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Cairns Chamber of Commerce Management Committee is elected annually in March at our Annual General Meeting. Committee members are representatives of the business community who volunteer their time to contribute to the development of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce.
The Management Committee meets once a month to discuss key management activities of the Chamber as well as meeting at other times for specific purposes.
Management Committee
(As at the Annual General Meeting held on 23 March 2010)
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President
Jeremy Blockey
Blockey Consulting
Jeremy, director Blockey Consulting, has been working in economics related fields in North Queensland for 20 years.
For ten years Jeremy was in the corporate government sector, working with Cairns Port Authority (CPA), including three years as corporate services manager looking after HR, marketing, environment and administration; four years as assistant to the CEO; and three years as market
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analyst, handling research and economic analysis. Prior to CPA, Jeremy was with economics consultancy, Cummings Economic Research Services, providing economic and market research services to clients. The firm also provided secretariat services to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, and Jeremy acted as Secretary to the Chamber for three years between 1989 and 1992.
Jeremy's experience includes the preparation of a range of economic studies, research and strategic business plans. Jeremy also has expertise in specialist areas including regional development, indigenous communities, competition policy and pricing issues, experience in dealing with Government at all levels as well as government business enterprises, most particularly in the areas of relationships with government and policy settings. Other areas of interest are corporate governance and education. Jeremy provides advisory services to a range of clients, from small business to large corporations, from Indigenous enterprises to regional development bodies, from tourism to mining.
His passion for economics and regional development issues is also played out in his involvement with the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, which currently includes the position of President (2007-). Jeremy joined the Cairns Chamber's Management Committee in 2004, serving the Chamber in various roles including as Chair of the Cairns Chamber's Resource & Industrial Taskforce, the Marketing sub-committee, and the Young Chamber sub-committee.
Jeremy has a Bachelor of Economics from Leicester University UK (1985), and is a Director of Advance Cairns and of Trinity Anglican School. Jeremy has in the last couple of years taken up Masters swimming, and with the family, has been a member of Ellis Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.
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Vice President
Sim Hayward
Hayward & Hayward Pty Ltd and HH 28 Pty Ltd
Sim Hayward is Managing Director of Hayward & Hayward Pty Ltd and HH28 Pty Ltd. Sim holds a Bachelor of Business, Hospitality. Her background in the industry, plus her passion for sharing and promoting the Cairns region especially in the areas of food and tourism, have resulted in many years of local involvement in various organisations.
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In 1988, together with her husband, Daryl, established Asian Foods, which they owned and operated successfully for 20 years. It was sold in February 2008.
Sim brings a wealth of international trade and food industry knowledge to the Cairns Chamber from her days as proprietor of Asian Foods. She has also exhibited at national and international food trade shows, promoting her own locally made products as well as others from the Far North. Her products were available nationally and internationally, prior to the sale of Asian Foods. Sim was a guest presenter on Channel Ten and Ergon Energy's cooking show ‘Radiant Living' from 1990-2000, promoting regional produce in Asian recipes.
She was Secretariat of the Cairns Food Group from 1994 - 2010. Sim was awarded Owner/Operator of the Year, Tropical North Queensland, by the Australian Institute of Management in 1999, and a finalist in the National Ethnic Business awards for Small Business in the same year.
In 2006, Asian Foods won the Queensland Multicultural award for Small Business and Sim won the Multicultural Achiever award. Asian Foods was listed in the Queensland Top 400 companies for several years leading up to the sale in 2008.
Sim is a member of the Cairns Sister Cities Advisory Committee (former President from 1990-2000) and believes that exchanges between Cairns and her sister cities will over time bring trade as well as cultural and educational benefits.
In 1994, with the support of other key organizations in Cairns, Sim hosted the very first two Chinese delegations from Beihai, Guangxi Province in China, resulting in the signing of a Friendship Agreement and opening the doors to many more Chinese visits to this region since.
Sim is Chair of the Queensland China Council, a committee appointed by the Premier and Cabinet to advise on all matters relating to Queensland and China relations. She has been a member since 1997.
She is also on the management committee of the Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Brisbane.
Sim's focus is ensure the capabilities of Cairns and Queensland companies are presented to the overseas and Chinese markets while working with Trade Queensland and its overseas Queensland Government Trade and Investment Offices in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Taipei. A direct air link between Mainland China and Cairns, Chinese language to be taught in our schools (to ensure job opportunities in the future for all Queenslanders), investments into the Far North region and other parts of Queensland, continues to be on her agenda.
