Meet our Members

Founding member

Jamal’s Story – Drawing on my years of experience, especially with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enables me to successfully match buyers with sellers to achieve the right outcome for all parties. I enjoy building new relationships and learning about my clients’ houses and what makes them special. My strong customer service and good communication skills ensure I always maintain a strong rapport with my clients. I believe in keeping everyone informed with the latest developments to guarantee maximum satisfaction for all parties.

Constantly seeking to add value for my clients, I utilise the extensive resources of Place, and the competitive advantage of the Place brand. Always keeping a finger on the pulse with market trends, I know how to position your property to gain the best possible market result. With the strong support of the Place team, I am able to help my clients achieve an excellent return for their properties.

Core services include: Marketing and selling land, houses, units and town houses.

Founding member

Ricardo’s Story – After starting early in my career as an employee of one of Australia’s largest energy providers, I moved to Japan and started working for the Japanese Government. After a number of invaluable years, I was headhunted by a Tokyo based American/Japanese firm which led me to consulting with a handful of government departments such as Education and Training, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Japan Self Defence Force, and private companies such as ANA (All Nippon Airways) and Fujitsu.

On my return to Australia, I worked effectively and successfully as an IT recruiter representing one of the largest IT consulting firms in Australia. After numerous successes, I became even more intrigued in the psychology behind the recruitment of successful people. Having already obtained a Bachelor of Languages and Applied Linguistics and a Graduate Diploma in Training, I have continued to acquire qualifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, solution selling and extended my study to include Emotional Intelligence.

With my vast experience in psychological based coaching and training, I have developed a unique coaching process, delivering outstanding results.

Core services include: Coaching, Training & Consulting.

Founding member

Adriana’s Story – My role is to help you tell your story and grow your business. I’ll work with you to determine your unique selling points, develop a tailored strategy and implement cost effective marketing activities to build your brand both online and offline. After 20 years working both inhouse and as an external marketing consultant for government and private companies, as well as public relations consultancies in Brisbane and Sydney, I took a leap of faith and started up my own business. In 2013, I founded BacktoBasics Communication Services to help businesses develop solid foundations to build their business brand, and access affordable strategic marketing advice. With a bank of knowledge spanning diverse industries including property, technology, finance, insurance, retail, health, and tourism, I have a good handle on issues and effective strategies to reach and engage audiences in these areas. Happy to discuss your marketing needs with a FREE consultation.

Core services include: development of marketing plans, social media management, traditional media campaigns and copywriting for websites, newsletters and brochures.

Founding member

Mark’s Story – After moving on from Telstra, I focused my energies into helping clients manage their data. IT Managed Services forms an essential part of ensuring business practices are compliant and efficient to maximise performance.

Working for Centra Networks, I have developed a deeper understanding of the operational challenges facing organisations. Through technology, I can help business owners and manager achieve significant cost savings and reduce resources and time. Working with my technology team of experienced and accredited IT providers, we’re helping to make a difference. Together, we can improve productivity, and reduce your downtime.

If you’re seeking help with data security, working remotely, workflow management, or developing a cohesive enterprise IT infrastructure, let’s chat.

Founding member

Con’s Story – With many years of experience, I can make your event run smoothly, and serve delicious bespoke food to your guests. We work with you to ensure your needs and any special requirements are met. If you want to impress your guests, I can make that happen.

We have many long-standing repeat clients, which is testament to the extraordinary quality, value and service we offer. If you are requiring catering for an early morning breakfast, an afternoon grazing table, one of life’s important celebrations, or any kind of event, we can help you. We cater for small intimate occasions up to large events for 5,000 guests and everything in between.

Catering for all events in South East Queensland, we strive to make every event perfect.

Founding member

Andrew’s Story – In 2001 I bought in to a Print Franchise Network. It was here that I developed a range of skills around pre-press, digital and offset print, online print management, and more importantly; customer service.

I founded Appello Media in 2012 with a desire to apply my experience in the corporate and franchise sectors to delivering tailored print marketing solutions for our customers. Appello Media offers a comprehensive range of printed products including business stationery, marketing collateral and signage. With access to manufacturing hubs in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, we supply a diverse range of clients with high quality, competitively priced printing, delivered Australia wide.

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Alvin’s Story – I started my career in management consulting before starting my own financial planning business. In 2013 I moved into mortgage broking after seeing a need for correctly structured lending in my own clients.

I have always been a problem solver and enjoy thinking out of the box to come up with clever finance solutions for my clients.

I am also passionate about helping those in need and in particular helping children in the third world get access to clean water.   After every loan settlement my business makes a donation through World Vision Australia supporting the installation of toilets and digging fresh water bores in third world countries.

Core services include: home loans and investment property loans, refinancing and SMSF lending.

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Robert’s Story – Do you spend a vast amount of time working in your business only to discover that you now have to worry about keeping your Xero file up to date or even worse, realising that you have missed an important lodgement deadline. Wouldn’t it be nice to finish work at 5pm and head home to the family without having to worry about lodging your BAS on time, or finding funds for a large unexpected tax bill. This is where I can help!

My clients range from the single business owner trying to do everything on their own, right through to company directors managing a large team of staff and a multi million dollar business.

I love seeing business owners grow and thrive through every stage of business. So whether you are a startup business and need help setting up or a mature business that has outgrown your current accountant’s capabilities, we’d be happy to explore working with you.

