IB Woman
Issue No. 17 - June/July 2004
From Korea to Career
Kerry Lewis
The business acumen of Kerry Lewis might well have been lost to South Australia if her resolve for independence had been weaker. At the age of 27, Kyung Ok CHUNG was a Korean University graduate and already a senior public servant as First Secretary to the Korean Minister for Agriculture – but with growing concern that Korea’s predilection for marriage, as opposed to professional success for women, would impact negatively on her own professional spirit.
In consequence Kerry chose to leave Korea and settle in Adelaide, South Australia. That was 24 years ago. She married a senior public servant with the SA Department for Agriculture. Kerry was then able to read and write English but unable to speak it well. This didn’t stop Kerry from eventually returning to study.
"I saw that there were many Asians studying in Adelaide," says Kerry, "and in speaking with them it was clear that some business opportunities might develop. So I decided to start a small business consultancy."
Kerry first imported neckties from Korea and then accessories. As her confidence grew so did her projects. It was at this point she became interested in strengthening the relationship between Adelaide and Korea. In 1994, the Government supported the development of the Council for International Trade and Commerce South Australia (CITCSA). Whilst Kerry’s involvement with CITCSA was not to start for another two years, she was increasing her business, developing strong international links and liaising with numerous high level business and government leaders.
In 1988 a Uniting Church Minister introduced Kerry to her local parliamentarian, Peter Lewis, and the two became friends. Kerry’s marriage had crumbled and it was to Peter she turned for advice of suitable legal support. Kerry continued to study at Adelaide University, (where Peter was then a member of the Governing Council) run her consultancy and raise her two adolescent daughters.
CITCSA was developing a...
