To celebrate International Women’s Day 2017, PakMag have put together a list of women kicking butt in FNQ.
There are hundreds of women doing amazing things in the Far North that it was impossible to include all of them, these are just some of the women who are making a difference, doing something great and generally being awesome at what they do in this region. We think all of these ladies are equally as amazing as each other and so this list is in alphabetical order, rather than order of awesomeness!
So, here we go…
Alina Bell
In 2016, Alina won the Most Outstanding Female Investigator award statewide for her work in the Cairns Child Protection Investigation Unit. Alina was the lead investigator in the homicide investigation of eight children in Cairns in 2014 and is an inspiration and influential Detective Sergeant in FNQ.
Amy Turnbull
Amy Turnbull is involved with CCIQ where she is passionate about small businesses and helping them develop to achieve their full potential. She has previously had experience working for The Cairns Post and realestate.com.au specialising in marketing, sales and advertising, covering much of Far North Queensland.
Andrea Tunjic
Andrea Trunjic is an award-winning people management expert, mentor, author, speaker and influencer. She is inspiring a positive change in the way people work. She works with business to create happier workplaces.
Anne Naylor
Anne Naylor is a recognised face in the ENJO, providing most of Far North Queensland with environmentally friendly cleaning products. The grandmother has been named in the top 10 Recruiters as well as an ENJOpreneur in 2016.
Bronwyn Voyce
Bronwyn Voyce is the division 6 councilor for Tablelands Regional Council and strategic advisor and project manager for various government departments and non-profit organizations. She strives to contribute to the development of regions and cities.
Carla Shesser
Carla is a young entrepreneur, author and speaker. Carla just won Young Woman of the Year for Cairns for her involvement in inspiring young people
Carolyn McManus
Carolyn McManus started her career as a regional bank manager and it wasn’t until maternity leave with her second child she decided she wanted a more flexible lifestyle. She entered the food and coffee industry and she knew it would be hard. Through the use of her persistence and diligence to open numerous Coffee club outlets and became the first franchisee to open a Ribs and Rumps steakhouse.
Cary Collican
Sergeant Cary Collican is the officer in charge of the Cairns District Crime Prevention Office. She has been an adopt-a-cop at various schools and has provided a range of presentations to businesses and community groups.
Coralee O’Rourke
As a former teacher she understand the importance of a quality education and the successful future of children. Her passion includes families and the community working together for change. Coralee currently serves as the Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland.
Danae Jones
Danae Jones is the driving force behind Danae Jones Consulting with substantial amount of national and international experience across the board (TV, Radio, Print and Online). She has been named Queensland Young Manager of the Year and Young Entrepreneur of the Year as well as being appointed to the Australian Government Small Business Advisory Panel
Deb Hancock
Deborah Hancock is a recognised individual in the Cairns community. Besides working as the CEO of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, she is a board member of various organisations within the community. She desires to bring people together to make a difference in the community.
Deb Johnstone
During Deb’s management career she realised that she had a gift with people. She decided to combine her love for people and passion for helping individuals to start a new career as a mindset coach. She has a vision to create awareness of mindset for success and happiness globally.
Emma Lodge
Emma Lodge is the founder of Bloom Inspiring wellness. After experiencing a loved one go through cancer she decided to spread the message about chronic diseases. She fundraises regularly and her attention has also been drawn to sourcing articles on healing foods.
Fallon Drewett
When Fallon Drewett resigned from her job she was on a mission to empower women through the “The Just Saying Project”. Her blog is about bringing the soul back to women’s lives with honest & uplifting female conversations. We are in the business of making women feel fabulous.
Gerlinda Stella
Gerlinda is a busy mother of three and step-mother of three with a thriving styling business. The personal stylist is now so successful that she travels all over the country and her mission is simple- to change the way women see themselves.
Gina Hogan
Mother of one, Gina, has been the General Manager for the Cairns and Tablelands region at Southern Cross Austereo since 2009. She’s recently helped the SCA team transition through a rebrand and long-awaited office move.
Haley Gillespie
Haley is a local artist who has had experience in designing and decorating kids furniture as well as painted advertising, brochure design, signs and murals. She draws her inspiration from her own childhood.
Jana Gorski
Jana was awarded the Cairns Business Women’s Club Michelle Commins Legacy Award in 2016. She was recognised for her volunteer work and commitment to the community through founding and coordinating REAP Cairns, preventing food waste and hunger in FNQ.
Jenny Hill
Jenny Hill was the first female mayor of Townsville. She is passionate about Townsville and its tropical lifestyle and build a strong community, support business and employment, and safeguard Townsville’s lifestyle.
Jo Ettles
Jo Ettles is a published author and institutive wellness specialist. She has assisted many people worldwide to take responsibility for their wellness, energy and how they live their lives. Her message is that you can positively and permanently change your life right now.
Jo Whitton
Jo Whitton has grown up with a passion for food and as she grew older she studied healthy foods whilst growing her own fresh produce to create fresh and wholesome meals. After working with a naturopath she discovered foods that were causing problems in our bodies and how to replace them before writing her own book.
Joanna Murray
Joanna is the president of the Townsville Business Women’s Circle and is Joanna is also an occupational therapist and Director of Access Therapy Services and Allied Health Consortium North Queensland.
Jodie Duignan-George
Jodie Duignan-George is the Vice-Chancellor for CQ University in Cairns and Far North Queensland Region. She is responsible for ensuring the CQ University positively contributes to the region’s development by creating mutually beneficial relationships and projects.
Jody Euler
Jody has 20 years of marketing, advertising and design experience and is the founder and owner manager of Red Hot Blue, a leading Mackay creative agency. She’s also heavily involved in bringing awareness to Asperger’s Syndrome and paving the way for creating resources in the region.
