Chair - Ms Christine Gibbs Stewart
New South Wales
Ms Christine Gibbs Stewart is a business and community leader with a 35 year career spanning mining, innovation, industry development, and international business. Ms Gibbs Stewart is the former CEO of Austmine, the leading industry association representing Australia’s Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector. Ms Gibbs Stewart brings deep expertise in international markets, with a strong focus on Latin America, where she has worked extensively across diverse industries. Ms Gibbs Stewart holds board positions with two other organisations and is a former director of the Australia–Latin America Business Council (ALABC).
Ms Mara Bún
Queensland
Company Director and advisor to sustainable finance, climate technology and carbon/nature markets
Co-Founder and Board Director of “The Conversation Brasil”
Ms Mara Bún specialises in sustainable finance and innovation to drive decarbonisation and nature restoration. Following a high-profile executive career across finance, non-profit and R&D sectors, Ms Bún now serves as a Company Director and advisor in civil society, sustainable business and research sectors to drive lasting commercial, social and environmental impact. Throughout her career, Ms Bún has fostered Australia-Brazil collaboration, including at the CSIRO, where she facilitated biofuel R&D with Brazilian R&D agency Embrapa. Ms Bún is a dual Brazilian/Australian citizen.
Mr Ben Poveda-Alfonso
Northern Territory
Senior Policy Officer, Northern Territory Government
Co-Founder, Kindness Shake
Mr Ben Poveda-Alfonso is an award-winning public servant and advocate for youth leadership and multicultural inclusion. He manages the Northern Territory Government’s Office of Youth Affairs, leading policies and programs that empower young people across urban, regional, and remote communities. He has represented his community on national and state forums, including the NT Ministerial Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs. Originally from Colombia, Ben co-founded the international student -led organisation, Kindness Shake, and is the founding president of the Colombian-Australian Association of the NT. A 2024 Australian of the Year Local Hero finalist, he champions stronger Australia–Latin America ties through inclusive, grassroots engagement.
Ms Irma Enriquez Thompson
New South Wales
Artistic Director, Cultural Promoter and Pianist, Music from IberoAmerica in Australia (MIA)
Ms Irma Enriquez is a Mexican-Australian pianist and awarded cultural promoter with over 30 years' experience in the industry. Ms Enriquez has performed across the globe and has been a guest speaker at conferences including Contemporary Latin American Music, International Women’s Day, Women in the Arts, and Hispanic Culture Heritage. Ms Enriquez holds accreditations earned in both Mexico and Germany in Governance, Cultural Diplomacy and International Relations. Ms Enriquez is a Board Director of the Music Teachers Association of NSW and was previously Associate-Professor at the Australian National University’s Centre for Latin American Studies.
Dr Erin Watson
Victoria
Co-founder and Chair, Australia Latam Emerging Leaders Dialogue
Managing Director, Baker & York Public Policy and Strategy
Dr Erin Watson PhD is Managing Director of Baker & York, an international public policy consulting firm where she advises companies, governments, and international organisations on emerging political and economic trends across the Indo-Pacific. Dr Watson is Founder and Chair of the Australia Latam Emerging Leaders Dialogue, Australia's preeminent youth organisation to strengthen relations between the regions. Dr Watson has represented Australia at eight G20 summits, including in Argentina.
Mr Carlos Colina
Victoria
Executive Producer SBS Spanish
Mr Carlos Colina is a seasoned journalist and radio broadcaster. Mr Colina currently serves as the Executive Producer of SBS Spanish, overseeing a diverse range of programs covering news, current affairs, sports, health, community issues, and migration. Mr Colina is renowned for in-depth interviews with high-profile guests, including presidents, government ministers, leading scientists, celebrated artists, and prominent athletes. Mr Colina holds a Master’s Degree in Communication, alongside Diplomas in Radio Broadcasting and War Journalism, reflecting a commitment to excellence and versatility in media.
Ms Sheena Graham
Victoria
Founder and Managing Director, Corporate Indigenous Rights Advisory (CIRA)
Ms Sheena Graham, a Ngadju woman from Western Australia, has more than 20 years of experience in Indigenous Peoples’ human rights. Ms Graham is the Founder and Managing Director for Corporate Indigenous Rights Advisory (CIRA) Pty Ltd, an Indigenous-owned advisory forum specialising in Indigenous Peoples' human rights in the global mining sector. Previously, Ms Graham worked as a senior executive at BHP and as an Australian diplomat with DFAT, including managing Australia’s policy interests at the UN Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly and the OECD.
Ms Graham currently serves on the boards for the Diplomacy Training Program and the Goldfields Aboriginal Business Chamber and is a former Board Director of Amnesty International Australia.
Mr Brett Lovegrove
Queensland
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Global Partnerships, The University of Queensland
Mr Brett Lovegrove is a university-sector executive with nearly 30 years of experience in higher education, sport and commercial roles. As the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Global Partnerships, at the University of Queensland (UQ), he leads the development and delivery of UQ’s Global Strategy, including in the Latin American region, overseeing key institutional partnerships and major international initiatives. His prior senior leadership roles include Executive Director (Global) at the University of Wollongong (UOW) where he led the university’s global strategy portfolio for five years, and Director, Administration and Strategy, at UOW Dubai for four years. He has also held senior leadership positions in commercial operations and sports administration at Macquarie University, as well as leadership roles within the sport sector at the Sydney Olympic Park and Swimming NSW.
Ex-officio Members
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ex Officio - Mr George Mina
Deputy Secretary, Trade and Investment Group
Austrade Ex Officio - Laura Timmins
General Manager, Government and Policy Division
Department of Education Ex Officio - Ms Vanessa Lapthorne
Assistant Secretary, Engagement Branch, International Division