Rohini Kappadath

About Rohini Kappadath 

 

Rohini Kappadath brings over 30 years experience as a pioneer, corporate entrepreneur and advisor in sectors such as Information Technology, Management Consulting and Professional Services.  She is the Victorian Winner of the 2015 Telstra Business Women's Award in the Corporate and Private category.   As the former Chair of the Multicultural Ministerial Business Advisory Council, appointed by the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, the Hon. Philip Dalidakis, she lead a transformative agenda to showcase Victoria's ethnic diaspora advantage - and their special role in lifting Victoria's trade and investment links with the region.    

 

Kappadath has built an international career working with organisations in Australia, India, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand and North America across diverse industries, particularly Information Technology.

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An Information Technology veteran and Woman in STEM, Kappadath first worked as a Mainframe Computer Operator at the Toyota-owned York Motors Data Centre in the late eighties.  She subsequently built a 13 year senior executive career with SAS Institute's Australian subsidiary. SAS is a global multi-national in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, the world's largest privately held software company.  In 1996, Rohini established SAS Institute's subsidiary in India as its Managing Director following a 10 year growing career as SAS Institute Australia, based in Sydney.  

 

Rohini has since facilitated a number of cross-border collaborations, joint ventures, distributor arrangements, new market entry strategies and other related activities in her own International Consulting business, Oyster, first established in 2002. 

 

Kappadath was previously, Pitcher Partner's Director, Cross-Border Business, where she led the development of a growing cross-border advisory business within Pitcher Partners.  She has been a national advocate for Australia's engagement with the Asian region.

 

As the Director-General for Indian Institute of Directors (IOD) in Australia, Rohini plays an active role in promoting trade and investment in the Australia-India corridor.  

 

She is a regular commentator on TV and mainstream news media. 

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Board Memberships, Qualifications and Honours 

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• Bachelor of Arts (Education) (Calcutta University)

• Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University of Technology)

• Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors

• Director-General for Indian Institute of Directors (IOD) in Australia

• Member, India Advisory Group (FICCI) 

• Former Chair, Multicultural Business Ministerial Advisory Council, Victorian Government 

• Board member, Inner Metropolitan Partnership, Victorian Government

• Board Member, International Womens Federation of Commerce & Industry 

• Board Member, Swinburne Innovation Precinct 

• Board Member, Free to Feed 

• Advisory Board Member, Commonwealth Bank Diversity Council