Sam Tarascio Senior - Executive Chairman

Founder of Salta Properties and Westgate Ports, Sam Snr now owns one of Australia's largest and diversified privately owned companies.

With a keen eye for identifying opportunities in the property sector, Sam Snr has played an integral role in building and sustaining the successful growth of Salta Properties and Westgate Ports. Conceiving visionary projects, Sam Snr strives to deliver sustainable development throughout Australia.

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Sam Tarascio

As Managing Director of the Salta Group, Sam Tarascio is responsible for the day to day running of the group's development, construction, asset management and investment activities.

After a long informal education in property through Salta's founder, Salvatore Tarascio, Sam now has more than 14 years formal hands on experience in the property industry. Following a brief stint at corporate advisory firm Coopers & Lybrand, Sam started his career in property at Jones Lang LaSalle gaining experience in their property management and then sales and leasing divisions. Sam joined the family company, Salta, in 1999 first in the group's asset management business before moving on to take an active role in the company's largest development at the time, the Victoria Gardens mixed use residential, commercial, and retail precinct.

Since that time, Sam has been actively involved in the rapid expansion of the Group, and took on the position of Managing Director in 2005. During his time as Managing Director, the company has significantly grown its development pipeline, and broadened its development activities.

Charles Veevers - Advisory Board Member

Currently appointed as a partner in Melbourne law firm, Logie-Smith Lanyon, Charles Veevers has been a director at Salta Properties for more than 20 years.With more than 45 years' experience as a lawyer across a broad range of commercial activities, Charles Veevers plays a valuable role as a board member at Westgate Ports.

Michael Haines - Advisory Board Member

Joining Westgate Ports as the CEO in 2008 and later shifting to an Advisory Board Member role, Michael has 36 years' worth of experience in senior management, consultation, financing and production of major projects - specialising in government liaison, human resources for construction and manufacturing sector.

Working closely with other stevedores and the Government, Michael has played an active role in integrating the Government's key port related projects including the expansion of Port of Melbourne's capacity and the development of the Melbourne Metropolitan Freight Terminal Network.

Ivan F. Backman - Advisory Board Member

Subsequent to a career of over 30 years in the transport and logistics industry, Ivan has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, practical experience and recognition of achievement in all aspects of the industry spanning Australia, the Middle East, the UK, and Asia.

Starting his career as a secondary school teacher, Ivan gravitated to the transport sector rising to senior executive roles in major transport organisations including Mayne Nickless, Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of Linfox, and Managing Director K&S Ltd. He was also President of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2003 Ivan was approached to become Chair of the Australian Logistics Council. In this capacity Ivan has positioned the ALC as the peak national body for Australia's Transport & Logistics Freight Industry representing Australia's major road, rail, sea and air logistics providers.

Maria Palazzolo - Advisory Board Member

As the current Chief Executive Officer, Mario Palazzolo has worked with GS1 Australia for 27 years to shape industry initiatives across Australia with the GS1 System, an innovative system that identifies and tracks products, services, assets and locations. As a member of various international, regional and local industry committees, Maria has played a major role in the eCommerce landscape, revolutionising trade with the GS1 System, both locally and globally.