Become a Business Mentee

Amol Bhale

Amol is the Co-founder and CEO of Evoltech, a Melbourne-based technology services company he established in 2021. With more than 25 years of experience across financial services, technology and business leadership, he combines expertise gained from working with major banks and global technology firms with the practical realities of building a successful business from the ground up.  

A Glen Eira resident for over 16 years, Amol is passionate about supporting local business owners through mentoring. His approach focuses on listening, asking insightful questions and helping people gain clarity and confidence to make informed decisions for their business. 

Danny Shafar

Danny has been a business mentor for over 10 years now with three local Councils, following a 40-year career in business. His small business experience has covered a wide range of businesses with revenues from $100,000 to $5M.

His overall approach to mentoring is to review each business across four main perspectives: financial health; marketing and sales, operational management and people, culture and compliance. He works with people across different cultures and backgrounds in a supportive and empathetic way.

David Dean

David is an accomplished senior business executive with extensive experience in small business development and operations. David is known for his visionary thinking, market insight, and ability to drive operational and financial performance.

With over 15 years as a mentor, he has guided startups, NFPs, importers, students, and businesses in retail, property, and health services. His mentoring style is flexible and tailored, drawing on collaborative, coaching, facilitative, technical, and role-modelling approaches.

Garry Warren

Garry is an experienced former CEO and owner of a high-tech manufacturing and software company, with a strong track record in building international businesses. He has served as managing director and held extensive board roles at both Director and Chairman levels.

With deep expertise in strategic planning, growth management, and international expansion, he has consistently led and scaled high-performing technology businesses. Known for his straightforward and practical mentoring style, Garry has supported startups, established businesses, employees, students, and athletes.

Grahame Leonard, AM

Grahame is a distinguished Lawyer and Chartered Accountant. He brings decades of experience across law, finance, corporate governance, strategy and business management.

He has held senior executive roles in the steel industry and served as a non-executive director for over 20 years, particularly supporting start-ups. He has contributed to organisations like Transparency International Australia and the Australian Institute of Management.

Recognised nationally, he received the Centenary Medal and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. Grahame’s mentoring style is listening to the mentee, providing them with information and strategies, and guiding them in making good decisions.

Grant Gifford

Grant has owned a range of successful businesses across manufacturing, commercial fishing, and the building industry. For the past 20 years, he has been active in commercial property, focusing on ownership and lease negotiations.

Grant also co-owned Australian Business Relocations, managing corporate relocations involving both transport and logistics. His mentoring style is casual, preferring to let mentee speak and focusing on helping time-poor and financially struggling business owners turn their businesses around.

Hana Shapira

Hana is a business owner, bookkeeper, and BAS agent with a background in software engineering. With experience across finance, tech, and small business, she supports service-based startups in building strong financial systems and literacy.

Her mentoring style is supportive and practical, guiding business owners to find solutions that align with their unique goals. Passionate about giving back, Hana is committed to empowering local entrepreneurs by sharing her knowledge and helping them grow sustainable, successful businesses.

Ivan Grauer

Ivan is an experienced business owner, advisor and mentor with more than 40 years of experience building, leading and growing successful businesses. Having owned multiple businesses, served on industry advisory boards and mentored business owners throughout his career, Ivan is passionate about helping entrepreneurs and business leaders improve performance, profitability and long-term value.

His mentoring style is collaborative, honest and results-driven. He takes time to understand each business owner's goals and challenges before offering practical, tailored advice. Drawing on decades of real-world experience, he helps clients solve problems, make informed decisions and implement strategies that support long-term success.

Kevin Davidson

Kevin, an Electronics and Communications Engineer, successfully led Davidson Measurement, a sensor and calibration business, until its sale to an ASX-listed company in 2006. He later co-owned CGE Golf, a golf tour company.

In 2019, Kevin founded the Centre of Strength and Wellness in Elsternwick, now a growing allied health hub offering physiotherapy, strength training, and other allied health services. He can guide growing businesses through the development of strategic planning and financial management. His mentoring style is supportive and thought provoking.

Louis Klein

Louis bring a commercial degree and over 40 years of business experience in the furniture and appliances sector. This includes growing and exiting a successful furniture franchise and leading a second-generation family business.

Louis also established a highly successful commercial fit-out business, scaling it to be among the top five office furniture businesses in Australia. He has passion for connecting with leaders and understanding their business problems, with his ability to apply his experience.

Megan Spackman

Megan is a senior facilitator with over 30 years of experience delivering sales, leadership, coaching, and customer service training across a wide range of industries in Australia and internationally. She holds a Bachelor of Adult Learning & Development from Monash University.

Megan works effectively with individuals at all levels, from frontline staff to senior executives. Her mentoring style is open, friendly, and encouraging, creating a supportive environment through warmth, compassion, and a sense of humour.

Dr Mervyn Cass

Mervyn is a retired doctor and former GP with over 50 years of experience in medical practice. He built and expanded a general practice in Port Melbourne, which became a significant local employer. He served as an advisor to the Victorian Government on workers’ compensation medical matters and held various board and management roles.

Mervyn was also a Medical Director of Plastic Surgery Centre and Director and advisor to State Government, trade unions , insurers, and employers on medical aspects of workers compensation. For the past five years, he has mentored allied health practitioners, providing professional guidance informed by his extensive clinical and leadership background.

Shai Dagan

Shai is an industrial engineer with a proven track record in boosting productivity, efficiency, and profitability across diverse industries. As a successful business owner, he has owned a few different businesses. The last business Shai had was a thriving food manufacturing company that was acquired by Private Equity in 2017.

His background includes production planning, procurement, sales and marketing, quality assurance, exit strategies and merger and acquisitions. As a mentor, Shai is a good listener who challenges mentees with thought-provoking questions to spark strategic thinking.

Sonya Georgievski

A visionary leader with 30+ years in banking, finance, supply chain, sustainable tech, and most recently running her own business, Sonya challenges norms to drive meaningful outcomes. She has led multimillion-dollar projects and not-for-profit transformations, with a passion for empowering women and advocating for a safe workplace.

Over the past decade, she has mentored emerging leaders and professionals navigating complex environments. Her mentoring style blends powerful questioning, listening, and strategic insight, aiming to equip mentees to move forward on their own terms.

Steven Antunovic

Steven is a multilingual, European-born Australian with diverse experience in cybersecurity threat prevention, business governance, and organisational learning. He has worked across aviation, education, retail, and media, holding roles with Caterpillar, Hitachi, Swinburne, BHI, Recce, Rimoldi and VCCC.

Steven is President of the International Chamber of Commerce, a director and committee member in the aviation and education sectors. Steven is passionate about cybersecurity, business governance, compliance, and workforce development. He brings cultural awareness, strategic insight, and a strong local and international network.

Wendy Robinson

An experienced business owner, consultant, and former CEO, Wendy has led major change initiatives at NAB, ANZ, and IBM. She has founded and managed businesses in retail, women’s fashion manufacturing, and change management consulting. Wendy has mentored professionals, especially women in tech, through career and entrepreneurial transitions.

With deep expertise in mergers, restructures, and transformation, she combines strategic insight with a people-first approach. As a mentor, Wendy is focused on empowering and creating a safe space for reflection and growth, helping individuals gain clarity, confidence, and the tools to achieve their goals.