Lisa Ryan is our NSW President/Director

Lisa Ryan has 12 years of experience as an office professional. She currently works for Arup, an international consulting engineering firm, as an Executive Assistant, however, she has held a number of roles including Filing Clerk, Administration Assistant, Administration Supervisor and Personal Assistant.

Lisa joined AIOP in 2006 as a means of meeting other office professionals and enhancing her career development. Shortly after joining she embarked on the pathways program with Charles Sturt University and in 2007 completed the Certificate of Business also receiving the Dean's Award for Excellence upon completion.

Lisa joined the Committee of Management after being shortlisted as a finalist for the 2008 Office Professional of the Year Award. She is looking forward to the challenges of being the NSW Division President and continuing to promote AIOP.

Contact Lisa to find out more about AIOP.

 Fina Nainoca is our Membership Officer

Fina Nainoca, originally from Melbourne, moved to Sydney approximately eight years ago where she has built upon her skills base in various roles including PA, Data Entry/Administration Officer, Office Manager, OH&S Officer and is now the Executive Assistant to the Branch Manager for the Application Development Branch (DEEWR). Within her second year as an EA in the Public Sector, she was nominated for the "Expand Public Sector EA/PA of the Year - 2007 Awards".

Fina has been on the Committee now for three years holding the role of Membership Officer. She joined AIOP in 2006 with the purpose of gaining professional development, and having the opportunity to connect with others that she could learn from.

Fina thrives on learning and is passionate about being an EA. When not working, she enjoys travelling, volleyball, dancing, watching sports, reading and socialising.

Contact Fina to find out why she joined AIOP.

 Tara Keogh is our Finance Officer

Originally from London England, Tara moved to Australia in 2006. She is now the Senior Business Assistant with the Infrastructure and Rail groups at Arup, an international consulting engineering firm. Tara learnt more about AIOP with her colleagues and started attending PDE's as a means of furthering her professional development through networking with other Office Professionals.

Tara has recently joined the committee after helping with the organisation of the AIOP Gala Breakfast 2009.

 Ruth Nissim is our Education Officer

Ruth Nissim worked at Ramsay Health Care and when her boss retired, decided to leave the company after 23 years, and took the opportunity for a 10 month sabbatical. In February 2009 Ruth completed her Diploma of Business with the Australian Institute of Management and became aware of AIOP through her studies. Ruth joined AIOP in December 2008, and soon after was asked to join the Committee of Management and currently holds the position of Education Officer.

Ruth returned to the workforce in a temporary role in May 2009 and will be venturing into a new career path early in 2010, while still continuing her involvement with AIOP.

She is also President of Maccabi NSW, a sporting organisation which has 21 affiliated sporting clubs with a community of almost 3,000 members. Her other passions include travel and worthy causes.

 Menchie Youla is our Marketing Officer

Menchie Youla is the immediate past president and member of the National Board serving AIOP between 2006 and 2009. She was recently elected to the role Marketing & Promotions Officer for 2009/10, and will draw upon her network of professional associates to continue raising the profile of AIOP and promoting knowledge sharing between the Committee of Management, sponsors and supporters, participating in self-development events and contributing to the education of the career-minded office professionals.

Menchie has been a member since 1993, is a Fellow and a Finalist in the 2008 AIOP National Awards for Excellence. The creative talents and commitment of the Committee of Management have earned her and the Division the National Recruitment Award Plaque for two consecutive years during her tenure as President. Menchie's vision to expand the Division's membership in the ACT is well underway and the formal establishment of the Canberra Branch is close to fruition.

Menchie has worked at senior executive management level over the last 30 years in Australia and is currently Executive PA/Office Manager at Investors Mutual Limited where she supervises two administrative assistants.

Menchie Youla is from the Philippines and has graduated from the University of the East with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration majoring in Marketing. Her outside interests are good food and wine, music, travel, entertaining new and old friends, yoga for fitness and pleasure.

