This month’s Seaboard Sundowner, the Australian Chamber of Commerce (AustCham) networking evening was held at the Pullman Pattaya Aisawan at their Beach Bar and Poolside venue, overlooking both one of their pools and the Wong Amat Beach itself. This huge complex had some of the members walking aimlessly around, but eventually everyone found the indoors venue. Next time, some signs perhaps?
These networking events, as promoted by AustCham, run from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and are undoubtedly good value, and there were no complaints from any who attended this function. Making sure it all happened were the AustCham ESB representatives, Paul Wilkinson from the dynamic CEA projects group, plus Paul Whyte (Refrigerated Truck Bodies).
Paul Wilkinson, operations manager for CEA, shares a drink with Ben Mitchell from Off Road Accessories.
The newly installed GM of our local Pullman, the very affable Clinton Lovell, was very happy to welcome the chamber members to the event, though he had to leave early to be present at the Miss Almost Wearing Nothing Bikini contest at one of the pools.
Mention must be made of the very high standard of food presented by the Pullman Pattaya Aisawan. Excellent and plenty of it, including even a choice of several cheeses. Women with a Mission was represented by Bronwyn Carey and Roseanne Diamente, who were obviously very settled near the cheese platter too. They were promoting their charity golf tournament to be played on October 21 ([email protected]).
John Anderson (Meinhardt), the president of the AustCham, spoke to the members and guests about the direction in which the chamber was headed, with the emphasis obviously being towards business and industry (as chambers of commerce should be).
David Bell, AustCham director shares a laugh with Michael Diamente, managing director of Dana Spicer and his wife Rosanne from Women With A Mission, alongside Paul Wilkinson, operations manager for CEA projects.
Also addressing the meeting was David Bell from Crestcom, Trainers to the World! David spoke to Pattaya Mail TV on the Jock and Doc show, revealing a most interesting past history in the field of advertising, rising from being a copywriter to a managing director, and now a trainer of leaders.
Now a regular at these events was Kerry Matisin and Sri (Allied Pickfords), and across the table from them was another of the movers, Tom Chalermkarnchana (Sealite Shipping), whilst weighing up the action and ogling the Very Small Bikini contest was Scale Technology’s Ian Sherratt (whose lovely 87 year old Mum had allowed him out alone for the evening). Michael Ganster, the GM of the dusitD2, was another of the regular attendees as was John Hamilton (Waste Management Siam) and Mark Bowling (Colliers).
Some lovely ladies bolstered the numbers at the networking, namely Anongrat (Som) Corness, director of Siam Country Club Beauty Supplies; Karatnoot Juntree, PR and marketing manager at JW Marriott Khao Lak; and Sumalee Songnikhom, key account coordinator at Geodis Wilson. Looking after them is Michael Diamente, managing director of Dana Spicer Thailand Ltd.; Damien Kerneis, key account manager at Geodis Wilson; and Tom Chalermkarnchana from Sealite Shipping Co., Ltd.
As always at these events, the Thai ladies were sporting their finery and could be seen photographing each other for posterity. Jimlim Juntree (JW Marriott Khao Lak) and Som Corness (Siam Country Club Beauty Supplies) were just two of these, and one, Thanya Totharong (Arise Asia) even won the draw for a bottle of good Australian wine, with the wine sponsor being the Bangkok Wine Company.
Queries re membership of AustCham or forthcoming events should be directed to [email protected] or check the web site regularly: www.austchamthailand.com.
Simon Carey from Woman With A Mission chats to AustCham president John Anderson, who is also the director of Meinhardt Thailand.
Michael Diamente, managing director of Dana Spicer Thailand Ltd., chats to his wife’s colleague at Women With a Mission, Simon Carey.
Garry Irvin, from Resource Link Recruitment and the MD of Arise Asia Thanyamai Totharong, poses with Kris Perkins and Andre Geertsma from Zi-Argus Industrial Automation.
Paul Wilkinson, operations manager of CEA chats to the new GM of the Pullman Pattaya Aisawan, Clinton Lovell, along with Off Road Accessories specialist Ben Mitchell and Andy Hall, who is the director of CEA projects.
Dieter & Doniela Gamper from the Metropolitan Golden Hotel talks to friend Michael Ganster from the dusit d2.
Tom Chalermkarnchana, from Sealite Shipping Co., Ltd., exchanges stories with Sornsri Jamtarak from Allied Pickfords; Sumalee Songnikhom, the key account coordinator at Geodis Wilson, and Damien Kerneis, key account manager at Geodis Wilson.
Paul Whyte, New Asia Pacific; Paul Wilkinson, operations manager CEA projects; AustCham President John Anderson; David Bell, AustCham director; Paul Strachan (PMTV), and Dr. Iain Corness are welcomed by the general manager of the Pullman Pattaya Aisawan Clinton Lovell.
