Committee
David West
Acting Chair / Secretary
David has been working with mainstreets in Australia and overseas for almost 20 years. He is an inaugural Member of MainstreetSA and is currently a Committee Member of Mainstreet Australia. He is a Director of Premier Retail Marketing a consultancy that offers specialist retail advice to Councils, Cities, Town Centres, Shopping Centres and retailers in the areas of marketing, business mix development and mainstreet management. He is a published author of the book 'Mainstreet Management - Successful Retail Strategies'.
Jesse Papargiris
Treasurer
Jesse is a Senior Business Advisor at Sims Richmond Chartered Accountants. Born and raised in Stirling, Jesse moved to Port Lincoln and Mildura before returning to Adelaide to study at Uni SA University where he gained his Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Business Commercial Law. After completing university Jesse decided to stay and pursue his career in Adelaide as he and his wife enjoyed the lifestyle and opportunities it offered. With over 12 years experience in the accounting profession, Jesse enjoys using his specialist skills and knowledge to assist small to large businesses in their day to day management and providing a dynamic external force for growth and change. Jesse is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Ashley Tippins
Vice-Chair / Committee Member
Ashley is a skilled project manager, event manager and marketer who runs her own business, Semaphore Public Relations. She is also the driving force behind the successful Semaphore Business Association. Ashley has a diverse career background including media, policy and governance. Ashley was the recipient of Mainstreet SA's Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2017 Mainstreet SA Awards.
Chelsea Lewis
Committee Member
Chelsea Lewis is passionate about social change, community-led projects and equity. Recently appointed Chairperson of the Gumeracha Main Street Project Working Group, she is influential in leading the revitalisation of the mainstreet of this Adelaide Hills township. Chelsea has a diverse career background including in media, policy, and advocacy and is currently working in a communications role at a large not for profit. With a commitment to reconciliation, a deepening interest in urban and social planning, and a love for her home town, she is volunteering to help create a bright future for Gumeracha.
Peter Tsokas
Committee Member
Peter has a strong background in Local Government, having worked at the City of Marion for a number of years (ten as General Manager), then at the City of Unley for the past seven years, firstly as General Manager, and in 2011 was appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Since his appointment as CEO, Peter has focussed on strategic economic development initiatives for the City of Unley and actively engages in business support and mainstreet activation activities.
Akarra Klingberg
Committee Member
Akarra is the Coordinator of Business & Economic Development at the City of Unley with a background in the tourism industry before making the move to Local Government. Working closely with the Unley business community on economic development initiatives, she is also passionate about working with the four mainstreet trader associations and seeing their ideas come to life and precincts prosper.
Adam Mrotek
Committee Member
Adam is passionate about supporting the vibrancy of mainstreets as social and economic hubs and tourism destinations. As a qualified practicing planner Adam has been involved in the preparation of numerous mainstreet master plans setting a vision for their revitalisation including Woodville Road, historic Aldinga Township and Willunga High Street.
Adam has also been involved in the development of new mainstreet, town and village centre concept plans such as Aldinga District Centre, St Clair and Bowden Urban Village. Adam has also led teams responsible for turning these concepts and visions into reality through major public realm upgrades, provision of business growth services and tourist attraction initiatives.
Lisel McLeay
Committee Member
Lisel is a Landscape Architect + Urban Designer and an Associate at Jensen PLUS. She has been a valued member of the team for ten years and has over 13 years experience working in the industry on a variety of high profile, award-winning projects throughout Australia.
As an Associate, Lisel manages and is deeply involved in all phases of the design process internally to Jensen PLUS, as well as project managing large, multi-disciplinary design teams on complex projects.
Lisel has a high level of understanding of the allied disciplines required to deliver public realm projects with exceptional client and community satisfaction.