Mr Sakib Awan

Chairman

Company founder and Chairman of the Board, Mr Sakib Awan established the East Timor Trading Lda in Dili in 2002, just as Timor-Leste gained its independence. With over 20 years’ experience in various food and beverage, sales and marketing positions in the hotel industry, he swiftly became a leading figure in the country’s business community, importing and distributing a range of multinational company brands across the nation.

In 2007, Mr Awan established the Discovery Inn and Diya Restaurant and brought the Gloria Jean’s Coffees™ and Burger King™ franchises to Timor-Leste. Whilst extending the distribution network and range of imported products supplied by ETT Group, Mr Awan also established the Cheers Bottle Shops and Il Gelato retail outlets.

In May 2012, Mr. Awan was awarded an Order of Timor-Leste by then President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta for ongoing commitment to and services in Timor-Leste. Present and past community involvement has included:

  • Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Timor-Leste from 2010–2019
  • Chairman of the International Business Council within the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Northern Territory of Australia
  • Honorary Consul of Mexico in the Northern Territory of Australia from 1993–2003

Mrs Neelofer Awan

Non-Executive Director

Company co-founder, Mrs. Neelofer Awan has a wide range of experience in business in Australia and Timor-Leste. Along with her husband, Sakib, Mrs. Awan has established East Timor Trading Group from a small, home office business with a handful of staff, to the large, diverse organization it is today.”

Mrs Zeenat Awan Aluwihare

Non-Executive Director

As the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Awan, Zeenat has over 15 years’ experience in retail, wholesale, distribution, property development, administration, tourism, hospitality and education, working externally and also for family businesses, in Australia and Timor-Leste.

Zeenat is passionate about corporate social responsibility and is particularly focused on working towards positioning East Timor Trading Group so it is best able to contribute not only to its own people, but also the wider community and the development of Timor-Leste. She is a strong believer that “ETTG’s people are its best asset.”

Mr Mujahid Hamid

Board Advisor

Mr Mujahid Hamid has occupied key positions and played vital roles in the corporate world, within and outside Pakistan. Serving for 24 years, he occupied many senior executive and Board, positions with Unilever in Pakistan, Australia, and Indonesia and was Chairman and CEO of Unilever HPC, China from 1998 to 2001. Similarly, he has contributed significantly to several not for profit organizations. He is an internationally experienced business consultant covering a broad range of industries, including consumer products, media, fashion, entertainment, education, schools and health. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from IBA Karachi, is an alumnus of Columbia University, New York, USA, in addition to Harvard Business School, Boston, USA, where he graduated from the Advance Management Program in 2001.

Mr Samitha Aluwihare

Executive Director (Chief Executive Officer)

Samitha is a dedicated and passionate senior leader within ETT, with over 15 years of professional experience and excellent stakeholder, people management and business skills.

Raised and educated in New Zealand and Australia, he has a comprehensive understanding of operating businesses in the complex environments of developed and developing countries and the needs of his business partners. Responsible for Strategy and leading the execution of ETT’s vision and mission, he is focused on further enhancing the Group to international standards within Timor-Leste.

  • Founding member and Vice Chairman of Hotel Owners of Timor Lorosae (HOTL) Association from 2018-2020
  • Chairman of Hotel Owners of Timor Lorosae (HOTL) Association from 2021 until present

Mr Les Johnson

Group External Auditor

Mr Les Johnson is qualified as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and spent some years doing audit and tax work before emigrating to Australia in 1981. From there he became a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants and worked outside the profession. When pay television started in Australia he was the Chief Financial Officer of the sports channel, Premier Sports, which became Fox Sports. Les came to Timor-Leste in 1999, married and stayed. He has worked as a tax consultant, provides assistance on compliance, and also assists with financial matters.