Oct16 Mentor Event

The Mentor list for the Oct16 event is provided below
Please contact these mentors via the event organiser

Oct16
Event Partner

RDA Sunshine Coast

Oct16
Event Organiser and Facilitator  –  Dr Dean Alle

LinkedINdean-alle-entrepreneur-in-residence-w-usc-background
Dean has a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship, startups and commercialisation of new tech. In addition to several tech related startups of his own, Dean has led major commercialisation projects with Australian Universities and Research Centres, spinoff and startup companies, and corporate organisations. Dean lectures at several Universities, has been the lead mentor at many startup weekends and judge at pitch competitions. Dean is currently an investor co-founder and CEO of 2 new startups.  Dean is on the Executive, Board or Advisory Board of another 7 startups. Dean delivers incubator/accelerator programs and components, has Entrepreneur in Residence roles at several organisations, is an active Mentor and Investor and also does pro­-bono work to support innovation ecosystems.  In 2015 Dean developed a new investment model based on a startup equity auction format, this was trialled early 2016. Dean is an expert in capturing and valuing Intellectual Capital. Dean has a PhD in Atomic and Molecular Physics from the Australian National University and is a science graduate of the University of QLD.

Aaron Dahl
https://au.linkedin.com/in/aaron-dahl-22bb6312  aaron-dahl-2016-10-linkedin
Lawyer – McCullough Robertson.  Aaron has experience in a broad range of corporate and commercial matters.  He has acted for both listed and unlisted clients operating in the mining and resources, property, medical and pharmaceutical, and nonprofit sectors as well as service providers and significant professional services firms.  Aaron’s broad transactional and advisory experience includes capital raisings and implementation, advice regarding continuous disclosure and the ASX listing rules, directors’ duties and corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and preparing and advising on general commercial and trade contracts.  He is well versed and has a particular interest in structuring and advising on employee incentive schemes.
http://www.mccullough.com.au/people/f/View/21/

Anne Lawrence   anne-lawrence-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/annelawrence33
Coordinator – High Value Industries – Economic Development, at Sunshine Coast Council
I am the former owner and developer of a large agricultural business (grapevine nursery in South Australia). I am the current co-owner of a professional services business in Noosa (serviced offices / business centre) called Noosa Boardroom, and I am a past executive team member for an international joint venture in scientific research for CSIRO.  My specialty is in building influence through strategic collaborations alongside economic development project delivery and business strategies. Accustomed to working with detailed and complex subject matter, I have superior written and verbal communication skills, and can translate complex business questions or problems into clear decision pathways.
My core strengths are: Finding business solutions, including the development of strategic alliances and the identification of unique opportunities in a fast paced and at times seemingly unpredictable context.  Building durable and resilient communities-of-interest through my strong networks and attention to the needs of multiple stakeholders.  Exceptional attention to detail: I have a strong analytical mind and focus on on-time project management.  My specialties are: Economic development, community consultation, communications, marketing, market research, branding, public relations, business development, strategic planning, sustainability

Ben Woodben-wood-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/ben-wood-30612b61
Lawyer – McCullough Robertson.  Ben is a Brisbane-based lawyer with a broad range of experience in assisting clients with issues relating to corporations and securities law, with a particular focus on capital raisings.  Ben works for clients across a range of industries, including technology, life sciences and agritech, at various stages of a company’s lifecycle.  Ben has a focus on supporting start-ups and early stage companies, acting as a mentor at a number of Queensland-based innovation hubs, and working with both companies and potential early stage investors.
http://www.mccullough.com.au/people/f/View/162/

Brendan Leighton  brendan-leighton-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/brendan-leighton-3a0ab36b
Lawyer – Managing Director – New Era Law
Brendan has been a lawyer for the past 10 years. For 8 years Brendan worked for one of Australia’s largest law firms. During that time he acted on a number of IPOs and mergers & acquisitions, negotiated multi-million dollar supply contracts and advised on large corporate restructures. Brendan continues to act for a number of large corporate clients but he is also actively involved in the local start up community.
http://www.neweralaw.com.au/our-team/

