PHIL BARRESI

Phil Barresi

Director Victoria

Phil has a diverse background in politics, consulting and senior management.  He was first elected in 1996 as the member for Deakin in the Australian Parliament and retained the seat through four successive elections until 2007 where he served as a prominent Liberal Party member of the John Howard led Government.  

During his distinguished career in politics, Phil chaired parliamentary committees on ‘Public Accounts and Audit’, ‘Employment, Workplace Relations and Participation’ and ‘Defence, Foreign Affairs and Trade’.  He chaired numerous parliamentary inquiries including in the areas of defence purchasing programs and systems, automotive manufacturing and employment, family benefits tax, workforce participation, independent contracting and labour hire, and workforce in the Australian tourism sector. 

Throughout his political career, Phil held a strong interest in Australia’s defence and foreign affairs policy, building Australia’s infrastructure capacity, and in workplace relations and workforce development.  He maintains a keen interest and knowledge of Australia’s trade agreements having been part of inquiries into trade relations with the Gulf States, North African States, Southern American States and Australia’s Co-operative Economic Relationship with New Zealand.

Phil’s consulting and managerial work has seen him actively engage in a number of leading industry associations including the National Institute of Accountants, the Restaurant and Catering Association of Australia and the Australian Retailers Association.  His main areas of focus were strategic business development, policy development and advocacy, and advising in the area of workplace relations.  He is active in the energy industry and is currently the Chairman of the Board of Penrite Oil P/L (UK, Australia and NZ) and formerly a director of the Bendigo Community Bank (Blackburn South).

Prior to entering politics, Phil was the Director of PBA Consulting and held senior management roles in the Repco Corporation (Automotive Distribution Division) and Kodak (Australasia P/L).  Phil is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and until recently, held membership with the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Human Resources Institute.

Phil holds a BA Psychology and Politics from the Australian National University, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology from the Swinburne Institute and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.