Paul Heilman, Director of Top Cellars Group, has been elected as the eleventh President of the Liquor Stores Association of New South Wales. Heilman was nominated by industry peers at the Association’s Annual General Meeting in Sydney this week.

Heilman purchased his first liquor store in his hometown of Cowra in 2005 and joined LSA shortly after. He joined the board in 2010 and was elected as Vice President – Independent Retailer (Country) Representative in 2011. Heilman has maintained this position since then, while running six stores, with five in Sydney and his original store still in Cowra.

Heilman assumes the role of President from outgoing President, David Reberger.

Reberger commented, “It has been an honour to have served as President of the LSA since 2012. I wish to thank the Australian Liquor Stores Association Board, LSA Executive Director Michael Waters and staff, and the LSA Board for their support over this period.

“It is pleasing that LSA’s independent retail membership is at a record high. I attribute this to the fact that in the last five years LSA has been effectively representing its retailer members on regulatory issues with Government and has continued to expand its range of valuable services to members.”

Heilman added, “I thank David for his stewardship of the Association over the past five years. The Association is well positioned as it moves into 2017 and beyond, with a strong membership, management team and committee, and I look forward to continuing to build on LSA’s engagement with all stakeholders.”

LSA’s Independent Retailer membership grew by 15 per cent in the last year and Associate membership by 25 per cent. Through the year the Association was a strong advocate on issues such as Boxing Day trading, the ACT Liquor Licence fee and the state-wide 10pm sales restriction.

Waters said, “As most around the traps will agree, the industry is undergoing significant transformation, and in what can only be described as a challenging and uncertain period, LSA’s financial result for the year remained solid and stable.

“In the regulatory environment, LSA has been extremely proactive this past year with several key projects, and there is no doubting that given our limited resources we have again punched well above our weight.”

Also elected into new positions were John Wilson, James Scott-McKenzie and Peter Wheatley, as Vice President – Independent Retailer (Country), Vice President – Chain Retailer and Treasurer respectively.