Alison first moved to Europe in 2011 and now lives in Brussels with her husband and two children. As a Water Engineer, she is passionate about the use of satellite data to improve global water and environmental management.

Having lived in several countries Alison understands the challenges that can come with moving country and enjoys meeting others who are living and working abroad.

Fleur Hutchings may have lived 25 years outside Australia, but remains Aussie to the core. After working 10 years as an architect in Sydney, London and Hong Kong, Fleur completed her Masters in World Heritage in Germany. Thanks to her ex-partner’s work with the European Commission, Fleur found herself working as a consultant for various NGOs and UN institutions in the exotic locations of Guyana, Madagascar, Rwanda and finally, Belgium. Having felt extremely lost and lonely at times, Fleur understands only too well how important organisations such as the ANiB are. She reckons her greatest expat achievement is making and keeping in touch with her many international friends and is keen to call on them to spice up future events at the ANiB. She hopes they will think the same.

Rory is a Perth-born sandgroper, who has spent the better part of a decade in Europe. Rory has a doctorate in atmospheric modelling and through a career in fields such as air quality, renewable energy and satellite observation has worked in Australia, France, UK and Belgium. Rory now works as a consultant focusing on international market development for the satellite sector.
Rory enjoys a range of meals, including breakfast, second breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dianne Weller is an Actress, Singer, Voice Actor & Director working in the medium of TV, Film, Radio & Theatre, Commercials, Animations, Narrations and Audiobooks for over 25 years. Dianne also facilitates & coaches in various Universities for Performing Arts and Businesses in Public Speaking & Vocal Prowess for Business. Being a Producer Dianne has had the experience in producing various Theatre spectacles and Events and can bring her expertise in this field to the Australian Network in Brussels Events and was responsible for organising along with Alison Prior and Emma Job the Fire Fund Raiser for this year’s Australia Day 2020.
In Belgium Dianne has worked in the Contemporary Theatre and Art scene with Belgian/American Theatre maker Davis Freeman co-creating and performing in Assassins at Extremis Festival (Toulouse), Vooruit (Gent), Monty (Antwerp).
She directed her own theatre piece For Your Ears Only which Premiered at the Beursschouwburg Brussels, played in Kunstencentrum BUDA and Monty Antwerp. She has a website: dianneweller.com

Born in Hobart to an English father and mother who was born in Belgium, they shortly afterwards moved to the warmer climate in Main Beach on the Gold Coast. John distinctly remembers first high rise going up in Surfers Paradise. A concrete 10 story appartment block with the name of “Kinkabool” finished in 1960 and which seemed incredibly high for a seven year old. In 1972 he moved together with the whole family to Belgium.

John was a founding member of ANiB at its inception in 2018. During the first year he served as Secretary. He continues to work as self-employed Project Manager at Procept.be. Previous positions included:

• Project Manager Very Light Helicopter at Helipark GmbH.
• Development of a 4 cylinder aircraft engine for Light Sport Aircraft.
• Owner manager of a multi functional sports centre in the town of Aalst.
• Realisation of various residential building projects.
• Also has the role of webmaster for ANiB.

Alia Papageorgiou has lived in Belgium on and off since 2008. Born in Melbourne she moved to Europe for studies then was between Europe and Australia for work until she started working as journalist in Melbourne in 2006.
She then moved to Athens which brought her to Brussels working for a newspaper on EU Affairs. Since then she has worked as an English Editor on Eu Project, for an international telco in social media, for the European Commission as Editor. Between 2015 – 2018 she was a press officer in the EU Delegation to Australia in Canberra, later returning to Brussels.
She is also Vice President of the Association of European Journalists in Belgium and a Member of the Board of Press Club Brussels Europe. She lives in Koekelberg with her partner and her Aussie cat Henry. Her FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/alia.papageorgiou

Rafael was a founding member of ANiB. He served as Vice Chair from ANiB’s formation in 2018 until the AGM in April 2019 when he became the Chairman replacing David Demetrius. Rafael held the Chair until the April AGM in 2020.

Rafael is the Director of the Public Sector Broadband Practice in Nokia (previously Alcatel-Lucent and Lucent Technologies).

He is an entrepreneurial-minded professional with over 21 years of experience, focused on business and project management, organizational strategy and operations. More than 16 years have been within the telecommunication industry.

