong, with both the men’s and women’s races featuring on UCI World Tour calendars.
As the race grows in stature, so too do the benefits to the wider region.
Mr Evans is an advocate for gender equality in sport and promotes health through cycling.
Keith Fagg
Former mayor and long-time businessman Keith Fagg remains one of Geelong’s most respected and well connected identities.
He has been director of Fagg Bros, which owns nine Mitre 10 stores across the region, for more than four decades.
His time on council and within the business community regularly sees him sought out for advice on how to handle a multitude of issues.
Matthew Fletcher
Big four consultancy firm KPMG has worked hard in recent years to establish itself in Geelong and Matthew Fletcher has been a major part of that.
He was the first employee in KPMG’s Geelong office and has since written a study of business growth in the region, the Geelong Economic Blueprint.
Mr Fletcher recently announced he would be moving from KPMG’s client growth and markets team to its enterprise advisory division.
“I’m still going to be Geelong-based and focused, I’m still passionate about how we grow our city and businesses,” he said.
Justin Giddings
Justin Giddings leads an organisation that has connection at its heart.
The AMDA Foundation promotes the development of manufacturing in aviation and defence, among other fields.
Central to this is the Avalon Airshow, which brings aviation and defence companies from across the globe to our region, helping bring industry to Geelong.
In his prior life as chief executive of Avalon Airport he brought international travel to the airport, with daily flights to Kuala Lumpur.
Sarah Henderson
Sarah Henderson is the most senior Liberal Party figure in Geelong and one who advocates passionately in parliament for investment in the region.
As the Opposition’s education spokeswoman, her role now has more of a national focus, something that would be elevated further should the Coalition be returned to power this year.
Regardless, the hardworking senator continues to play a pivotal role in connecting constituents to services, and industry to investment opportunities.
Ashley Heslop
In addition to his job as an information technology business partner at Barwon Water, Ashley Heslop is a member of other key committees.
These include the Geelong Chamber of Commerce and Geelong Young Professionals.
But it is his role at Barwon Water that he describes as the highlight of his career thus far.
“Leading significant projects aligned with our strategic goals has allowed me to leverage my diverse background and skills to drive meaningful change and innovation,” he said.
Steve Hocking
You cannot talk about the Geelong Football Club without mentioning Steve Hocking.
Following a decade-long career playing for the Cats, Mr Hocking worked in management roles throughout the club before becoming the AFL’s general manager of football operations.
He became the Cats’ chief executive in 2021, a job that sees him connect the club to a large number of organisations and groups.
Given the Cats continue to receive considerable funding boosts from Canberra, it seems Hocking’s connections are paying off.
Michael Johnston
As the chief executive of the Committee for Geelong Michael Johnston is central to the strategic leadership of Geelong.
With the G21 regional leaders, Mr Johnston recently launched a list of three priorities ahead of the federal election.
These priorities – housing, Avalon employment precinct, and water security – all look to bolster the connectivity of the region.
He is also on the board of organisations including the Barwon Region Partnership and the Geelong Football Club Corporate Governance Committee.
Stretch Kontelj
Geelong’s new mayor has positioned himself as a pro-business force in the city.
Stretch Kontelj has organised events such as the Geelong Small Business Festival and the upcoming Developer’s Forum to bring together business owners from across the region to connect, collaborate and grow together.
He is promoting big projects to connect the city, including extending the Geelong Ring Road to link to the Bellarine.
Mr Kontelj has positioned the council to play an important advocacy role in attracting investment to the region and connecting local businesses.
Richard Marles
One of the most senior members of the Albanese Labor Government is our Corio representative Richard Marles.
As the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister juggles double duty while also maintaining his connections with locals in his electorate.
Mr Marles has helped promote Geelong’s growing defence industry which has seen Korean giant Hanwha set up near Avalon, returning vehicle manufacturing to the region.
Iain Martin
Deakin’s role within the region cannot be understated and as vice chancellor, Iain Martin is at the forefront of connecting the educational institution with private industry.
Since his appointment in 2019, Deakin has established an international campus in India, seen an increase in research income and founded the Damion Drapac Centre to advance socially inclusive medical education.
The university has increased its focus on commercialising research and the expansion of its Waterfront campus means greater investment and more students in the city, which provides flow on benefits to a range of other businesses.
Bill Mithen
Bill Mithen is the chair of Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine. In his position he is central to promoting one of our regions key industries.
Tourism and the visitor economy is one of Geelong’s great connectors, bringing an economic output of $2.2bn and more than 11,000 jobs.
As the chair since 2022 Mr Mithen helped the region recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He recently launched Neighbourhood Economics as its co-chief executive, a consulting firm with a mission of “sustained community prosperity” achieved by “utilising local assets to create businesses, jobs, and potential new industries”.
Mark Neeld
As the chief executive of Geelong United Basketball Mark Neeld has been instrumental in growing the profile of basketball in Geelong.
With more than 10,000 players across 11 competitions, basketball is one of the biggest participant sports in the region, and it is supported by Neeld’s organisation – the largest regional basketball association in Australia.
In his term Neeld has overseen Geelong United being awarded a license to enter the Women’s National Basketball League, raising the profile of female athletes across the region.
Neeld is also a director with the Geelong Chamber of Commerce where he has helped connect and support businesses in the Geelong community.
Aamir Qutub
Once a Deakin grad in information management, now the chief executive of a multinational digital firm.
Aamir Qutub founded Enterprise Monkey in Geelong in 2014, and built it into a digital agency creating custom software, apps, AI and data analytics.
At just 25 he became the General Manager of ICT Geelong, and has worked to promote entrepreneurship throughout the Geelong region.
Lyndsay Sharp
Lyndsay Sharp is a director on the board of the Geelong Cats and one of the regions most successful business leaders.
Ms Sharp is the co-owner and director of the Sharp Group, and agency that works with venues across the peninsula including Jack Rabbit Vineyard and Curlewis Golf Club.
At the time of her appointment the Cats’ then-president Craig Drummond notes that Ms Sharp is a “strong supporter of the greater Geelong region” with contemporary business acumen and knowledge.
She is integral to the football team that brings joy, connection and inspiration to many throughout Geelong.
Diana Taylor
A pioneer in more ways than one, Diana Taylor was the first female vice president of the Geelong Football Club, she is the director of Diana Taylor Legal Consulting, and chair of the Geelong Authority, which advises the state Planning Minister.
Her work has seen her engage in community-building across Geelong and the country, while her trailblazing experience in the AFL has helped set a higher standard for female representation in elite sport.
Ali Wastie
The attention is often on the mayor or the councillors, but behind the scenes much of what happens in local government goes through the chief executive.
Headhunted from the Bass Coast Shire Council, Ali Wastie became the chief executive of Greater Geelong in August 2023, leading one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.
Also a board chair with the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds and Alpine Resorts Victoria, she is one of Victoria’s best connected council chief executives.
Brett Winter
GeelongPort is the gateway to a connected future for Geelong, and chief executive Brett Winter is the man behind it.
With plans to lead Australia’s renewable future with an offshore wind terminal the port is at the forefront of an emerging technology.
The port has access to road, rail, air, and water connections making it a centre for logistics and transport in the region.
Mr Winter oversees the port’s strategy and development, and also serves as an independent director on the G21 Region Alliance working collaboratively to shape Geelong’s future.
Originally published as Future Geelong 2025: Geelong’s top 25 connectors
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