Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Lee Smith

Kew

Summary

Accomplished and results-driven business development executive with over 15 years of experience in driving market growth, optimizing operations, and leading cross-cultural teams in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Proven track record in developing and executing innovative market strategies that significantly enhance revenue, foster strategic partnerships, and facilitate successful acquisitions. Expertise includes commercial and business development management, along with strategic leadership across diverse industries such as professional services, finance, technology, life sciences, healthcare, and mining. Committed to leveraging deep industry knowledge and a collaborative approach to deliver exceptional results in dynamic environments.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience

Work History

Vice President, Business Development APAC

CIBT Inc. (Owned by Antares Capital)
05.2021 - Current
  • Lead business development for CIBTVisas and Newland Chase across APAC, focusing on market penetration strategies to increase regional market share. APAC market generates ~USD$25 million revenue per annum.
  • Successfully managed a high-performing, culturally diverse Business Development and Client Management team with team members and clients based in Australia, China, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, and Japan.
  • Leading pipeline generation for the region through market analysis, formulating and implementing go to market strategies.
  • Utilise Salesforce as a CRM tool and a range of go to market tools such as Pardot, HubSpot and ZoomInfo to track and research prospects and pipeline management.
  • Generating new business opportunities through Request for Proposal (RFP), competitive tenders and leading renegotiation's with existing clients.
  • Building and maintaining relationships with key clients and industry partners and industry events including the APAC Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and Expat Academy.
  • Developed and executed market strategies for China and India, achieving significant revenue growth through strategic partnerships and acquisitions.

Commercial Director

CIBT Inc. (Owned by Antares Capital)
10.2019 - 05.2021
  • Directed business development for CIBTVisas and Newland Chase in Australia and Singapore following CIBT's acquisition of TSS Immigration.
  • Generating new business opportunities through Request for Proposal (RFP), competitive tenders and leading renegotiation's with existing clients.
  • Spearheaded strategic and go to market initiatives that led to increased revenue growth and market expansion in both regions.
  • Cultivated key partnerships and client relationships to strengthen market presence and enhance business development.

General Manager

TSS Immigration (Privately Held – Acquired by CIBT Inc)
03.2017 - 10.2019
  • Led the commercial operations and business development efforts, directly reporting to the Managing Director.
  • Developed strategic partnerships to address skills shortages in Australia, contributing to successful offshore permanent placements.
  • Utilise Freshsales as a CRM tool and a range of go to market tools such as HubSpot and ZoomInfo to track and research prospects and pipeline management.
  • Managed day-to-day business operations, including profit and loss (P&L), ensuring consistent financial performance and operational excellence.

Operations Excellence Manager

SKILLED Group Limited (ASX Listed)
05.2014 - 12.2016
  • Led divisional projects to transition over 1,000 employees onto new payroll and HRIS platforms following the merger with Programmed, managing 13,000+ payroll transactions annually.
  • Oversaw business improvement initiatives for SKILLED Engineering, focusing on achieving operational efficiencies and driving commercial outcomes.
  • Managed the shared service relationship across 15 businesses, overseeing corporate support functions and an annual turnover exceeding $400 million, with responsibility for high-volume payroll and billing cycles.

Solution Design Manager

SKILLED Group Limited (ASX Listed)
12.2012 - 05.2014
  • Led a team of bid writers and coordinators to develop strategic tender responses for talent acquisition, workforce planning, and commercial offerings.
  • Utilise Salesforce as a CRM tool for pipeline management.
  • Managed over 100 tenders with an annual spend ranging from AUD$1M to AUD$50M, delivering strategic, competitive proposals across various industries.

WA Mining Services Manager

SKILLED Group Limited (ASX Listed)
03.2008 - 08.2009
  • Managed a team of 4 managers and 25 staff across 3 departments, leading recruitment efforts that placed over 700 employees annually.
  • Streamlined shared services and restructured teams, reducing headcount by 12 FTEs, saving approximately $700K in operating costs.
  • Held full P&L responsibility for the WA Technical Professional business unit, achieving an annual sales budget of AUD$10M.

Education

Bachelor of Business Administration -

University of Notre Dame Australia
01.1996

Disruptive Strategy with Clay Christianson

HBX – Harvard Business School
01.2018

Foundations Of Leadership

Melbourne Business School – Mount Eliza
01.2008

Six Sigma Yellow Belt

Australian Institute of Management (AIM)
01.2007

Advanced Negotiation Skills

Scotwork International
01.2006

Executive Development Course

Australian Institute of Management (AIM)
01.2005

Advanced Negotiation Skills

ENS Group
01.2005

Skills

  • Market expansion strategies
  • Leadership in team settings
  • Cross-cultural collaboration
  • Profit and loss oversight
  • Strategic partnership management
  • Tender & Proposal Management
  • Continuous improvement initiatives
  • Strategic team guidance
  • Collaborative networking abilities
  • Strategic decision-making
  • Problem-solving skills

Accomplishments

  • Increased customer revenue by +75% within 12 months in expansion markets including, China & Hong Kong SAR and India
  • Secured numerous multi-year contracts through competitive bidding processes including a 5 year federal government department contract with total revenue in excess of AUD$2 million

Timeline

Vice President, Business Development APAC

CIBT Inc. (Owned by Antares Capital)
05.2021 - Current

Commercial Director

CIBT Inc. (Owned by Antares Capital)
10.2019 - 05.2021

General Manager

TSS Immigration (Privately Held – Acquired by CIBT Inc)
03.2017 - 10.2019

Operations Excellence Manager

SKILLED Group Limited (ASX Listed)
05.2014 - 12.2016

Solution Design Manager

SKILLED Group Limited (ASX Listed)
12.2012 - 05.2014

WA Mining Services Manager

SKILLED Group Limited (ASX Listed)
03.2008 - 08.2009

Disruptive Strategy with Clay Christianson

HBX – Harvard Business School

Foundations Of Leadership

Melbourne Business School – Mount Eliza

Six Sigma Yellow Belt

Australian Institute of Management (AIM)

Advanced Negotiation Skills

Scotwork International

Executive Development Course

Australian Institute of Management (AIM)

Advanced Negotiation Skills

ENS Group

Bachelor of Business Administration -

University of Notre Dame Australia
Lee Smith