Team and Industry Expert Group
Founding Team
The founding team of FRETHAN was created as a fission innovation of ChinaDirect Sourcing Pty. Ltd. Founded in August 2005, ChinaDirect Sourcing Pty Ltd is one of Australia’s leading international trade services company which deals with thousands of customers, and holds access to a data base of more than 30,000 high-quality Chinese producers’. In Australia, it has won many award-winning procurement service companies. ChinaDirect Sourcing is the only global service partner of Alibaba in Australia.
ChinaDirect Sourcing has been dealing with all sorts of business over the past 13 years. Providing analysis of demand for international trade, inquiry, price comparison, analysis, matching, proofing, signing, placing orders, paying deposits, documentary, inspection, shipping, customs declaration, Customs clearance, payment of the balance, delivery of goods and other international trade ecology, it has developed industry-wide solutions, accumulated a rich industrial experience.
ChinaDirect Sourcing has been dealing with all sorts of business over the past 13 years. Providing analysis of demand for international trade, inquiry, price comparison, analysis, matching, proofing, signing, placing orders, paying deposits, documentary, inspection, shipping, customs declaration, Customs clearance, payment of the balance, delivery of goods and other international trade ecology, it has developed industry-wide solutions, accumulated a rich industrial experience.
Lindy Chen
The Founder & CEO
The Second Bachelor Degree in Education Management of Tianjin University, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics of Changchun Normal University, and Certificate IV in Enterprise Management, Australian Institute of Technology.
The former founder of ChinaDirect Sourcing Pty. Ltd., the head of the global business of the ChinaDirect Sourcing, the founder of China’s international procurement system. The author of the best-selling book “How to Import from China”, this book is used as an auxiliary textbook for international trade by Queensland University of Technology.
The author of the best-selling book “Doing business in Australia”.
Has assigned by The Queensland Government of Australia as the mentor for the founding and growth of 800 small businesses.
The former founder of ChinaDirect Sourcing Pty. Ltd., the head of the global business of the ChinaDirect Sourcing, the founder of China’s international procurement system. The author of the best-selling book “How to Import from China”, this book is used as an auxiliary textbook for international trade by Queensland University of Technology.
The author of the best-selling book “Doing business in Australia”.
Has assigned by The Queensland Government of Australia as the mentor for the founding and growth of 800 small businesses.
Angela De Palma
Angela De Palma is an entrepreneur who currently offers business accountability coaching through her brand Vision Accountable. She has been in small business for over two decades and maintains a strong passion for leverage and freedom which have driven and continues to drive all of for her entrepreneurial pursuits.
She has run and continues to run many businesses which range from business accountability coaching, social media services, marketing consulting, outsourcing recruitment, IT and web hosting, selling products on Amazon and even teaching vegetarian cooking.
Every business she runs is underpinned by her strong belief in creating leverage through outsourcing to the Philippines wherever possible. She spent many years honing her implementation skills through her company gotooutsoruce.com where she built teams offshore in the Philippines, for herself and other entrepreneurs. Having both high level big picture skills as well as attention to detail, strong communication, written, teaching and implementation skills makes her a perfect asset in any team or coaching scenario.
She has run and continues to run many businesses which range from business accountability coaching, social media services, marketing consulting, outsourcing recruitment, IT and web hosting, selling products on Amazon and even teaching vegetarian cooking.
Every business she runs is underpinned by her strong belief in creating leverage through outsourcing to the Philippines wherever possible. She spent many years honing her implementation skills through her company gotooutsoruce.com where she built teams offshore in the Philippines, for herself and other entrepreneurs. Having both high level big picture skills as well as attention to detail, strong communication, written, teaching and implementation skills makes her a perfect asset in any team or coaching scenario.
Tass Schmidt
Tass has amassed a wealth of commercial expertise through managerial involvement across a diverse range of industries including Telecommunications, Banking, Media, Food Production and Distribution, Major Tourism & Cultural Events, China/Australia Trade, and e-commerce. She is dedicated to constantly expanding her life of learning and pushing into the challenges of both commercialisation and innovation in which she holds considerable skill and experience.
Ever moving forward, she embraces new technologies.