Michelle Saffrett is our Operations Officer

Michelle Saffrett has spent the past 14 years working for Arup, a world-wide consulting engineering firm. In her current role she is the Business Assistant for the Planning and Sustainability Groups. Michelle started attending AIOP Professional Development Evenings (PDE's) as a way of furthering her professional development through networking and learning from other Office Professionals. She joined the committee as Operations Officer in early 2009 and has enjoyed the challenges to date and is looking forward to further developing in this role and on the continued opportunities that AIOP provides.

Michelle believes that to learn is to flourish and is dedicated and proud to be able to assist AIOP in delivering educational and informative PDE's to its members. In her spare time Michelle enjoys, reading, netball, music and spending time with family and friends.

Contact Michelle to find out why she joined AIOP.

 Althea Zinn is a Committee Member

Althea Zinn is an Executive Assistant with the Fair Work Ombudsman, a new organisation in the public sector. After completing a Business Administration course and starting her career as an administrator with Gordon & Gotch, she has held EA positions with companies such as Legal & General, Bankers Trust, Bank of America and IBM.

In 2005, after having attended a Professional Development Evening and the AIOP 45th Year (Sapphire) celebration and witnessing the enthusiasm, friendship and dedication shown by the Committee of Management, Althea decided to become an AIOP member. She too was inspired to contribute and to further acquire and expand her professional skills.

As a member of the Institute, Althea is continuing to promote, network and develop AIOP's diverse membership base through assisting with the annual breakfast, PDEs and charity. In her spare time Althea enjoys the fun, excitement and challenges of surfing, scuba diving and hiking.

 Stacey Alexander is a Committee Member

Stacey Alexander is an Executive Assistant to a General Manager. She has worked as a personal assistant for three years and has been a member of AIOP since 2008. Stacey was also named as AIOP NSWs 2009 Young Office Professional of the Year at the Gala Breakfast in May.

Stacey is excited to be able to represent AIOP as an ambassador and become involved in supporting their activities and other members. She has set herself a goal to engage in public speaking opportunities and as an ambassador of AIOP is committed to this. Most of all though, she is looking forward to meeting AIOP members and promoting AIOP and the awards. 

 Marjie Tangonan is a Committee Member

Marjie Tangonan currently works for the NSW Department of Transport. She has been a member of AIOP for a number of years and has also previously served on the Committee Management. Marjie made the decision to serve on the Committee again after discovering how much she enjoyed being part of the 2009 Breakfast Committee. She plans to pursue a more involved role in this year's events, using her creative side for invitations and advertising for the Breakfast.

 Natalie Dawes is a Committee Member

Natalie Dawes works as an Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer of Leighton Holdings Limited, Australia's largest project development and contracting group. She joined AIOP in 2009 to further her career development and to meet other office professionals.

Natalie joined the AIOP committee after being shortlisted as a finalist for the 2009 AIOP Young Office Professional of the Year Award. In her spare time Natalie enjoys growing Bonsais, snow and water skiing, boating and watching motor sports.

 Christina Tonous is a Committee Member

Christine Tonous has worked as an Office Professional for the past 14 years - eight of those with Automotive Data Services Pty Ltd. During her tenure at ADS, she held numerous positions ranging from Administrative Assistant/PA to the Director, Promotions Supervisor to Advertising and Promotions Manager. She has also spent time working at various educational institutions in an administrative capacity.

Christine is currently working in a support role for Leica Microsystems Pty Ltd, assisting and supporting their busy sales team with their administrative and marketing requirements. Christine says she enjoys dealing with various challenges that they bring to her on a daily basis.

A holder of a Business qualification from Charles Sturt University, Christine also holds various other qualifications in marketing, administration and TESOL, and in her spare time tutors English to students from diverse backgrounds. Over the past few years, Christine has also been involved with numerous not-for-profit organizations and charities of which she dedicates her time as a volunteer.

A former Education Officer on the Committee of Management (2007-2008), Christine now rejoins the Committee as a General Member in 2009.

Bee Bee Koh is a Committee Member