MGAIBA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Employment Lawyer
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Aimee Lyons joined the MGA Employment Law team in July 2021. Aimee is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Before Aimee joined MGA, she worked at a personal injury firm providing support to clients through both the no-fault and common law schemes. She has over 7 years of experience in the retail and service industry, including a position at IGA. Aimee also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Major in Psychology) and is passionate about helping others.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Master Grocers Association of Victoria Limited
- Queensland. Director
Debbie became a director of the Master Grocers Association of Victoria Limited in 2005, as the first elected non-Victorian director. Debbie was instrumental in establishing the MGA as a national organisation for the independent supermarket industry and was President of MGA from 2019 to February 2023. Debbie has 26 years' experience in Independent Supermarkets, owning a number of stores in and around Toowoomba in Queensland. A passionate advocate for small business, Debbie has also served as a director of Australian United Retailers (2003-2015), and as an Advisor to the Queensland Small Business Advisory Committee (2016-2021). Debbie is the current director of DAALT Pty Ltd and A&D Holdings. Debbie was appointed a director of First Super in April 2023.
Job Titles:
- New South Wales. Director. Appointed 24 November 2023
Dimitri has been involved in various roles in the last 30 years in the Food and Grocery, Liquor, Hospitality and Newsagency industries. He operates his family run store on the south coast of NSW (SPAR Sussex Inlet) along with the local Newsagency. He is currently the Deputy Chairman of the SPAR Guild council and has always advocated sustainability for its members to be competitive in any economic climate.
Jeff has been employed in his family-owned supermarket business in Victoria for 18 years. In addition to growing his business, Jeff has been the chairperson of the Victorian IGA State Board for 6 years, and has recently undertaken the role of chairperson of the Victorian IGA Liquor Committee. Jeff is also a director of Cooperative Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd. Jeff is passionate about building a thriving independent network for business owners, community members, and customers.
Grant has extensive background in the retail grocery industry, spanning over three decades through his prior affiliation with Tasmanian Independent Retailers Co-operative Society Limited (TIR). TIR serves as the representative and administrative body for the IGA retailer network and other independent grocery stores in Tasmania. Throughout his tenure at TIR, Grant has occupied various positions, including a directorship from 2007 to 2015, and the role of CEO from 2007 to August 2023. Grant is also a director of Statewide Independent Wholesalers (SIW), the primary wholesaler serving independent grocery retailers in Tasmania, and of the Tasmanian Small Business Council.
Guy Dimitriou joined the MGA Employment Law team in May 2023. Guy is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Guy has worked in multiple areas of law but has predominantly practiced in employment and industrial relations in both advisory and litigious capacities and in commercial litigation more broadly. Guy previously worked as a private practice solicitor advising and representing clients across Australia in various industries. More recently, Guy worked in a government agency providing internal employment law advice and representation. Guy enjoys providing pragmatic and understandable advice to lessen the complexities of the law for his clients.
Job Titles:
- Employment Lawyer
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Jenny Nguyen joined the MGA Employment Law team in July 2021. Jenny is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Jenny has exclusively worked in the area of employment & industrial relations, providing both advisory and litigious support to both employers and employees on various types of employment-related matters. Prior to joining MGA, Jenny worked at an employment law firm advocating for employees located across Australia. She then worked in a mid-sized firm where she provided legal assistance and support to local and international employers across diverse industries.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- President
Lincoln has worked as the Chief Operating Officer of a multi store ownership group, operating independent licensed supermarkets in Victoria and New South Wales, since 2006. The group currently comprises: 10 FoodWorks supermarkets, 12 GO Grocers, 2 IGA supermarkets and 1 Cellarbrations. Lincoln has been working full time in the supermarket industry since 1992, including a 10-year period with Woolworths/Safeway, and in the independent supermarket sector for over 20 years. Lincoln has also been a director of the Victorian State Advisory Committee for Australian United Retailers (AUR/FoodWorks) since 2011.
Martin Stirling commenced with MGA in October 2022 as Head of Legal . Martin has an extensive background in Industrial Relations and Employment Law and a passion for assisting family and privately owned business owners with support and advice to help them comply with legal obligations, grow their businesses and ultimately employ more staff. Martin has worked as a trusted legal and business advisor across many industries in the private, not-for-profit and government sectors. Martin leads a team of professionals who work tirelessly to ensure members have the right skills, knowledge, confidence and strategy to address modern challenges in the workplace.
Job Titles:
- Business Owner from the Parekh Group
- New South Wales. Director
Ripple is a business owner from the Parekh Group, a family-owned business group with supermarkets being their major business. The family owns 8 IGAs and 4 Foodworks stores. Ripple is also a director of the Independent Liquor Group.
Ross was self-employed in the food industry for over 30 years and was a member of the Foodland Retail Advisory Committee for 15 years, a Metcash State Board member for 10 years, and a Metcash National Board member for 4 years. Currently engaged by the Western Australia (WA) Stonefruit Industry to represent stonefruit growers in WA at a government level, Ross is also a director of the Logisitcs and Defence Skills Council, and an active member of the Roleystone Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.
Terry has been the owner and operator of IGA Springfield Lakes for over 10 years, and has over 30 years' expereince in retail. Terry is passionate about championing independent and family-owned businesses, and being ‘community centric', through the work undertaken as part of the IGA brand. Terry believes in strong political and government relationships and continues to advocate for fairer independent retailing conditions to ensure MGA members across the network remain relevant into the future.