Helen Petaia
Helen is a small business strategist and advocate for Taxpayer fairness. She explains that in her career in business she has been thrown many curve balls. She says “Adversity either destroys you or develops your resilience. Australia is a wonderful country, not perfect in all ways but we do lead a privileged existence.” Her passion is for small and medium businesses to be innovative and succeed. What’s necessary is a fair playing field, supported by a professional, world’s best practice, tax compliance and administration process. Helen’s vision for the next generation is a fair Tax system to enable enterprises to flourish, create jobs and if they want, take on the world.
Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy is a senior social science academic with an extensive background in academic research and management and has taught in political science and communications disciplines. Mid-career, he joined a prominent IT start-up company in editorial and analytic roles. His recent work has looked at the growth of the self-employed sector and the implications of this for public policy. He has been President of SEA since November 2018. He resigned from the Board in June 2020.
The Hon Norman Lacy
Former Minister for Educational Services and the Arts, Government of Victoria and former Executive Director ITCRA
Norman Lacy was President of ICA from November 2008 until October 2018 and a board member from the founding of ICA in 2000. He has been an independent contractor since 1991.
Norman has been involved in management (corporate and government) for the past 20 years. From 2000 until March 2009, Norman was the founding Executive Director of the Information Technology Contract & Recruitment Association. From 1998 to 2000, he was Managing Director of the Swish Group Limited, one of the early Internet professional service providers in Australia. Prior to this, he provided management services to a range of organisations including the Australian Computer Society, ACIL Australia and Monash Mt Eliza Business School.
In 1991, he established the China Australia Management Centre in Beijing on behalf of the Australian Government through AusAID. Previously, he had been Director of International Programs at the Australian Management College and Manager, Corporate Communication at IBIS – Deloitte, Haskins and Sells. During the early 1980s, he was the Minister of Educational Services and Minister for the Arts in Victoria.
He holds a M.Sc in Management from Durham University Business School and a B.A (Hons.) from Monash University.
Norman retired as SEA President in October 2018. He was awarded Honorary Life Membership of Self-Employed Australia at the 2018 Annual General Meeting. A dinner in his honour was held in December 2018.
Marie-Louise MacDonald (GM, Southern Cross Care WA).
Marie-Louise has had a diverse career, starting out in nursing in the early 1970s. She has held both State and Federal government positions in operational management, policy development and advisory roles.
In the private sector, she has worked at Executive management level for national and multi-national companies in Australia and overseas and has also held University posts within Business and Research schools. Since returning to Australia in 2001, she has worked in WA for private-for-profit companies at General Manager and Chief Executive Director level.
Her career has been enhanced through formal studies which include a Bachelor of Applied Science, Graduate Diploma in Public Policy Analysis, Masters of Business Administration and is currently working on her business Doctorate in the area of independent contracting. In 2008, her contributions were recognised through her inclusion in the WA Who’s Who.
Michael Kelson (B. Comm., Dip. Ed., F.C.S.A., F.T.I.A, F.T.M.A, F.A.I.C.D, A.F.A.I.M, F.N.I.A, M.I.T.P.A, A.I.C.E.A) is a former President of ICA. He is a qualified accountant and registered Tax Agent with over 40 years’ professional practical experience in accounting, taxation and business consulting to small businesses.
Michael commenced his working life as Headmaster of Taylor’s School of Commerce. Thereafter he established his own practice in accounting and business consulting and subsequently added a financial planning practice.
During his professional years Michael contributed many articles for the Small Business Development Corporation of Victoria, presented the Small Business Course at Prahran TAFE for six years, developed and presented all the ‘financial’ courses for the Australian Institute of Management and from time to time owned a number of small businesses in addition to his practice.
Angela MacRae was President of ICA from July 2005 to April 2007. Angela is an independent contractor who is passionate about the needs and rights of independent contractors. Angela is an economist whose postgraduate studies revolved around tax and superannuation policy. In the lead-up to the tax reforms of 2000, Angela was the tax reform spokesperson and National Tax Director for CPA Australia. Subsequent to the implementation of GST and PAYG, Angela was contracted to the Prime Minister’s Office to assist with resolving GST and BAS problems. Since starting a family, she now describes herself as a ‘work from home consultant’ juggling her duties caring for her toddler with tax writing, policy advising and supplying secretarial services.
Angela succeeded Bob Day as President of Independent Contractors of Australia in July 2005. In October 2005, Angela was appointed to the Prime Minister’s and the Treasurer’s Taskforce on Reducing the Regulatory Burden on Business.
In June 2006, Angela was the subject of an article in The Age newspaper about the benefits of independent contracting.
In April 2007, Angela was appointed as a Commissioner to the Australian Productivity Commission. The appointment meant that Angela had to vacate her position on the ICA board. Angela has made an invaluable contribution to ICA and the cause of independent contractors—particularly in the area of tax. She will be greatly missed at ICA, however her great skill in analysing policy issues and providing clear advice will benefit Australia through her work with the Productivity Commission. We wish her well in her new position.
Bob Day AO
Bob was the foundation President of ICA. His contribution to the Australian community extends far beyond his business interests as one of Australia’s leading home builders. His strong interest in youth unemployment, homelessness, urban planning, federalism and industrial relations is reflected in a wide range of appointments, including National President of the Housing Industry Association, Director of the Centre for Independent Studies and Member of the National Work for the Dole Advisory Committee, to name but a few.
On Australia Day 2003 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the housing industry, to social welfare—particularly housing the homeless—and to the community.
In promoting important policy issues, Bob has produced several publications: Contract Bridge which describes the importance of independent contractors; Home Truths which explains how bad government policy has artificially forced up the price of housing and how this can be fixed.
Bob became Federal Chair of Family First in 2009. He was a elected as a Family First senator for South Australia at the 2013 federal election and took his seat on 1 July 2014.