Our Staff

Meet the AmCham Team

 


 Chief Executive Officer
April Palmerlee

April Palmerlee was appointed CEO of AmCham in 2017 after an international career in government, education, and the corporate sector. American-born, Palmerlee has lived in Sydney since 2003 and is a dual citizen. She is a member of Chief Executive Women and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She received a BS from Georgetown and a Master’s from Columbia. In Australia, she has worked for the University of Sydney’s US Studies Centre, the Lowy Institute for International Policy, the Centre for Independent Studies, and Potomac Partners. In the US, she held the rank of Assistant Secretary at the Department of State with the remit for international women’s issues. Before that, she was a senior executive at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. She has also worked for couturier Oscar de la Renta, financial publisher The Bank Credit Analyst, and not-for-profit The Spanish Institute. She is on the boards of CIS and Georgetown University Australian and New Zealand Centre. She also chairs a scholarship selection committee at the Fulbright Commission.



General Manager - SA
Rasa Buckley

Rasa Buckley joined AmCham in 2019 after 20+ years in Asia. She is based in Adelaide.

A graduate of the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Economics (Asian Studies) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Rasa worked in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia for global media companies including Lucasfilm, CNBC, BBC and TechTV.

An expert in building exposure, promoting brands, creating compelling stories and producing innovative events, Rasa ran her own communications company for clients including Disney, Maker Studios, NBCUniversal and Sony Entertainment Television Networks.

Drawing on her long experience in Asia, Rasa’s role at AmCham supports business objectives by connecting people globally as well as locally and leading them to success.



General Manager - NSW/ACT
Doug Grant

Doug Grant joined AmCham in 2018 after a distinguished career in the finance industry. He is based in Sydney.

With over 20 years’ experience working within the finance industry as a Business Development Manager, broker, consultant and sales and marketing representative, Doug has built a broad network of business clients and referral partner contacts across most industry sectors through his focus on relationship creation, ongoing relationship management and solutions sales.His understanding of sales processes, cycles and mindsets has enabled him to quickly establish and build rapport leading to constructive relationships with all business levels, from administrative staff through to senior executives.

Doug engages actively with current members and continually forms new relationships to grow the membership base of valued AmCham business partnerships.



General Manager - WA
Natalie Meyer

Natalie Meyer joined AmCham in 2021 after working in Australia, China and Chile over the past decade. She is based in Perth. A graduate of the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing, Management) and a Bachelor of Arts (Mandarin, Japanese), Natalie also holds a Master’s (Journalism and Communication) and Diploma (Global Business Journalism) from Tsinghua University. Natalie recently returned from Beijing and has worked in the private, public and non-profit sectors, spanning various roles with Chambers of Commerce in Chile, Taiwan and Australia, the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) in Western Australia, and Deloitte Consulting.



General Manager Government Relations
Amie O'Mahony

Amie O’Mahony joined AmCham in 2013 after a respected career in law. She is based in Sydney.

As General Manager Government Relations, she is responsible for managing all aspects of government affairs, industry and business engagement for the Chamber including acting as Secretariat for AmCham’s numerous policy committees and leading advocacy efforts on trade and investment issues impacting members.

Amie began her career as a lawyer specialising in corporate, litigation and insolvency over 14 years ago. An experienced professional, both in Australia and the UK, she has an extensive background in government relations, strategic thinking, negotiation, business development, project management, and stakeholder relations.

Amie is a member of the National Trade Facilitation Committee.

She has a Bachelor of Law from Queensland University of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie Graduate School of Management.
 


 General Manager - VIC
Tully Smith

Tully Smith joined the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia as General Manager in 2021. Having built his career in Corporate Affairs he is an experienced Company Director and a seasoned executive who has held leadership roles in government, sport and business, including for top ten ASX companies.

Australian born, Tully is a steadfast supporter of the Australian US alliance. With an entrenched belief that the freedoms enjoyed across both our countries today are only possible because of the sacrifice of so many Australians and Americans before us. Tully believes that today the alliance has never been stronger or more important, it is this passion that Tully brings to the role at AmCham.

In 2020 Tully left his role in corporate affairs with Telstra Corporation to embark on an entrepreneurial venture. Not his first rodeo, Tully has been involved in a number of start-ups as a founder, board member and investor.

Success as a strategist has seen Tully twice included as a member of the Ipsos Reputation Council, considered as the definitive list of the worlds most influential communicators. A passionate member of the community, Tully sits on a number of not for profit boards and his work has been recognised with a Prime Minister of Australia’s Award for Service to the Community.

Tully will be based from the Melbourne CBD office located in International Chamber House, in his home state of Victoria. Tully lives in Melbourne’s West, one of the fastest growing communities in Australia, with his partner Agnes and their three adopted dogs.
 

Event Coordinator
Ellie Pringle
 Digital Communications Lead
& Event Coordinator 
Hannah Harding
 Member Engagement &
Administration Lead
Karen Kelly



Special Projects Officer
Josh Edwards
 		Event Coordinator, VIC
Jane Pentland
 National Academy Lead
Evelyn Labrum



Accountant
Michele Merdith
 		Assistant Accountant
Harry Wijesundara
 Event Coordinator, QLD
Nivedita Suresh