Executive Board

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CBWC President – Andrea Jackson

Andrea Jackson is the President of the CBWC and the Project Director for Delfin Lend Lease at the lush and lovely residential development, Forest Gardens. She loves both jobs however her very favourite role in life is being Mum to her young daughter.

Andrea moved to Cairns from Brisbane 15 years ago. She only planned a 2 year stay but all these years later she still has no desire to leave Cairns. Andrea has many passions in her life which have evolved from a diverse career including leadership roles in early childhood teaching, regional economic development, marketing, operating small businesses and residential development.

Motivation and leadership are probably two her of her greatest strengths and are integral in her current role as CBWC President. Andrea is enjoying working with the dynamic businesswomen on the CBWC Board and the CBWC members to be part of creating a business community that is inspirational, collaborative, sustainable and generating success.

CBWC Vice-President – Michelle Commins

Michelle Commins is the Vice-President and Awards Chair of the CBWC, and also runs her own Management Consultancy business, TJC Business Services. Although born in NSW, Michelle grew up in nearly every state of Australia — with a 3 year experience in Penang, Malaysia — following the route of a RAAF child. Michelle completed her schooling in Melbourne, with her first job in the banking industry.

In 1987, Michelle started on her professional career in Quality Assurance, Environmental Management and Occupational Health and Safety within the Transport Industry, and then moved to the Construction Industry in 1994.

Moving to Cairns in 1999, Michelle commenced work with Cairns Region Group Training as the Quality Manager and Personal Secretary to the Chief Executive Officer, but soon after, decided to start her own business.

Michelle currently works with a variety of industries offering both training and consultancy in the development of Quality Assurance, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Management Systems. Michelle is a qualified Senior Management Consultant and Lead Quality Auditor, accredited through RABQSA International. Michelle contracts to SGS International providing third party QA certification services to the region.

CBWC Treasurer – Kerri Brown

Kerri Brown is the Director of All Copy Printing & Signs. She bought the business with her husband Scott when they moved to Cairns from Brisbane in 2005.

Her varied roles and unique career journey have included jobs in the medical industry, furniture removals, records management, hospitality and Kerri was the only female in her industry appointed as a state manager when working in Darwin.

Kerri moved to Brisbane in 2003 to work with Sirva and became the Claim Manager for Asia Pacific with responsibility for claims in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore. Kerri also blazed the trail as a new mother, becoming the first person in Sirva to negotiate the opportunity work from home after taking 6 weeks maternity leave.

Her diverse career background has provided Kerri with an excellent understanding of business management within the corporate sector and as a small business operator. She brings her passion for excellence to her role in the CBWC, along with her wonderful sense of humour and fun.

CBWC Secretary – Kylie Gabutto

Prior to joining Precruitment Kylie’s most recent experience is 10 years in Senior Project and Tender Management roles within both the Private and Public Sector in various regional locations.

Her career commenced in Sydney in a variety of business development and consulting roles, finally moving into recruitment for a large multinational organisation. It was after 3 years in the fast paced and competitive Sydney Recruitment market, that Kylie and her family made the decision to relocate her young family to North Western NSW. It was here that her understanding of the challenges and benefits associated with regional business was developed. As a senior executive with State Government her role was primarily to liaise between private and public sector organisations and ensure that projects and tenders came in on time and or on budget. It is Kylie’s attention to detail and her ability to build strong business relationships that has facilitated her success.

CBWC Sales Manager – Trudy Di Cola

Trudy Di Cola has been in sales and sales management for over 20 years, all over Australia. Her experience is with all facets of sales, ie retail sales, direct sales and merchandising, pharmaceutical sales, indirect sales, telephone sales, even selling by video-conferencing! Her expertise is with commission-only sales and it was her success in Cairns, Townsville and Far North Queensland (FNQ) that saw her become a State and then National Sales Manager.

Trudy Di Cola is an accredited facilitator of ‘DiSC’ Behavioural Profiling and the ‘Action Selling’ process. She holds a Bachelor of Science (with Honours) degree from the University of Western Australia, an Advanced Certificate in Business (Management) in Selling Skills and is also nationally accredited with Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training. Trudy has utilized her skills and experience to operate “Zanzoo Sales Solutions” where she imparts her skills to businesses and sales people with sales-training workshops. She also works with other businesses in a sales management capacity.

Trudy is responsible for assisting companies and businesses with gaining promotion and exposure to the members of the CBWC through sponsorship. She also looks after any sales which generate an income for the CBWC, such as with advertising.

CBWC Events Logistics Manager – Gabi Plumm

Gabi Plumm , Business Development Executive and soon to be Event Coordinator for the CBWC operates a ‘Business and Life Coaching’ enterprise, Access Awareness (www.accessawareness.com) and an Event Management company EventJewel Pty Ltd. (www.eventjewel.com).

Access Awareness offers workshops, seminars, and private coaching in all aspects of life and business, from relationships, parenting, business development and conflict resolution, to innovation and extrapolative collaboration.

Gabi, who is also a published author and an accomplished keynote speaker and MC, has two grown sons living in the US and Spain and she lives in Trinity Beach.

CBWC Board Member – Krystal King

My working background has been in the vocational education sector with Accredited Online Training (AOT). For the past 4 years, I have been the Marketing Manager for AOT an online registered training organisation in Cairns and thouroughly enjoy assisting people in their professional development. I bring to the CBWC board valuable skills in Marketing and Communications through the website, e-communication and a new CBWC brochure. Also I have the responsiblity of dissemination of information to our CBWC members through PR and promotions. This will ensure effective communication is made on a regular basis to continue the development of strong relationships within the CBWC membership. I look forward to the networking bubbles and luncheons in 2010.

CBWC Board Member – Rhonda Coghlan

Rhonda Coghlan is the Branch Manager for Queensland Country Credit Union.

Rhonda has enjoyed more than 15 years in Cairns in the banking and finance industry. She has lived in Cairns for almost 20 years and would never dream of heading back down to the big smoke.

Rhonda enjoys nothing more than meeting new people and helping them, whether it’s for a home loan or just finding a great restaurant or a good doctor for those new to Cairns.

For the past 10 years Rhonda has been attending CBWC lunches and has played an active role on the Board for more than three years. Her involvement with the CBWC has broadened her network and keeps her in touch with the business community while also enjoying the social benefits of mixing business with pleasure.

CBWC Board Member – Gaynor Moran

Profile coming soon

CBWC Board Member – Fiona Jose

Profile coming soon