New chief for FCAI

THE Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has appointed Ian Chalmers as chief executive, following a three-month search after Andrew McKellar resigned to take up a similar role with the Australian Automobile Association.

Mr Chalmers will officially start his new role next Monday, September 19, taking over from Steve Payne, who has served as acting CEO since Mr McKellar’s departure.

Most recently serving on the board as a non-executive director of the ACT Asthma Foundation, Mr Chalmers has held a number of high-level senior management positions over the past two decades at a range of corporate and government organisations, including chief executive of Medicines Australia (2006-09), the Australian Local Government Association (2001-06), the Australian Private Hospitals Association (1995-2000) and the Association of Financial Advisers (1990-1994).

He was also a non-executive director of medical diagnostic company Fermiscan Holdings Limited from September 2009 to August this year, had a brief stint as a consultant during 2010 for the National Health and Medical Research Council, and earlier in his career was a federal policy and research adviser (1994-95), a government relations consultant (1998-90) and an officer with the Australian Army (1977-88).

He is a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New South Wales.

In a statement, Mr Chalmers said he was “particularly looking forward to continuing the chamber’s constructive relationship with government”.

“With many challenges facing the automotive sector in this country, it is important we continue to work with our members and government, ensuring the sector remains viable and the manufacturing base robust,” he said.