Bruce Williams bruce-williams-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/bruce-williams-031b6219
Director Business Development – Aus Identities
Bruce’s company, AusIDentities, designs and delivers training, coaching and professional development programs to help maximise leadership potential, staff engagement, productivity and team cohesion. Bruce coaches business leaders and entrepreneurs to master their leadership sweet-spot so they take action with confidence, clarity and impact. Bruce also takes the stress out of team-building by providing effective, personality-based collaboration strategies. A uniquely Australian blend of personality theory and communication practice, AusIDentities programs are fun, simple and easy to apply. Bruce is a member of The University of the Sunshine Coast Foundation Board and also mentors start-ups and entrepreneurs in business incubator programs at USC’s Innovation Centre and Spark Bureau. Whether you are a CEO or a business owner with a leadership team of one, AusIDentities has a solution for you!  For more info http://ausidentities.com.au

Chad Careychad-carey-2016-10-fr-adv-website
https://au.linkedin.com/in/chad-carey-90454126
Chad Carey – Co Founder Chimu Adventures
“When Greg and I started discussing the idea of starting up a travel business to South America I got very excited by the prospect and realised it would be fantastic fun to give it a go.” And am I glad we did! You can’t beat the thrill of doing something you love for a living. In my pre-Chimu life as an engineer, the work was just a job for me and wasn’t really something I got excited about. Now, I get excited just talking about travelling to South America – be it about a customer itinerary, or a new product. It’s never dull as far as I’m concerned and I get to do it every day.

I’ve always been more interested in adventurous destinations. South America and Antarctica both have that edge. The Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia are like no where else on earth. The Amazon jungle is another favourite. However, you can’t beat the true expedition feeling of a trip to Antarctica. When you’re there and you barely see another soul and you know you’re thousands of kilometres from any form of civilization – it was the first time I felt that I was on a proper adventure!  That’s the beauty of Chimu. We can personalise your itinerary for you so if you fancy an adventure in the Amazon jungle or Peruvian mountains, followed by a luxurious beach holiday in Brazil and an expedition to Antarctica, we can do this. Plus, we’ll be on hand to answer any questions you have before, during and after your journey. It’s this flexibility and excellent customer service that stands Chimu apart from others, a fact that I, myself am very proud of.  See more at: http://www.chimuadventures.com/content/chad-carey-chimu-adventures%E2%80%99-co-founder#sthash.dJKAPtfj.dpuf

David Lumbdavid-lumb-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/david-lumb-39a74421
David works with the owners, boards and CEOs, of medium sized and high growth companies to improve the performance and value of their businesses.  After completing a degree in Mechanical Engineering (USYD) David held several roles in automotive research and development in Australia, Italy and South Korea. Following his engineering career David completed an MBA (AGSM) and moved into strategy and operations consulting with Deloitte consulting. During this time he worked with businesses in the banking, telecommunications, FMCG and pharmaceuticals industries. Since then David has held a variety of consulting and leadership roles in industries including consumer goods, marine, and water treatment. He has also represented Queensland on the Reserve Bank of Australia Small Business Advisory Panel.  David has bought, built and sold businesses during that time and has been awarded the E&Y Cleantech Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Telstra Regional Business of the Year. David is the Managing Director of Better Business Today, see http://www.betterbusinesstoday.com.au/

Jason Knightjason-knight-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/jasonknightau
I have a passion for creating partnerships and solutions that streamline and simplify workflow processes.  I GET IT DONE, rather than saying “I’m going to” or “I hope to”. I also aim to create opportunities for the underdog to succeed.  My pet hate is the word “Can’t”. Solutions are everywhere!  I have a background in trades as a Mechanical Plumber and a Diesel Fitter, and managing blue collar teams, in hard rock mines in NSW and WA and QLD coal mines.  During my trade years I nurtured a passion for social media strategies and website development. After successfully creating and growing MiningLink into Australia’s largest digital media outlet for the resources sector, I went on to create the sister sites CivilLink & ConstructionLink. After a major pivot, iCompLii was born.

15 years on, what started as a hobby has now been become my full time role as the founder and CEO of iCompLii, a SaaS Startup. iCompLii is a platform to fill the gaps and gross inefficiencies that are found in all regulated industries around worker and equipment compliance, acquisition and management.  In the last few years I’ve been leading iCompLii through concept to planning, validation and then into prototype, and creating a minimum viable product. We have traction!  iCompLii has attracted the attention of over 50 grassroots investors and their support has funded the research and development of a world first platform. iCompLii allows quick sharing of both sensitive and non-sensitive worker data (at their option) necessary for onboarding and managing workers.

