OUR PEOPLE
Michael Chester
Business Manager
MBA, University of Western Australia
BSc (Biochemistry/ Biotechnology), University of Waterloo
Member, Australian Institute of Management
Upon completing an honours degree in Biochemistry at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, Michael worked in research for a few years before realising that laboratories didn't offer enough interpersonal contact for his liking. A move to Australia in 1994 and completion of an MBA at UWA enabled a career switch into the risk management field.
Michael’s broad-based financial and management skills are the result of his active involvement in the start-up and expansion of a number of new business enterprises in Canada and Australia. Michael has a notable understanding of the overlap between workers’ compensation, human resources and industrial relations. With excellent personal communication skills, Michael is adept at workshop facilitation.
Apart from work commitments, Michael is the current President of the Coeliac Society of Australia. Since being diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2002, Michael has become passionate about raising the level of awareness of coeliac disease amongst doctors and across the wider community in order to increase the rates of diagnosis.
In his spare time, Michael has taken up cycling in order to participate in the 800 km Red Sky Ride through regional WA in March 2008 and beyond, in support of SolarisCare Cancer Support Centres.