Introducing the HASG College Board of Directors...
Ara Vartoukian
Ara Vartoukian joined the HASG College Board in 2002 and is the Chairman of the Board.
Ara obtained the Certificate with Merit from the School of Piano Tuning & Technology, SCM in 1978. He also obtained the highest marks of any graduate and set the record for the most accurate tuning within the school.
In 1979, Ara spent 7 months studying and working in all the sections of the Yamaha Piano Factories in Hamamatsu. On his return he took over as Lecturer in Charge of School of Piano Tuning & Technology at the SCM, for 5 years, until 1985.
In 1985 he was contracted by the Australian Foreign affairs department to inspect and report on the condition and necessary repairs of the pianos at the Con in Hanoi, Vietnam and directed repairs on three pianos while there.
In 1982 he was awarded a QEII Silver Jubilee Trust Scholarship for further study overseas and spent time studying in the piano/parts factories of Steinway & Sons (Hamburg & NY), Grotrian, Renner, Bösendorfer and Baldwin. He later spent time studying in the Ibach and Bechstein factories and an extensive visit to Young Chang. Ara has also made yearly visits to the Steinway Factory in Hamburg since 1998 when his company, Theme and Variations Piano Services was appointed the Exclusive NSW and later QLD agents for Steinway & Sons pianos.
Ara selected Steinway & Sons Concert instruments for many halls and institutions including the Sydney Conservatory of Music, Newcastle Conservatory of Music and the Angel Place Recital Hall.
Arpi Mouradian
Arpi Mouradian joined the HASG College Board in March 2008. She studied mechanical engineering in Aleppo, Syria, and worked as a tutor while studying. She also worked as a volunteer for under privileged children.
She is experienced in working in 3 different committees. In 1989, when she arrived in Sydney, she studied and obtained Certificate IV in Commerce at North Sydney TAFE. She is currently studying Architectural Technology at OTEN and works in her families' business
Roupinah Simonian
Roupinah Simonian joined the HASG College Board in March 2008. Roupinah has a Bachelor of Economics (Accounting), a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and is currently completing an MBA.
She began her career in Chartered Accounting after which she joined McDonald's Australia, where during her 15 year career, held numerous positions including Corporate Accountant - Treasury, Regional Accountant - NSW/WA & Pac. Islands, Taxation Manager and most recently Business Analyst in the Consumer & Business Insights Group. She has currently accepted a new position as Revenue Manager at Carnival Australia for the P&O and Princess lines.
From a young age, Roupinah has been an active member of the Sydney Australian-Armenian community. She has 2 children at the College and joined the Board in 2008.
Nerses Nalbandian
Nerses Nalbandian joined the HASG College Board in 2005.
Nerses is the Managing Director of Ralua Pty Ltd, the manufacturing business he established in 1969. The business operates on Sydney's Northern Beaches in Brookvale.
Nerses has been in Australia for more than 44 years. He resides at Terry Hills, NSW and is married with two children. Mr and Mrs Nerses Nalbandian are also founding benefactors of the HASG College.
Khajaque Kortian
Khajaque joined the HASG College Board in September 2008 and is a College parent. He is a legal practictioner, specialising in Intellectual Property Law, in particular litigation. Khajaque is a Principal of one of the oldest and leading firms of Patent and Trade Mark Attorney in Australia as well as its related specialist Intellectual Property Law firm.
Khajaque is on the International Trade Marks Association (INTA) Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement Committee (East Asia & Pacific Subcommittee) and has presented numerous papers at legal conferences and seminars, and authored articles, on IP law and practice. Khajaque is also a member of the editorial board of the Internet Law Bulletin.
He has been involved in public advocacy for human rights issues and Armenian-Australian Community affairs for many years. Khajaque served on the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Committee of Australia, Inc for more than 20 years. Together with former HASG College Principal, Dr Arsiné Oshagan and others, he was one of the founding members of the Macquarie University Centre for Comparative Genocide Studies, now known as the Australian Institute for Holocaust & Genocide Studies, with which he is still involved.
He completed his Bachelor of Laws, University of Technology, Sydney, and is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the Federal Court of Australia, and High Court of Australia. He is also a Registered Australian Trade Marks Attorney.
Sassoon Grigorian
Sassoon Grigorian joined HASG College Board in 2006. He was a former adviser in the NSW Government for nearly a decade; worked for the Sydney Olympic Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) in the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games; senior consultant for a public affairs firm; and currently is manages Corporate Affairs for Microsoft Australia.
He has written on public policy matters for The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, Courier Mail and The Canberra Times newspapers.
Sassoon completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Politics, at Macquarie University and a Master of Arts, majoring in International Relations at the University of New South Wales.