She is passionate about people and maintains extensive networks both in Australia and China where she lived and worked for several years. Prior to living in China, during her years there and since she has been involved in trade of products and services between China, Australia and Europe either as a consultant or a trader in her own right.
One of her primary assets is her interest and ability in building and servicing her relationships.
With a commitment to excellence, a lively curiosity, and drive to get the job done, Tass is dedicated to delivering the highest possible outcomes in all dealings with clients, colleagues and business associates.
Ever moving forward, she embraces new technologies.
She is passionate about people and maintains extensive networks both in Australia and China where she lived and worked for several years. Prior to living in China, during her years there and since she has been involved in trade of products and services between China, Australia and Europe either as a consultant or a trader in her own right.
One of her primary assets is her interest and ability in building and servicing her relationships.
With a commitment to excellence, a lively curiosity, and drive to get the job done, Tass is dedicated to delivering the highest possible outcomes in all dealings with clients, colleagues and business associates.
David Williams
David Williams, P3M3®, PRINCE2®, CSSYB, MCSE, is an internationally recognised and successful Senior Consultant with much experience and a long career providing professional consultancy services in Australia, Asia, UK, EU, New Zealand and Fiji at senior level designing, managing and delivering a range of strategic business programs and projects, business transformations and transitions, roll-outs, integrations and organisational maturity uplifts. He has worked with local and national governments, financial and insurance organisations and for global, international and enterprise level organisations liaising closely with senior business leaders and stakeholders and executive management.
Consulting Team
李波 (Dr. Robert Li)
Director of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Research Center of Shanghai International Community College, Ph.D. in Economics (post), Hong Kong Securities Industry Qualification and holder of Mainland China Securities Qualifications, Distinguished Professor of Hong Kong Business School, BMI (Shanghai) Chief Economist, Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has coached more than 100 companies to list, list and publish more than ten books in Hong Kong and mainland China.
Technical Team
Lionel Thomas
The CTO of ChinaDirect Sourcing (Importing from China) and Director of Vofer (Websites, Leads and Marketing), Lionel gained extensive development and management skills in the Game Industry over a 12 years period; from Web Developer, Web Manager, Game Producer & Studio Manager and Internet development and marketing over a 23 year period.
In addition to PC and Xbox Game releases, a Key achievement was the Development, Promotion and Maintenance of a comprehensive Online Community that is still running today, at 18 years old and approx. 800,000 registered members; in addition to the doubling of sales for 2 years running to increase the turnover to over $1 million.
Lionel now works with businesses to create an online presence that supports their business operation and has more recently moved into Ethereum Solidity development for Smart Contract creation for ICOs.
In addition to PC and Xbox Game releases, a Key achievement was the Development, Promotion and Maintenance of a comprehensive Online Community that is still running today, at 18 years old and approx. 800,000 registered members; in addition to the doubling of sales for 2 years running to increase the turnover to over $1 million.
Lionel now works with businesses to create an online presence that supports their business operation and has more recently moved into Ethereum Solidity development for Smart Contract creation for ICOs.
Graeme Thomas
Graeme have worked in the Information Technology sector for over 40 years filling senior IT Management positions for most of that time. Included are long tenures at some of Australia’s largest companies such as the Energy Division of Boral Limited (now Origin Energy) and Santos Limited. He managed IT Service Delivery and directed corporate IT Infrastructure and software development Projects, as well as providing IT Strategic planning and consulting at Executive Management levels.
His most recent role was as an Executive General Manager (CIO) at Hyne Timber, Australia’s largest privately-owned Timber Company and operator of the largest Mill in the Southern Hemisphere. My primary objective was to transform the IT Division into a dynamic team delivering value-adding services to all areas of the organisation. He also focused on the alignment of IT solutions to business imperatives and the increase in operational efficiencies through the expanded delivery of IT-based tools and solutions as Hyne positioned itself for a potential IPO.
His most recent role was as an Executive General Manager (CIO) at Hyne Timber, Australia’s largest privately-owned Timber Company and operator of the largest Mill in the Southern Hemisphere. My primary objective was to transform the IT Division into a dynamic team delivering value-adding services to all areas of the organisation. He also focused on the alignment of IT solutions to business imperatives and the increase in operational efficiencies through the expanded delivery of IT-based tools and solutions as Hyne positioned itself for a potential IPO.