As the founder and lead developer on the first tranche of development, I have been instrumental in the design of what we believe to be the world’s first portable, collaborative digital profile platform for job candidates and workers. Through iCompLii, workforce compliance is managed and maintained without the burdens of data collection, entry and time consuming audits.

Jess Thoms jess-thoms-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/jessthoms
Jess Thoms is a writer and social media strategist, founder of White Lane Creative & co-founder of Xandra Labs.  A New Zealand native, she lives and works on the Sunshine Coast, Australia – amongst a flourishing entrepreneurial community at Spark Bureau, a tech start-up incubator. Jess writes and talks about content marketing, social media, pop culture, tech, and emerging platforms and how this affects consumer behaviour and businesses.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Public Relations from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Jess went on to start the social media agency White Lane Creative. White Lane Creative is a bespoke service that marries content marketing with social media to create thoughtful marketing, campaigns, and strategies for lifestyle brands. In her first year of business, and while still 20-years-old, Jess co-founded the tech agency Xandra Labs. Xandra Labs is one of the first companies in the world to be developing personalities and dialogue for brands to engage their users in Facebook Messenger.  As a floundering creative in business, Jess is a firm believer that the only barrier to success is patience & determination, and that everyone should enjoy creative control over their lives.

 

Luke Humble luke-humble-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/lukehumble
A pioneer in his field, Luke Humble is the Managing Director of Italic Creative, an award winning creative agency which offers innovative design and commercial solutions to its international client base across Australia, the UK, the USA, Dubai and Europe.  With over sixteen years in the industry, Luke specialises in the digital marketing arena, implementing strategic initiatives across technology streams in order to drive business success. Luke is also experienced in diagnosing business management vulnerabilities and in recognising untapped sources of commercial growth, advising on the enhancement and streamlining of business models in order to take a larger, more profitable slice of the relevant market.

Macushla Montell  macushla-montell-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/macushla-montell-36074733
Macushla has a successful track-record of building and running businesses, including property portfolios, restaurants, dance studios and fashion labels. Macushla began her first business at 16 years of age and became a property millionaire in her 20s.  She is a determined and driven individual with entrepreneurial flair and the skills and passion to make a real difference. Most recently, Macushla has been coaching and training individuals, business owners, entrepreneurs and managers to motivate, inspire and empower.

Mark Ferris  mark-ferris-2016-10-icsc
After practicing commercial law in South Africa, Mark spent the bulk of his career in Tokyo, Japan. Over an 18 year period, he founded or co-founded ventures offering services and solutions in Information Technology, Business Process Outsourcing, Market Research and Marketing Solutions. He is experienced in business development, corporate strategy, fund raising and team building and, on three occasions, he completed trade sales to third party investors resident in USA, Hong Kong and Japan.  After relocating to Australia in 2012, Mark is active as an angel investor, business mentor and board member of for profit and not-for-profit entities.

Nicky Moffat  nicky-moffat-2016-10-linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicky-moffat-0713b220
Journalist
Business news specialist.
Writing daily news for print and online.
Business activist, motivating startups and sharing their stories.
Ask Nicky about how to interface with media channels, what to prepare and what to expect.

Paul McCann paul-mccann-2016-10-fr-kate-small
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mccann-a42285b4
Paul McCann is the founder & CTO of SwiftPitch, a startup focused on helping entrepreneurs around the world determine their investment readiness and get in front of the right investor. De-risking investment opportunities and providing investors with quality deal flow.  He has over 20 years experience working in tech, specialising in large scale cloud computing, security and networking. He’s lead tech strategy for two global FTSE 100 businesses, built DevOps teams in India & USA and was instrumental in successfully offshoring a number of DevOps roles to enable the businesses to run 24/7/365 operations.

Paul grew up in England and has lived and worked in Europe, USA, India, Middle East, SE Asia and most recently Australia. He is a serial founder with extensive startup experience, founding twelve startups in a diverse range of industries and successfully raising capital globally both for his own startups and has assisted others via SwiftPitch.  He recently visited 24 countries at various stages of their startup ecosystem development, which gives him a unique understanding of global startup markets. This has seen Paul give talks in 20+ countries and mentor 100+ startups globally.