Recently, Rafael founded Concept for Change, a German based Not for Profit organization, focusing on projects to foster positive change and support corporate social responsibility through small community activities and international cross country projects (e.g. a creative art project between Australia and Germany, promoting Australian indigenous art within Europe).

Tematai was a founding member of ANiB at its formation in 2018 when he became Treasurer. Tematai held the position of Treasurer until the AGM in April 2020.

Tematai is currently working as a Project Manager consultant in the Aerospace Industry.

Born in French Polynesia, Tematai has lived in several countries. Before moving to Belgium, he lived several years in Melbourne, Australia where he worked for a Thiess subsidiary and Boeing Aerostructure Australia. He also had the opportunity to follow a Master in Aviation Industry at RMIT University, Melbourne.

Tematai joined the Australian Society sevaral years ago and was instrumental in drawing up the legal documents for our new organisation.

Emma was a founding member of ANiB at its formation in 2018 and a Board member until the April AGM 2020. She held the position of Secretary from the April AGM 2019 until the April AGM of 2020.

Emma is an Australian born research scientist who moved to Belgium in 2014 for her work. In her professional life she loves researching viruses and novel ways to prevent them.

She enjoys meeting people from all walks of life, travelling to experience new cultures and eating delicious new foods !

Dave was a founding member of ANiB and became its first Chair from the organisation’s foundation in 2018 until the April AGM 2019.

Dave, although raised in Australia, first in Perth and then on the East coast, has lived in Belgium for more than half his life. He has had an extensive career in business, setting up and running companies not only in Belgium but globally through his company Emadin.

In parallel with his business career, he has been very active in aiding other companies to establish themselves in Europe, through his voluntary executive roles in committees such as ABIE (Australian Business in Europe) and the IoD (Institute of Director) of which he was Chairman for Continental Europe for seven years. Having had roles as Chairmen of ABIE Belgium and the Australia Society, he was instrumental in bringing about the merger of these two bodies into the current ANiB.

ABIE Belgium was the Belgian Chapter of Australian Business in Europe after which it fused with the Australia Society to form ANiB in 2018.
After leaving University, Chris started working with Pearl & Dean Cinema Advertising, rising through the managerial ranks before moving to Pearl && Dean UK in 1988 as Sales Director. In 1991 he moved within the Group (the French Multinaltional Vivendi) to Mills & Allen Outdoor as Regional Sales Director. He was transferred to Belgium in 1994 as CEO of the Vivendi Groups Interests in Belgium including Belgoposter Outdoor, Claude Publicité and other media companies.After the purchase of the groups outdoor division by JC Decaux in 1999, Chris joined RMB International, a multimedia sales house, as COO responsible for 25 countries. In June 2001 he bought his own outdoor company, Dewez, where he still works employing over 40 people.

Originally from Sandy Bay, in Hobart Tasmania, Chris also played AFL Australian Rules Football with St. Kilda and First Grade cricket with St. Kilda, Sth Melbourne and Manly. He and his Belgian wife have 4 children.

Originally from Townsville North Queensland, Anthony and his French wife Edith have been residents of Brussels since their arrival in 1993. He came to open the Conrad Hotel on Avenue Louise as Banquet Manager and then went on to Director of Supply Chain for Starwood Hotel Brussels. The International business, cultural and lifestyle scene of Brussels, plus Belgium’s central location in Europe have made it an enjoyable place to live and raise a family.

A Graduate in Economics from James Cook University, travel and a career in hotels was more appealing so after various positions in Australia, England, Switzerland and France working with Hilton, Hyatt and Inter Continental, Anthony’s travels led him and the family to Brussels.

A member of ABIE Belgium for many years, Anthony joined the board where he offered assistance in organizing memorable events for promoting Australia and Australian Business in Belgium through his many contacts in the local community. A keen sportsman, Anthony also enjoys travel and cooking.

Dave has been the National Head of Expatriate & Non-resident Services at ING Bank in Belgium since 2000.

His present affinity with expats grew naturally. Dave was born in the US whilst his parents were expats there. Preceding his present post, he took the plunge himself and moved to Tokyo for almost five years in two expatriations with an interruption of 1 year. Living in the East was often challenging but certainly fulfilling as witnessed by his taking on an additional 3.5 year posting in Beijing, also for ING, a few years later.

He now puts his experience in International Mobility, and knowledge of banking and insurance services, at the service of Expats moving to, or living in, Belgium