Regional Centres - Townsville (North Queensland)

Address: PO Box 892 Townsville Qld 4810 
Phone: 13 16 48
Fax: (07) 3832 2497 
Email: townsville@aimqld.com.au

Regional Chairman

Geoff Bell FAIM

Geoff became Regional Chair at the start of 2007 and is looking forward to playing a role in the development of AIM and its objectives in this magnificent and rapidly expanding part of Australia.

His current role is at James Cook University where he works in the Information and Corporate Services Division as Executive Officer with responsibility for Divisional operational and financial management and plays a key role in the strategic direction of the Division and its programs which include IT, HR, Information Services, Facilities Management and the Commercial Office (including Accommodation, Bookshop and Printery). Leading up to this role he was General Manager at the James Cook University Student Association from 2003 to 2005.

For 12 years prior to this he owned a company based in Victoria providing recreation facility management services to local government throughout Australia. Over this time he also served on the Board of the Victorian Aquatic Industry Council. Prior to this he worked as a Physical Education teacher and recreation officer/manager with both local and state government.

Geoff has an MBA from the University of Ballarat and is currently undertaking a law degree.

Regional Committee

Maria Sims - Secretariat

Dr Anna Blackman AFAIM

Anna is currently a lecturer with the Townsville School of Business at James Cook University. She has been lecturing at JCU for four years while completing her PhD in the field of Effective Business Coaching. She also currently runs her own consultancy business, Exemplar Business Coaching. In this role she works with Townsville business owners and mangers on specific topics such as business analysis, human resources, marketing, communication, work/life balance and research. She is also a published author with a number of journal and magazine articles being published relating to coaching, tourism and recruitment advertisements. Previous to her work at the university she worked in management in small businesses and retail both locally and internationally.

Neville Brown FAIM

Neville comes from the corporate sector and until recently was a senior Manager at Regional level for a multi national organisation. As a corporate sector manager & has been involved in business and government within the region, especially the resources and automotive sectors.

Has been a senior corporate manager for over 20 years the majority in the Townsville region. He has handled multi million dollar projects from conception to completion and has earned a high level of respect from his customer base.

He has enjoyed a close affiliation with defence since 1971 and currently is an Army Reserve Senior Logistics Officer in North Queensland. His continuing studies are in Honours of Business and Research methodology and he is starting a PhD in Business in 2007.

Gerard Byrne FAIM

Gerard Byrne has had over twenty years experience in the Tourism Industry in North Queensland in a variety of roles. This is Gerard's third year as Chair of the North Queensland Tourism Awards.

Gerard has been involved in several award winning and successful tourism ventures in North Queensland including Chair, Skyrail Advisory Committee, El Rancho Del Rey, and the Tully Information Centre. Gerard worked as a Business Advisor for Tourism Enterprises in the Great Green Way for three years. As Chair, Far North Institute of TAFE, Gerard oversighted the commissioning of the Hospitality Training Centre in Cairns.

Gerard is committed to contributing to the ongoing growth of the tourism industry in North Queensland and he sees the North Queensland Tourism Awards as a major opportunity for highlighting the achievements of the Industry in the region. Gerard has a strong interest in Rural Tourism and Conference and Events Tourism. He is in demand as a speaker locally, nationally, and internationally.

Gerard is actively involved in a wide range of business and professional organisations including Chair, North Queensland Regional Development Network, Chair, Regional Managers Co-ordination Network, Chair, Defence Reserve Support Committee, North Queensland CPA Australia Committee, and the North Queensland Australian Institute of Management Committee.

Gerard's contribution to North Queensland has been recognised with a number of awards at Local, State, and National level, particularly following Cyclone Larry.

Kathy Caddy AFAIM

Kathy is Commercial Manager for Escape Travel – The Debbie Giudes Family Group (formally Harvey World Travel). The group owns 10 Escape Travel Franchises, 4 in Townsville, 2 in Cairns, 2 in Rockhampton, 1 in Mackay and 1 in Brisbane. As Commercial Manager, Kathy is in charge of all Finances and Human Resources for the group.

Kathy moved up to Townsville from South Australia where her last position was Business Manager for Salisbury Asset Services. Prior to that Kathy worked for BAE Systems as Accountant – Financial Systems, where she was involved greatly with the installation of Oracle Financials and subsequent upgrades, winning a number of innovation awards.

Clayton Cook AFAIM

David Llewellyn AFAIM

Dr Lisa McDonald AIMM

After finishing her PhD at the University of New England, Lisa started her professional career with CSIRO at the Townsville Davies Laboratory in 1996 where she ran projects aimed to better understand sugarcane physiology so that the industry could assess

Lisa Started working for CSR Sugar in 1999, her role, to facilitate a new initiative designed to improve cane productivity in the Burdekin. The role included extensive project management, managing approximately $4 million worth of projects aimed to improve industry development.

Lisa started with Townsville Enterprise in June 2007 as the senior business development manager in the economic development group and has been acting in the manager's role since November 2007.

Lisa is responsible for the economic development team. The team undertakes research and works with major industries and organisations in the region to identify infrastructure bottlenecks and actively lobbys government to seek funding to have these critical infrastructure built.

The team promote the competitive advantages of Townsville and the region as the business investment destination of choice. Identifys which industries would gain competitive advantage from investing in Townsville and actively work to attract them to the region. Also working to attract much needed skills into the region to underpin our economy's sustained growth by facilitating the intake of skilled migrants to meet specific skills gaps identified by local business and by promoting Townsville and surrounding regions to potential workers across Queensland and Australia

Madonna Simmons AIMM

Madonna currently holds the position of Manager, Commercial & Property at Townsville Airport. Her resume includes 20 years experience in Marketing, Business and Shopping Centre Management. Madonna’s previous positions have allowed her to establish extensive knowledge in tenant and partner relationship with all level of stakeholders. Madonna's career has extended into the area of Commercial Management at Townsville Airport where she is responsible for the managment of the terminal, carparks and all property.

Madonna has studied both with James Cook University, School of Tourism Tafe and the Property Council of Australia. Madonna is currently a serving board member on the Townsville Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Institute of Management.