EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2023 / 2024
PRESIDENT | MIN SWAN
Starting her own business in the financial services industry at 21 years of age, Min went on to grow that firm into one of the largest in SE Queensland. After merging with three other financial services organisations, Min exited the firm to add the corporate sector to her resume in the Financial Planning Division of Challenger Financial Services.
Min moved to Sydney to take on the role of Senior Adviser to the CEO, Financial Planning. In this role she was part of a team of seven executive who undertook an organisational restructure, with Min managing, reporting and designing the strategic plans for the Challenger Board. In 2008 Min returned to her beloved Sunshine Coast and started a boutique event management firm, White House Celebrations, now known as White House International.
White House International has been responsible for many of the major fundraising and corporate events on the Sunshine Coast since 2009. Leaving no stone unturned, Min and her team are known for executing with excellence and achieving memorable events on time and on budget. Min is dedicated to building world class reputations for her clients and connecting people in the pursuit of giving everyone the opportunity to live their greatest potential. Min joined SCBWN in 2009 and has held a variety of committee positions since. She was also Judging Chair for the SCBWN Business Woman of the Year Awards from 2017-2020.
VICE PRESIDENT AND SPONSORSHIP | PAULA WILLIAMSON As the Senior Private Banker for ANZ Private Sunshine Coast, Paula looks after an influential group of high net worth clients who rely on her ability to connect them with specialists who can further support and enhance their wealth creation strategy. Her desire to provide an exceptional client experience is evident in her work.Originally from the Sunshine Coast, Paula has returned after spending her career to date in North Qld and Northern Territory. Paula notes that working in regional and remote locations has taught her to be resilient and resourceful. Throughout her banking career Paula has managed large teams with a particular focus on consistent service, sales delivery, compliance and operational efficiency. A change leader at heart, she is always looking for ways to improve day to day business and client experience through new ways of working. Paula is particularly committed to helping young women progress, whilst managing the challenges of a fast paced world and motherhood. A long term employee of ANZ, Paula feels the organisation shares her desire to help women succeed in business through flexible working practices and the support of women in leadership. Paula encourages all women in participation, flexibility and the desire for leadership. #equalfuture
TREASURER | ANITA CUNNINGHAM
Anita has worked in the accounting industry for over 30 years and specialises in forensic accounting, financial crime, business valuations, family and estate matters. She is a Chartered Accountant (CAANZ), a professional member of the Australian Restructuring and Turnaround Association (ARITA), member of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Australia and the Queensland Association of Collaborative Practitioners and an associate member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Anita is also an accredited Business Valuation Specialist and Forensic Accounting Specialist with CAANZ. Anita’s accounting career commenced in public practice in Noosa Heads. In September 2019, Anita joined Vincents and established their Sunshine Coast office specialising in forensic accounting services. A born and bred local, Anita grew up in the Noosa Hinterland, attended Noosa District High School and has remained on the Sunshine Coast throughout her entire career. Since joining the Network in 2005 and attending events on and off over the years, Anita was reintroduced to the management committee and accepted the nomination as Treasurer in 2018. She was also the treasurer of Suncoast Community Legal Service for six years (2013-2019) and enjoys contributing to the community as a foundation member of the SunnyKids P100 program. When away from the numbers, Anita loves a hit of golf and a quiet red wine. Together with her husband, John, she fosters working dogs through Dogs4Jobs Dog Rescue which provides foster care for animals in need – however at least four of the foster dogs have found their fur-eva homes with Anita and John. | SECRETARY | JAYMEE MORRISON
SCBWN Young Business Woman of the Year 2018. She is proud to work for a local company that values their people and provides opportunities for self and career development in an environment where you can constantly learn and grow. Jaymee is very passionate, motivated and has a strong commitment to developing people. She is a natural role model and inspiration, particularly for women in leadership. Jaymee is an active member of the Diversity committee at Youi leading the Gender Diversity and Family and Domestic Violence strategies for the company. Her mantra is 'she believed she could, so she did', and Jaymee strongly believes you can achieve anything you want, if you set your mind to it and work hard. She applies this in every aspect of her life and inspires others to do the same. MEMBERSHIP CHAIR | KATE LANGFORD