Julia Leu
Julia Leu, was elected Mayor of the Douglas Shire in 2013 and re-elected in 2016. She has a wide range of experience, including running her own business and has been a teacher, lecturer and senior commonwealth employee in indigenous health, housing and community services.
Julie Cullen
Julie Cullen is the CEO of the Cairns Aquarium plans to boost Tourism in the city. She holds a science degree and was most recently the marketing manager for tourism body Visit Sunshine Coast.
Kate Fern
Kate Fern is a mother of two and is the co-founder of The Power of the Pallets, she uses recycled and disused wooden pallets to create furniture and other items. This business not only raises money for charity but also creates jobs for the region. She was awarded the Pride of Australia Environment Medal, which recognises those actions that make a difference to the environment and the community.
Kate Richards
Kate Richards, also known as Adventure Mumma is out to discover Tropical North Queensland and through blogging her journey she hopes to provide families with local tips, activities and popular spots in the Tropical North Queensland.
Katrina Spies
Katrina is Division 5 Councillor for Tableland Regional Council. She’s a transformational coach, a business advisor and an educator. She also established Pinnacle Pocket Cattle with her husband, the only registered stud in Far North Queensland.
Kerri-lee Fredericks
Kerri-lee Fredericks is a Principal Lawyer in Townsville. Her focus is on assisting businesses with regulatory compliance as well as representing business and individuals with employment matters. She is also apart of a group called Sky Foundation generating awareness and financial support for the Women’s Centre.
Kristy Valley
Kristy Valley is an award winning blogger and founder of The Imperfect Mum. She is passionate about women and the issues they encounter.
Kylie Porter
Kylie is a Mackay local and is president for the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce. She also runs her own small business, Out of the Blue Marketing. Kylie is also a Director of Mackay Whitsunday Isaac REDC, a Director of
CRES and a member of the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival organising committee.
Lieutenant Colonel Gabrielle Follett
Lieutenant Colonel Gabrielle Follett was the first female to command a unit within an Australian Army Combat Brigade. In 2006 she was awarded a Silver Commendation for her leadership of Gallipoli Company. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Mathematics, a Bachelor of Medical Science, a Masters of Arts in Strategy and Policy and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mai Delle Cort
Mai is involved with family owned and operated business Little Snappers found within Cairns and Townsville. Mai is the marketing director and has a Bachelor of science in Business Administration in addition to marketing and Entrepreneurial Studies. She is also qualified Swim Australia Teacher and Teacher of Babies and Toddlers.
Marlies Hobbs
After Marlies Hobbs’ son was born with diary intolerance she discovered the paleo diet. She encourages a revolutionary style of eating with a strong fitness community. She has founded her own café as well as successfully written her own paleo lifestyle cookbook. In 2015 she was awarded QLD Franchise Woman of the Year.
Marissa Candy
Marissa is the director of Townsville based marketing agency, The Marketing Factory as well as being the editor for Success Business Magazine. And although The Marketing Factory is considered one of the top marketing agencies in the country, Marissa is an advocate for promoting local opportunities.
Nicky Jurd
Nicky Jurd is director of Precedence, well known for their creative and functional website design. In her spare time she is a public speaker and holds workshops on a range of internet-related topics aimed at small business owners.
Pat Bailey
Pat Bailey has spent decades volunteering with various football clubs to promote and develop rugby league in the Cairns District, spending over 40 years involved in the sport and giving her own time every weekend. She is also recognised for her assistance in the community during times of disaster. She was awarded Australia Day Volunteer of the Year.
Patrice Brown
Patrice Brown is a mum with many passions: a business and commercial property owner, cattle producer and advocate for the protection of environmental and cultural values and land rights. She has qualifications in engineering, science and business and has been a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards.
Patricia O’Callaghan
Patricia is the Chief Executive Officer of Townsville Enterprise. Her passion is to gain a deep understanding of issues and opportunities in the region. She was presented Young Manager of the Year through the Australian Institute of Management.
Professor Sandra Harding
Professor Sandra Harding Vice Chancellor and President of James Cook University. She is responsible for ensuring effective leadership and management of all Universities across operating sites, including campuses in Townsville, Cairns and Singapore and she has been recognised with many awards for her efforts.
Ranee Crosby
Ranee Crosby is the CEO of Port of Townsville. She has had over eighteen years of experience in the port shipping industry. She is passionate about the regions opportunities and for economic growth and sustainability for the future.
Sally Mlikota
Sally Milkota is currently the managing director of CBC Staff Selection in both Cairns and Townsville. She was presented Cairns Business Women of the year in 2009 and since then been involved with the annual awards before becoming the president in 2015.
Shelley Wild
Shelley is Managing Director of PeopleHQ, a Cairns based business that seeks to unleash the potential of humans to shape a better world. She’s passionate about championing and empowering women.
Sheriden Morris
Sheriden Morris is the Executive Director and Company Secretary Reef and Rainforest Research Centre. In her professional career she has previously worked in sugar, banana, aquaculture and tourism industries. She was also announced Cairns Business Women’s Club Manager in Business of the year 2016.
Trudy Crowley
In 2016 Trudy was diagnosed with incurable ovarian cancer. Since then her work to bring awareness to this awful disease has seen her help to raise $40,000 for Ovarian Cancer Awareness.
Vlasta Eriksson
Vlasta Eriksson, founder and director of Signature Staff, mum of three and in her spare time completes triathlons! She is also the vice president of the Cairns Business Women’s Club. Her passion is people and she believes nothing is more rewarding than seeing people succeed.
Our Pick: Bree James
Although she would never have suggested herself, the PakMag team feel she should be included! Bree is not only PakMag’s founder, she’s the Cairns Ambassador for the Inspiring Rare Birds movement, public speaker, author, blogger, a serial entrepreneur and a mum of two!
