A Unique Network of Expertise and Experience
Our executives have spent most of their professional careers involved with the region, recognising many years ago the importance and potential of this area of the world. We believe that no other company brings together the same depth of multi-disciplinary expertise and practical business experience.
Our Directors, Advisors, Associates and Staff have varied commercial, technical, business, educational and real life experiences. All have worked in both large and small corporates and are committed to make a difference allowing our clients to change, expand and grow. The academic, business and financial backgrounds of the people assisting you, as well as their life and work experiences are provided as part of our services.
We have an independent 'Talent Pool' of additional recognised business people who add value to our organisation and who contribute further business accumen, contacts and skill sets to our clients.
James Clad - Member, Advisory Board
With a background as a lawyer and diplomat and now a Distinguished Research Fellow at the National Defense University in Washington, James Clad was U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asia Pacific Security Affairs from 2007-09.
Earlier he was Professor of South and Southeast Asian Studies at Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service and, concurrently, Director for Asia-Pacific Energy at Cambridge Energy Research Associates.
He has also held positions at the Far Eastern Economic Review; at St. Antonys College, Oxford; the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Harvards Center for International Affairs. His 1991 book, Business, Money and Power in Southeast Asia (Harper Collins, 1991) critiqued highly leveraged Asian capitalism; a later book, After the Crusade (Madison, 1996), delivered a realist critique of US foreign policy during the 1990s. More recent publications include book chapters analyzing Sino-Indian relations, Chinese influence in Asia, and US-India strategic convergence.
Professor Clad will be focused on providing advice to AFG Venture Group in the area of the Asian energy sector.
Rawdon Dalrymple, AO - Member, Advisory Board
Rawdon Dalrymple graduated with first class honours from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and following a period lecturing at Sydney University, joined Australia's diplomatic service from which he retired in 1994. He was one of the architects of the Asian Development Bank and served on its Board. He spent a total of seven years in Indonesia where he was Australian Ambassador from 1981 to 1985. He was Ambassador to the United States from 1985 to 1989 and his last assignment was as Ambassador to Japan. In addition to various business and governmental appointments Rawdon was a Visiting Professor at the University of Sydney from 1995 to 2002 where he taught courses in International Relations. He recently published a book, Continental Drift: Australia's Search for a Regional Identity (Ashgate Publishing). Rawdon brings to AFG Venture Group his extensive network and insight into major Asian issues.
Ron Davenport - Member, Advisory Board
Ron Davenport has had more than 20 years experience in Canberra working in various Australian Government Departments and with the then Confederation of Australian Industry (CAI), the major employer association. Ron initially spent a number of years with the Departmentof Trade and was involved at a senior level in negotiations of trade policy with the ASEAN Governments. During his time with CAI, he was the Executive Director of the ASEAN Australia Business Council and the bilateral Business Councils with Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. Over the years Ron has built up an impressive network of contacts throughout ASEAN.
Michael Givoni - Member, Advisory Board
Michael is currently Group General Manager for Spotless Group Ltd. The group has a turnover of AU$1.7billion. His principal role is to look at growth options and business priorities for each of the operating divisions within the group. Prior to this Michael ran the Tourism and Leisure group for four years and previous to this he was the inhouse corporate counsel for the group. He has also been a lawyer in private practice.
Harjono Kartohadiprodjo - Member, Advisory Board
S.H. Harjono Kartohadiprodjo is the President Director of the Asean Focus Group’s Indonesian operations. Harjono is a well respected Indonesian businessman with significant experience in shipping and trading. He is also a shareholder in a number of major Indonesian joint ventures including some associated with BHP and ACI from Australia and the international shipping and leisure group P&O. Harjono brings to AFG Venture Group a particular insight into the workings of the Indonesian business community.
Dr Simon Longstaff - Member, Advisory Board
Dr Simon Longstaff is the Executive Director of the St James Ethics Centre. Established in 1989, the Centre is an independent forum, based in Sydney and Melbourne, for the promotion of business and professional ethics. Operating both in Australia and abroad, the Centre provides a neutral, confidential setting in which ethical questions can be raised, ethical problems explored, and ethical dilemmas resolved. One of the Executive Director's roles is to encourage the process of integrating ethical considerations into the strategic thinking of the management community and those who advise and regulate them.
Dr Longstaff was inaugural President of The Australian Association for Professional & Applied Ethics and is a Director of a number of companies. He is a Fellow of the World Economic Forum and a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Foreign Policy Association, based in New York. His first book, Hard Cases, Tough Choices was published in 1997. He is currently preparing a second on the role of conscience. Simon Longstaff is a columnist for The Australian.
Dr Longstaff serves on a number of committees, some of which include:
- Accountants Superannuation Fund Nominees Pty Ltd
- Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA) Ethics Working Party, Chairman
- Professional Standards Council, NSW and WA
- Australian Commercial Disputes Centre Limited: Mediator Accreditation Board, Chairman
- BHP, Global Conduct Committee
- Energy Australia, Ethics Committee
- MLC Life, Code of Conduct Committee, Independent Chairman
- National Professional Engineers Registration Board