Kate Langford is living proof that as a woman you can have your cake and eat it too. She has grown her business from a garage start-up to a million-dollar company, all while raising her three children and maintaining her social life. Not only is she passionate about encouraging people to find the job they love, but she also wants to empower and educate other women on how they can find this balance. So often, women are told they need to make sacrifices to either chase a career or family life – Kate is determined to change that outdated mindset and show women why and how they can have it all. After over fifteen years working in the Recruitment and HR industries around Australia and becoming certified in HR, Business Management, and Counselling, Kate came to a point in her life that she felt like she had more to give. She designed Kate Langford Career Consulting to help the people who really need it, and she continues to impact lives with her award-winning straight-shooter and real-life approach. Being a mother to three children under nine, owning and directing a million-dollar business that has tripled (through Covid and while having her third baby) in five short years has been a huge achievement she is immensely proud of, all while helping change the lives of people across the country. EVENTS CHAIR | JULIA JONES-WALKER
After 14 years working in state and federal government communication and stakeholder engagement roles for local Members of Parliament, Julia has recently taken on a new role in community and stakeholder engagement with Unitywater. Julia has a proven track record in building strategic partnerships with government, industry and community stakeholders and delivering communication strategies to engage and inform while building brand, enhancing reputation and mitigating risks. She is known for being a trusted adviser, strategic thinker, problem solver, stakeholder relationship manager and community engagement specialist who is passionate about driving change and making a positive difference. Julia’s history with SCBWN began in 2006 when she was recognised as Corporate Business Woman of the Year for establishing multiple businesses, including a highly successful and award-winning retail furniture and importing business, Global Living Furniture. As Events Chair, Julia will use her talents in engaging and networking to collaborate with government, business and not for profit sectors to create an exciting calendar of exceptional events that empower and inspire our amazing Sunshine Coast businesswomen. |
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH CHAIR | NAOMI ELLIOTT
Naomi Elliott is General Manager of Concept Labs; an innovative and sustainable manufacturing facility on the Sunshine Coast, producing cosmetic, skin care and cleaning products, while embracing their responsibility to co-create a world where each of us, our communities and our planet can flourish. Concept Labs are small enough to care, but large enough to deliver. Concept Labs’ guidance on product development, manufacturing efficiencies and sustainable practices sees their customers able to develop products that are more affordable, viable and with lower environmental impact. Additionally, Concept Labs has the certifications, equipment and experience to develop high quality vegan, organic and cruelty free products. Leading an expanding team in two South East Queensland locations, Naomi takes great pride in inspiring and guiding her team to achieve excellence. Naomi is consistently pushing for the company to make sustainable manufacturing choices and to positively contribute to the local community.These efforts have been recognised with Naomi being awarded the Best Practice Leadership Impact Award for 2020, her team took home two awards at the 2019 Sunshine Coast Business Awards in the Manufacturing (Large Business) & Export categories, and Naomi was recognised as a finalist in the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network awards in 2021. MARKETING CHAIR | NATALIE CROMBIE
Working in the graphic design, advertising, and marketing industry for 15 years, Natalie has a passion for all things branding and corporate image. Assisting small start-ups through to large corporates, Natalie is a seasoned professional with a wealth of knowledge and possesses specialised skills in coordination, consulting and brand development. She has a deep understanding of the digital marketplace within Australia and excellent program management skills. From this experience, she formed Etch & Co to provide a variety of services to her clients, including design (print and digital), brand strategy, website design and social media solutions. Natalie is passionate about supporting the Sunshine Coast community and is involved with several local charities and events. For the past three years, Natalie has volunteered as Marketing Chair on the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network executive committee. She has been a proud member of the network for nine years and is committed to helping other women build their communities and create connections. Previously, Natalie has helped to transition multiple lines of business from Australia to global industry partners in India. During the transition, she provided specialised on-the-ground support for training and deployment. SPECIAL PROJECTS | LISA WILSON | ADVOCACY, PR & COMMUNITY CHAIR |LIZZIE HENEBERY
