Trent Smyth AM
Chief Executive Officer
Trent Smyth served as the Honorary Consul for Malawi for nine years and held the position of Secretary of the Consular Corps Melbourne from 2014 to 2021. He is the founder of the Sports Diplomacy Foundation and a former Director of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. Mr. Smyth holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from the University of Melbourne. In recognition of his contributions to international relations, motorsport, and business, he was awarded the Order of Australia in 2021.
Jeremy Costa
Chief of Staff & Director of Operations
A master’s graduate of international relations at the University of Melbourne, Jeremy is an experienced writer on Australian foreign policy, previously working for international affairs think tanks Asialink and the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA). Jeremy is passionate about connecting people and believes strongly in the power of diplomacy.
Ray O’Malley
Chief Financial Officer
Senior-level finance executive with over 30 years of finance and consultancy experience across a variety of sectors, working both in the UK and abroad. Focuses on CFO positions in early-stage companies, delivering effective support to CEOs, founders, investors and other stakeholders.
Richard Williams
Director of Education
Richard has built his career at the nexus of education, community and technology. An Australian native he was worked for global companies in New York, San Francisco, Accra and London. He has served as the chief of staff at Change.org, Operations Associate at Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Startup Consultant at Harambeans and Senior Instructor Manager at General Assembly.
Gemma Hore
Director of Membership
Gemma is passionate about community building and member engagement. She leverages her background in community engagement to foster meaningful connections and enhance the member experience.
Before her current role, Gemma served as the Community Engagement Manager at CHIEF, a $1.1 billion capital-backed company, where she played a key role in launching the brand in the UK market.
Gemma brings a unique blend of creativity to her work and is dedicated to creating environments where people can connect, share, and grow.
Richard Curno
Director of Enterprise
Richard has over 20 years of experience working with membership organisations, uniting diverse professionals to foster learning, share insights, and drive meaningful change. Before joining the Chief of Staff Association, he held senior roles in both national and international organisations, including as Deputy CEO of the United Nations Association and Director of Network at New Local. Now, as Director of Enterprise at the Chief of Staff Association, Richard leverages his expertise to support the growth and success of Chiefs of Staff worldwide.
Bryce Tozer
Senior Technical Operations Manager
Bryce’s background is in the tech industry, having previously worked at Podium as a Technical Program Manager and Senior Integration Lead. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Monash University in Melbourne.
In addition to his technical acumen, Bryce holds a pilot’s licence, showcasing his diverse skill set and passion for precision. His strategic mindset and multifaceted abilities make him a valuable asset in managing and optimising operations.
Saira Latif
Customer Success Manager
Saira has a diverse background that includes experience in administration, procurement, member services, and event management in both the private and public sectors. She has also worked for a women’s charity, where she played an active role in raising awareness about domestic violence, FGM, and forced marriage. Saira is passionate about interacting with people and enjoys learning about their upcoming projects, organisational strategies, and personal interests. Saira’s curiosity and willingness to learn make her a valuable asset in any team.
Nicholas Langford
Events Manager
After reading Classics at the University of Cambridge, Nicholas worked as a political staffer and civil servant. He managed the office of an Australian parliamentarian before serving as Aide to the Governor of Victoria. Most recently Nicholas was an advisor on trade policy and diplomatic relations, focusing on the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa. He is passionate about the power of networks to support learning across disparate disciplines and cultures.
Hugo Huempel
Operations Associate
In his role, Hugo is involved in day-to-day operations, finance, and marketing, while also serving as a general fixer for the team. With a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, specialising in Corporate Finance and Economics from Monash University in Melbourne.
Before joining the CSA, Hugo worked in the luxury automotive industry, where he gained insights into operations and client relations. Passionate about driving meaningful change, Hugo is dedicated to making a positive impact to the CSA team and the wider CSA community.
