Danni Jarrett - Melbourne | Global Victoria

Meet the Melbourne team.

About Danni

Danni has held leadership roles in Invest Victoria for the past seven years shaping its current priorities and initiatives, and having responsibility for identifying and securing investments to achieve sustained economic growth for Victoria.

Danni has worked closely with both global and local companies, industry and professional associations, and education and research organisations – always with a view to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

She takes pride in leading a team of high performing people committed to securing investments that shape Victoria and add value to the lives of Victorians.

Fiona Letos

Executive Director, Trade

Paul Stagg

Director, Trade

Paul is responsible for delivering the Government’s inward and outbound trade missions, delivering sector trade strategies and facilitating market access for Victorian firms, to increase Victoria’s exports.

Paul and his team support and promote Victorian industry excellence internationally including in key sectors such as food and fibre, technology, health and life sciences, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.

Connect with Paul and his team if you would like to learn more about Global Victoria’s trade programs and the support available.

Ema Lawrence

Director, Global Engagement

Ema leads a team of Regional Managers that drive deeper engagement with international markets in partnership with Victoria’s Commissioners and offices globally.

Ema also oversees the Victorian Government's strengthening of international engagement through ministerial travel programs and is a lead and champion of the Global Victoria Women (GVw) initiative.

Before joining Global Victoria, Ema served as a Diplomat at the Australian Embassy in Chile, and held several roles at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra. She has also worked for several years in the Office of the Secretary-General at the United Nations (UN) Secretariat in New York; Australian Mission to the UN in New York and for the Red Cross in France.

Caroline Hartnett

Director, Study Melbourne and International Education

With a career built from a strong foundation at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, extending to work on nationally significant projects in early childhood and then tertiary education, Caroline has worked in policy, advisory and analytic roles with the education sector for over 10 years.

Now having worked for several years in international education, Caroline is passionate about mining datasets for intelligence, ensuring the sector is positioned to maximise future growth by embracing digital technologies, working with stakeholders to capture offshore opportunities, and ensuring international students have an outstanding experience studying in Victoria.

George Di Scala

Deputy Director, International Market Development

George has extensive experience as a trade development manager, with broad practical international experience in program management, trade promotion, investment facilitation, marketing and events management fields.

George and his team are responsible for delivering a variety of Global Victoria’s trade development work and programs. His team identify and investigate emerging industries such as medicinal cannabis and nutraceuticals, and a trade program dedicated to supporting First Nation companies to engage internationally.

Connect with George if you're considering engaging with New Zealand and the Americas export markets, would like to know more about trade development for consumer goods in international markets using global eCommerce platforms, and if you identify as a First Nation people and are considering exporting.

Stuart Bland

Lead Technology, Health and Sports

Stuart is committed to making a difference in assisting Victorian ICT and technology companies to engage internationally to facilitate export outcomes and jobs growth.

He has over 20 years of international trade and industry development experience within government and the private sector, working in Australia and abroad for organisations including ANZ, Bank of Ireland, AusIndustry and Austrade.

Subscribe to our ICT Newsletter and stay informed of upcoming events and initiatives in tech

Matthew Wood

Trade Manager, Defence and Advanced Manufacturing

Matthew has spent five years in his role assisting Victorian defence and advanced manufacturing companies access global opportunities in priority markets.

Reach out to Matthew if you're a Victorian company in defence or advanced manufacturing seeking market advice and planning global export opportunities.

Alex Veale

Lead, Sustainability and Manufacturing

Alex helps Victorian businesses to expand into overseas markets, with a special focus on FinTech and CleanTech exports.

Alex is an experienced trade and business development manager who works with Victorian METS, water management, cleantech and sustainability companies to identify and access opportunities in all global markets.

Alex has led trade activities across Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa, as well as working on major trade events and expos in Victoria. Working with Global Victoria for the past 5 years, Alex was formerly in the aid & development space.

Louise Osborne

Team Lead Food and Fibre Exports

Louise leads food and beverage exports in Victoria on behalf of the State Government, delivering trade facilitation and promotional programs for Victorian businesses around the globe.

For over 25 years Louise has worked for world-class brands and progressive governments in Australia and overseas, across trade, international diplomacy, tourism, marketing and major events.

Before joining Global Victoria, she was the Senior Director of Trade and International Relations for Tasmania, and before her government roles, held senior commercial and marketing roles across major international events, including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Good Food and Wine Shows across Australia.

Elizabeth Moffat

Trade Manager, Beauty, Wellness and Personal Care

Christos Gatsios

Senior Manager Clients and Industry and Coordination

Christos has worked in international business development for the City of Melbourne and as a manager in the UK Civil Service, Department for Business. Christos is half Greek, half Australian, born and raised in the UK with a passion for behavioural economics.

Adrian Persi

Senior Trade Manager - The Americas

Adrian is focused on assisting companies to expand their presence in the US, Canada and Latin America.

During his time at Global Victoria, Adrian has worked in numerous industries such as technology, sports, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), mining and METS, and food across the markets of Southeast Asia, North America, Latin America, China, UK and Japan and South Korea.

Lei Song

Senior Trade Manager, China

With over 20 years' experience in international business development focused on the China market, Lei has led and been involved in a number of key trade events and programs to China.

Lei supports Victorian businesses from the food and fibre, beauty wellness and personal care (BWPC), and health supplement industries to identify business opportunities in China.

Andrew Bester

Senior Trade Manager, New Zealand

Andrew helps Victorian businesses to succeed in New Zealand. He works across a wide range of sectors, including food and fibre, technology, life sciences and sports.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Andrew has a background in Trans-Tasman affairs and economic development, supported by a Masters in International Relations.

Working with Aboriginal businesses is a key priority for Andrew.

Connect with Andrew to learn more about exporting to New Zealand.

Our Regional Managers

Responsible for leading the development, coordination, and implementation of the Victorian Government’s economic and broader engagement across international markets, our Regional Managers can provide you with strategic advice about current and emerging opportunities for Victorian businesses in their regions.