Phil Loader phil-loader-2016-10-linkedin
https://nz.linkedin.com/in/phillip-loader-18878018
Business and IT Entrepreneur.
Investor in IT Businesses.
Phil has consulted in AU NZ and UK, specializing in export and sales.

Rebecca Ramsayrebecca-ramsay-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaramsay
As an experienced business owner and manager, Rebecca is a vibrant communicator skilled in motivating teams and individuals through dynamic trainings and presentations.  With a background in SME’s and corporate Rebecca’s business experience combined with her keen focus on personal and professional development, allows her a unique approach to assisting business in identifying improvement opportunities for both people and systems.   Working strategically with multiple businesses through her Corporate Advisory and Training Consultancy, Rebecca has her finger on the pulse of the issues and opportunities facing businesses , teams and individuals today.  Rebecca’s current project is indeed healthcare education industry with Paper ScalpelRock. Www.paperscalpelrock.com.

Dr Retha de Villiers Scheepers 
https://au.linkedin.com/in/retha-scheepers-0a6b8040
Dr Retha de Villiers Scheepers teaches entrepreneurship and innovation management at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She believes in teaching entrepreneurship in an experiential fashion and is passionate about the power of education to transform people’s lives. The recent multidisciplinary experiential entrepreneurship model (MEEM) grant project, in collaboration with Dr Renee Barnes and Dr Uwe Terton at USC has spawned five start-ups, with four of these ventures being awarded in different entrepreneurship events.  Retha volunteers in the Sunshine Coast start-up community as a Startup Weekend organiser and #SiliconCoast facilitator, creating opportunities for entrepreneurial students to extend their network, share and grow their start-ups and meet like-minded individuals.  Retha’s main research interests are related to the entrepreneurial experience within startups and existing organisations. She tackles research questions like: How are entrepreneurial communities formed? How do entrepreneurs make decisions to co-create the future with others? What factors trigger innovation and entrepreneurship within firms?

Robyn Simpson robyn-simpson-2016-10-linkedin
https://au.linkedin.com/in/robynmsimpson)
Robyn is the Managing Director of Market Smartly and Consult Me Group, and has almost 20 years in marketing consultancy. Over that time Robyn has accumulated a unique combination of experience as a strategic marketer and educator.  Her clients range from large international corporations to SME’s. Having launched four start-ups, been through the process of franchising and grown her own team from one to 23 in a little over 18 months, Robyn knows the benefits of systemising a business and using affordable and effective online solutions to manage growth efficiently. She focuses on looking for leverage and creating long-term sustainable businesses that run smartly and efficiently.

Her professional career stemmed from her position in the Senior Management Team of one of New Zealand’s largest corporations, as Brand & Marketing Manager for the Retail Division of Fonterra. Specialist areas include Retail, Professional Services, Franchising, Agribusiness and Consulting.  As a Lead Facilitator for Networx Brisbane, Robyn has a passion for marketing and business development, and is well versed in the ever-changing marketing medias and platforms available in today’s fast paced marketing world and how to apply them to grow businesses.

Tatiana Portertatiana-porter-2016-10-workplace-central
https://au.linkedin.com/in/tatianaporter
Chief Executive Officer / Director at Workplace Central
HR and Business Strategy
I value people and believe that given the right environment a strong team can make anything happen.  I have seen this firsthand through many and varied experiences.  Growing up in a rural town in south-east Queensland in a loving and lovely family, I learned to value community and the support and challenges it provides.  I have travelled around Europe, working in England, Wales and Italy. After working in a variety of jobs I wanted something stable which allowed travel and integration in a community. I had also become passionate about learning and sharing knowledge with others, so completed post grad qualifications in teaching.  After a short stint in the public service I moved to Japan to teach English. It was a wonderful experience which lasted almost 4 years, and allowed travel through much of SE Asia, and a 6 month return trip to Australia, taking the overland route from Southern China to France.   Back in Australia I taught in state schools for 9 months, but was quickly frustrated. I moved into a new international education venture as an education manager, and this was followed by senior teaching and academic management roles in Sydney, Perth and Darwin.  Wanting to broaden my management experience I came to Haycroft Workplace Solutions as general manager (and part of the founder’s succession plan) and two years later was part owner of the company, which became Workplace Central!  People make things happen! Being with energetic and positive people to create change is my passion.