Lucy Cole - President
Surfers Paradise-Broadbeach Chamber of Commerce president Lucy Cole is the founder and managing director of leading Queensland real estate agency Lucy Cole Prestige Properties.
The 11-year-old business now employs more than 20 people in three offices, sells more than $180 million of real estate a year and it is the only Gold Coast real estate agency to be granted membership to the exclusive Leading Agents of Australia.
In the past year the business was named as being among Queensland’s largest 400 privately owned companies, was named as a finalist in the Real Estate Institute of Queensland awards for large residential agencies, won a Gold Coast Business Excellence Award for Trades and Professions and was named the Gold Coast Bulletin’s top marketer of the year
As well as being named the REIQ salesperson of the year three times, Ms Cole has been a regional finalist in the Telstra Business Woman Of The Year award, a regional finalist in the Australian Institute of Management awards and was in 2011 honoured with the Leadership Award at the International Women’s Day Festival.
As well as serving as the President of the chamber of commerce, Ms Cole also holds positions on the board of the Heart of the City Committee, the Gold Coast Combined Chamber of Commerce, the Gold Coast committee for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ), the Employers’ Union and the Gold Coast Rapid Transit Authority Advisory Committee.
Ms Cole also heavily supports Gold Coast charities including Lifeline and the Cancer Council, and is a benefactor for the Gold Coast Art Centre.
Laura Younger - Senior Vice President
Laura has a business background in membership organisations in Australia and Britain running university facilities including bars, catering, retail, sports and welfare at both Griffith University Gold Coast and the University of London.
As an experienced manager in service oriented organisations, she has expertise in business, operational and strategic planning, a track record of success in introducing sound commercial business practices and methods to service focused organisations and the ability to optimise operational efficiency, service delivery and return on investment.
Laura has a Master of Business administration from Griffith University and a Bachelor of Arts from University of Southern Queensland.
Laura currently sits on the following committee's: Chair - Surfers Paradise Alliance; and Member of the Heart of the City Taskforce.
Bruce Graham - Secretary
Although educated in Australia, Bruce was born in Papua New Guinea and has a good ear for accents, which possibly accounts for his large client base of Chinese and others for whom English is not their first language.
Bruce was admitted as a solicitor in May 1978 (by which time as an articled law clerk he had already set up his first franchise system for a client), and founded a previous firm, Graham & Associates in March 1979.
The fact that Bruce was a sole practitioner for 14 years means that although he tends to specialise in the areas mentioned above, that he nevertheless has experience in most areas of Law.
This benefits clients because it is rare that a legal problem does not impact on another part of the client's life. The fact also that Bruce has himself been running a small business (i.e. his own legal practice) for over 25 years means that his small business clients benefit not only from his legal experience, but also from his down to earth practical experience as well.
Although Bruce has lived on the Gold Coast for many years, he had been commuting to Brisbane daily. Now that his practice has been established on the Gold Coast, he only commutes weekly to see his clients in THEIR offices and homes.
Camilla Westerlund - Treasurer
Karen Baker - Vice President for Membership
B.Commerce
MBA (Melbourne)
Marshall has been involved in the media and events industries throughout the east coast of Australia for the past 20 years. His experience combines a strong mix of journalism and public relations. His journalism experience spans metropolitan and regional newspapers as well as both reporting and editing roles.
Hall’s journalism positions have included stints as the Deputy Business Editor of The Age newspaper in Melbourne and Business Editor of the Gold Coast Bulletin.
In 2005 Marshall won News Limited’s prestigious Business Journalist of the Year award.
Hall took an equity stake in the business in July 2006 and took full control in July 2008.
Memberships:
Australian Institute of Company Directors, Urban Development
Institute of Australia, Surfers-Broadbeach Chamber of Commerce,
Melbourne Business School Alumni Association, Cystic Fibrosis Queensland
advisory committee.
Noel joins the Chamber executive team with a vast range of experience with Chambers of Commerce. Until recently he was Regional Manager Gold Coast for the State Chamber of Commerce working with the 14 local Gold Coast Chambers of Commerce and prior to this, 22 local Chambers in South West Queensland over the past 11 years. Prior to that, Noel was the president of a local Chamber in the Brisbane Valley for 2 years.
Noel has recently commenced a national business support company Workplace Resource and Services Centre (WRS Centre) providing a unique range of business support tools and consulting services for SME‘s. Noel’s wife Karen has already built a successful anti ageing and wellness business since moving to the Gold Coast from Toowoomba 3 years ago.
Noel believes a strong Chamber of Commerce plays an important role in any business area providing a collective voice of business, the engine room for any local economy. There are numerous examples all around the world where Chambers have been instrumental in the ongoing prosperity and growth of cities.
Leadership plays a vital role in successful Chambers and is excited to be working with President, Laura Younger and executive team who bring a range of disciplines and energy to the Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Chamber of Commerce.
As Vice President Events, Noel will be responsible for building the annual business events calendar for the Chamber. Noel says that events provide the environment for business minded people to obtain and share valuable information to operate a successful business. Business networks are the lifeblood of commerce and industry and the Chamber is a great mechanism for this activity.
Colin Wheeler
Director of Document Solutions Australia, who are the Gold Coast dealer for Konica Minolta.
Matthew is the founding owner of Josman Financial Group and its associated companies. Matthew developed his Financial Planning experience commencing with AMP as an Insurance Agent, moving onto bigger and better roles within Westpac. Matthew soon became one of the top 10 Financial Planners within Westpac receiving many awards for his level of professionalism and Financial Planning services offered to clients.
Matthew continued to broaden his career by establishing the Josman Financial Group in 2004 employing only 10 staff from the existing business - Asset Planning Pty Ltd. Over the past 5 years Josman has extended to employ 14 in two locations - Broadbeach and Ballina and achieved numerous goals through the Charter Financial Planning Limited licensee group including becoming a Certified Quality Advice Practice in 2008. Matthew is a Charter Financial Planning Limited comprehensive adviser accredited in providing advice on all aspects of financial planning.
Matthew's first job was with Target on a Friday night and Saturday morning, before moving onto the Brisbane City Council Administration Centre. Matthew is married to Angela and has two children, Joshua and Tahlia. His hobbies and interests include his beloved Titans Football Team, boating and his family and is always seen around Broadbeach where he feels mostly at home.
Ruben Alker
Ruben Alker is the Managing Director of Hip Communications. Hip are experts in partnering with business to develop innovative communication solutions that keep you connected, save you money and help you serve your customers better. Ruben has been an experienced senior executive in large and small Telecommunications companies for over 10 years. He has a strong financial and commercial background and is passionate about helping grow and support small and medium businesses.
Ruben went to high school locally and completed his accounting and computer degree’s at Griffith University. He is member of numerous networking and community organisations and is passionate about helping industry grow on the Gold Coast.