Core services include: business accounting, tax planning, BAS statement. I also prepare strategies to reduce your tax and where possible, take advantage of any available government assistance packages.

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Felipe’s Story – with a Latin background (Brazil) and family-oriented as most South Americans, I am a holistic business and life coach, registered clinical counsellor & Certified TRTP Practitioner for Men to Live an Authentic Life™. I acquired my wisdom and deep knowledge through a Master’s in Psychotherapy & Counselling, plus a degree in Journalism, an MBA in Marketing of Services and a series of professional and high-standard work on mental development in my last 2 decades.

As a Registered Professional, I hold accountability to PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) and CCAA (Christian Counsellors Association) with more than 1000 supervised hours.

I also dedicate time to helping the helpless. I am the founder and President of the Counselling Men Project. NFP with a vision to end homelessness & violence by enabling the community to utilize the economic system toward human development and fulfilment.

Core services include: Life coaching, individual counselling & trauma therapy (TRTP) for men to achieve their Authentic Life™.

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Ashley’s Story – After uni, I worked in various Queensland Government Departments in a variety of positions, including Small Business Advisor, Business Migrant Support Manager, Marketing Manager at Education Queensland International and Trade Officer at Trade and Investment Queensland.  I was also posted to TIQ’s Shanghai Office for 3 years as Director of Business Development from 2006-2009, and from 2010-2020, I worked as Senior Manager at Brisbane Economic Development Agency, responsible for promoting Brisbane as a destination for international tourism, international education and MICE.

From my public sector roles, I gained extensive experience in Sino-Australian affairs, cross culture business relationship management, trade facilitation, international education and international business development and project management.

In 2021 I left BEDA to establish my own training organisation with a business partner.  Australian College of Tourism and Information Technology is a registered training organisation (RTO) and CRICOS provider that delivers training in nationally recognised qualifications under the AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework).

Our college specialises in high quality training in tourism and information technology to both international and domestic students.  Our Management Team and Teaching staff are highly qualified industry experts and maintain close professional links to industry to ensure our training is at the leading edge of industry development.

We have also established university pathways with 6 Australian universities so graduates from our Diploma qualifications can enter the second year of a Bachelor’s Degree program in these universities.

Core services include: Training and assessment in Cert III to Graduate Diploma qualifications in Travel, Tourism, Event Management, Hospitality, Commercial Cookery, Information Technology and Individual Support , training in micro-credentials in tourism and IT, Study Tours, Professional development study tours for teachers, RTO consultation.

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Matt’s Story – I have been running my own construction company in NZ and now in Australia for the last 30 years and this has allowed me to develop the broad range of skills required to keep a small business flourishing and satisfied clients. I have worked in New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Sydney and now for the last 13 years have been a QBCC licenced builder in Brisbane enjoying the awesome Queensland lifestyle.

I have delivered difficult projects on time and within budget under difficult conditions, as is the nature of the industry I work in. I have decided to invest in a Jim’s franchise business as I believe the model provides the best opportunity for me to use my expertise in a professional capacity with a reputable trading name and support team behind me.

In my spare time I enjoy endurance events and have completed many triathlons including the Iron Man Australia in Port Macquarie twice.

Core services include: Building Inspections (general – Presale,) Timber Pest Inspections, Asbestos Inspections, Owner Builder Warranty, Pool Inspections, Dilapidation Reports, Depreciation Schedules, New Construction (Renovations & New Builds,) Mould, Insurance, Strata Reports.

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Keith’s Story – Through my journey of mentoring over a thousand small businesses from start-up to profitability, I realised that our commitment and success hinges not on the size of the businesses we serve, but on the smart solutions we provide. It’s not about being small or large, but about making intelligent decisions and adopting effective strategies.

 At Just Smart Business, I believe that success is achieved through goal achievement. My team and I help you create winning strategies so you can succeed in business.

 Using the Just Smart Business system enables you to create, refine and achieve your strategic purpose, set clear goals, and to implement actionable steps to achieve your “Big Goal”.

Our approach includes:

• Collaborative sessions to define your strategic direction, clarifying purpose, setting goals, and outlining actionable steps.
• A process tailored to your needs through consultation, workshops and guided self-help aimed at guiding you through the process of building your winning strategy, ensuring clarity and alignment with your aspirations, purpose, and direction.
• Accountability partnerships to provide ongoing support and guidance, keeping you focused and motivated on your journey to achieve success.

With our expertise and personalised support, we’re dedicated to helping you navigate the path to success, turning your business aspirations into reality.

Core services include: Business Strategy, Business Advisory.

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Valerie’s Story – Spending almost my entire working life in finance related roles, I began with aspirations to become an Accountant, however this was not my calling and from here I’ve worked for one of the big 4 banks, one of the largest Australian Industry Super funds, a well known Australian investment company and you will now find me running my own Financial Advice business, Advice Wise Aust. Throughout this journey I have acquired extensive experience, I have also attained a Certificate in Accounting, Diploma & Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, accreditations for SMSFs and Aged Care, Certificate in Finance and Mortgage Broking and am completing a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.

Core services include: Guiding you to achieve your financial goals through strategies around wealth creation/investments, superannuation, retirement planning, cashflow/debt management, tax planning, personal insurances and an array of other related strategy areas aligned to your financial journey.