Isolde Willats
Learning and Development Associate
Isolde is an Organisational Psychology master’s graduate with a keen interest in unveiling the factors that contribute to a healthy and productive workforce through quantitative and qualitative research. Isolde’s professional background has been centred around providing support to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the education sector. This has included project management, academic programme development, event coordination and DE&I assistance.
Polly Holtby
Financial and Compliance Officer
Polly is a graduate of Manchester University, having studied Chemistry with Industrial Experience. She has worked and volunteered for a variety of organisations, including a US blue chip FMCG company, a UK Management Consultancy firm, a variety of UK, Estonian and Australian charities and an Australian NFP organisation.
Ella Hirten
Learning and Development Associate
Ella is a Global Human Resource Management master’s graduate from Kingston University with a background in education and people-driven organisations. She has experience working in the U.S. public education system in addition to executing the operations behind a community-based education provider. She has a passion for designing impactful learning experiences for all and providing individuals opportunities for growth and development. At the CSA, Ella is excited to offer her experience in education, her interest in people development, and her love for connecting with others from around the world.
Kassem Younes PSM
Strategic Advisor for the Middle East
Awarded the Australian Public Service Medal (2024) for the outstanding service in the areas of foreign investment and trade, Kassem is a highly accomplished professional in global trade and investment facilitation.
Having lived in the United Arab Emirates for over 22 years, Kassem has gained significant expertise in the Middle East and Africa regions. He excels in fostering relationships across B2B, G2G, and B2G sectors, with a focus on building trust, expanding networks, and driving thought leadership.
For more than 18 years, Kassem has spearheaded strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties between Australia and the Middle East and Africa, resulting in substantial growth in bilateral business partnerships and economic development.
Mike Jernigan
Director of Mentorship
Mike has 30 years’ experience as a United States Marine. He has served as interim Chief of Staff for U. S. Forces Japan and as Chief of Staff for Marine Corps Installations East. He currently is the Director of the Mentorship Programme with The Chief of Staff Association.
Mike is passionate about the value productive Chiefs of Staff add to organisations and recognises to be successful, a Chief of Staff must be an effective arbiter of competing priorities, a trusted agent for leaders of all levels in the organisation, and a practitioner of lateral communication in order to understand its value in keeping organisations operating at peak efficiency.
Caroline Scotter Mainprize
Chief Editor
Caroline is a writer, editor, and communications advisor, working mostly for organisations involved in research and education. Clients have included Oxford University Press, Saïd Business School, Bayes Business School, and the international development and publishing organisation CABI. She has edited a number of books, annual reports, and journals, and written practitioner-focused research reports, including Oxford’s The Museum Leaders Report and Understanding Chief Digital Officers.Before freelancing she was responsible for the corporate communications at Oxford University Press. She had previously worked for a London PR consultancy and as a journalist on a business newspaper.
Santiago Perez Tueffer
Mexico City, Mexico
Santiago has an extensive banking career, and after pursuing his graduate studies at Stanford, went back to Mexico to pursue an entrepreneurial career in the energy industry. Santiago has an MS in Energy from the Stanford School of Energy, and an MBA from the Stanford GSB.
Sabrina Roshan
New York, USA
Sabrina Roshan is the Director of the Schmidt Futures Associate Product Manager (APM) program, where she oversees the strategic and operational direction of the team. Prior to Schmidt Futures, she served as the Chief Strategy Officer for Good Machine, a venture studio that ideates impactful innovations and establishes companies to address a wide range of socio-ecological problems.
Sam Tidswell-Norrish
London, United Kingdom
Sam Tidswell-Norrish is part of the founding team at Motive Partners and joined in 2015, where he is a Managing Director on the Investor Relations Team based out of the London office. Sam brings a broad range of financial services experience, from payments and investment banking to government initiatives and industry trade organisations
Elizabeth Jennings
London, United Kingdom
Elizabeth Jennings is a chief of staff and leader with over 15 years global experience working at the intersection of government, corporate, UN, and non-profit global organisations. She specialises in operational and strategic counsel and coordination to leaders and key decision makers.