She works in both traditional and digital media, and is particularly skilled in brand & communication strategy, content writing, public relations and social media. Through living, studying (she's a proud USC undergrad and post-grad Alumna) and working on the Sunshine Coast for most of her life, Lizzie is passionate about supporting this region. She has partnered with business across various industries and has a positive track record of creating strategies that deliver on objectives. Lizzie also works with a number of charities supporting fundraising events that deliver much needed services back to the Sunshine Coast community. The Organised CreativeCOMMUNITY CHAIR | JEANETTE ALLOM-HILL
Jeanette Allom-Hill is the 2020 Winner Telstra Business Women’s Awards - Public Sector and Academia. She is the Chair Tourism Noosa and a board member for the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network, Montrose Therapy and Respite Services. She is a Partner in an Executive Coaching firm that works with C suite leaders across Australia and Asia. Jeanette is also the CEO of a consulting business titled “Nova Mastery” working exclusively with Boston Consulting Group providing advise to Federal government on the successful implementation of large reform initiatives. Last year Jeanette has brought all her years of experience and has aligned her work to the Office of Women in Prime Minister and Cabinet and stood up an organisation called “Lionhearted Foundation” that aims to protect, connect, educate, and change the face of leadership for a more diverse future. Lionhearted Foundation outcomes are measured around the key drivers of increasing women's safety, economic security, leadership, health and wellbeing. Jeanette has worked in the private sector for over 15 years holding senior roles in Optus, NBN, Microsoft and Boston Consulting Group. Over the last 12 years she has dedicated her career to the public sector as a transformation expert, having worked in Prime Minster and Cabinet, Treasury, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Education and Health Jeanette has worked across the depth and breadth of government concluding with a role in the Sunshine coast council as the Chief Operations Officer with an organisational budget of $848 million. She has worked in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia and Australia and is currently completing her PHD focusing on resilience and recovery and writing her life story. Jeanette is a keynote speaker who shares her powerful personal and professional stories focusing on how to respond, recover and thrive in life. She is a passionate community advocate and believes that a meaningful life is created by giving back to ones community. SPECIAL PROJECTS | CLARE MCCARTHY
Her focus is on supporting and challenging leaders to develop deep self-awareness, believing that this in turn will support their teams and organisations to do the same, underpinning their growth and development. After completing her study in Nursing and specialising in Gastroenterology, Clare spent the early years of her career in Nursing Management. In 1999 Clare became one of the founding partnership group of an Australian based Coaching Company. She focused on the development of the Intellectual Property and support materials which remain as core to the IP offering. Following several successful years building her Coaching practice in Australia, Clare and her family moved to London to launch the Coaching Business in the UK in 2003. From 2004-2009 she was the CEO of the international business which during that period, launched into Europe and the USA. In 2010 she moved to the Middle East to support the launch in the region. Deciding on a change of focus in 2014, Clare then built a successful distribution company which imported and distributed skin care and cosmetics throughout the Middle East. Clare returned to Australia and the Sunshine Coast in 2017. Clare now works with a select portfolio of clients with a focus of business, executive and leadership development. Through owning and operating businesses within Australia, and Internationally within the UK, United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Clare has gained invaluable knowledge and experience in business strategy, leadership, management, management consulting, coaching and entrepreneurship. |
Michelle is passionate about improving productivity and encouraging change that adds value. To facilitate improvement in her clients' businesses, Michelle provides education, assessment, enablement and optimisation utilising clients' software applications.
Lizzie is a qualified, experienced and awarded marketing and communications professional who has a way with words and a penchant for planning.
Clare’s passion is developing current and emerging leaders to become the best version of themselves, believing the balance of cultural and commercial skills underpins this. She is a fierce advocate and supporter of workforce diversity and is committed to developing high performing teams and work environments.