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Vice President
Shelley Evans-Wild
Unique People and NeuroPower Learning &
Development
Shelley Evans-Wild is Managing Director of Unique People P/L & Equity Partner & CEO of NeuroPower Learning & Development P/L. Shelley specialises in the leadership & management behaviour of people & the affect this has on organizational & business outcomes. With a background in Behavioural Science, Psychology, Neuroscience & Education she assists business owners & organisations to
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access best practice in leadership & management strategies.
With a local team and international team she manages & directs her businesses which span across five states of Australia as well as internationally, across Asia, the South Pacific & more recently Europe. Clients include the likes of Westpac, ANZ, Mirvac, Arup, Airlines Papua New Guinea, BHP, Qld Rail, Western Australia Local Government Authority, Qld Health, Singhealth, Citibank Hong Kong & Motorola, as well as over 300+ local leaders & business owners.
Shelley has a successful track record in the leadership of community organisations. She has recently stepped down after four years as President of the Cairns Business Women's Club where she was an ambassador for 500+ business members, she is current Committee member of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, is the Chairperson of the Salvation Army Residential Appeal & holds numerous state, local & regional advisory board positions. In 2005 she was awarded the Australian Institute of Management's Business Owner Manager of the Year for her region. In 2008 she presented keynotes internationally in Australasia and North America.
Her passion for business, leadership of the region & her local community interests, as well as her experience & ownership of her own companies & partnership of numerous other small business enterprises as well as over eighteen years of leadership stewardship enables Shelley to relate to many corporate, business & government environments from the sole trader to large company boardrooms.
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Treasurer
Michael Ganza
Engineering Testing Services
Michael is the Managing Director of Engineering Testing Services which is a geotechnical engineering and material testing business based in Cairns and Townsville. The business has been operating in Cairns for over 25 years and Michael has been in his own business for over 9 years.
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Michael has an active interest in Engineers Australia and is the immediate past president for Engineers Australia Queensland.
Michael attended James Cook University in Townsville and completed a Bachelor of Engineering with honours in 1988. He has also completed a Graduate Diploma in Municipal Engineering in 1991 and is currently halfway through completing a Masters of Business Administration.
Michael has lived in Cairns for almost 20 years and grew up in the nearby town of Ingham.
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Committee Member
Graham Poon
TropLinks Inc
Graham Poon has extensive Australian and International commercial experience through the work he has done for over 30 years throughout Australia, Sth. East Asia, North Asia, Guam, Micronesia and the Pacific, both in the private sector and the Federal Government.
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Graham has recently been appointed the CEO of TropLinks Incorporated, a private, membership-based organisation whose mission is to grow the economy through the promotion and commercialisation of Tropical Expertise across northern Australia. Previously, Graham worked as a business consultant in Cairns assisting businesses in strategic planning, marketing and export activities. He is a member of the Qld Govt's "Mentoring for Growth" panel in Cairns, a member of the Australian Institute of Export and a previous judge for the Telstra Business Awards.
He also brings much knowledge to the Cairns business community from his previous role as Austrade Trade Commissioner based in the Australian Embassy in Manila specialising in helping Australian companies access projects funded by the Asian Development Bank and other development institutions. He has also held positions as CEO of the Chamber of Commerce NT, Austrade Regional Trade Commissioner NT and general manager of a major tourism operation in Guam. Graham was educated at the University of Qld, and is married with 3 children.
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Committee Member
Antonia Moore
AMM Security Solutions
Antonia has the drive and experience to benefit the Board and members of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce. She is used to breaking new ground, stepping outside her comfort zone and succeeding against the odds. Having established her own business AMM Security Solutions in 2004, Antonia knows first hand the challenges facing local small business.
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Antonia is the only female Director of nationally approved security industry association, Security Providers Association of Australia Ltd. She is also the only female security technician in Australia and was one of two female IT technicians in Australia (1980's) before moving to London (1990) to continue in the IT field. As SPAAL's Qld Manager she liaises with government and private sector parties to improve governance and professionalism in her industry.
Antonia is Co-ordinator Security, Lighting and Safety on the Cairns Chamber of Commerce Inner City Taskforce and was sponsor of our Chambers' Centenary year.
Antonia is committed to serving the CCC membership as an Independent Local Small Business Operator and to working with the entire membership and community to better disseminate Chamber services.
A graduate of James Cook University (B.Bus Intl Bus & Mktg), Antonia believes in greater co-operation between the Chamber and JCU, reciprocating a benefit to all. Antonia contributes to COAG working papers on Technical Security (3 states) and is a regular contributing writer for the national "Security Solutions Magazine". Her networks are substantive and her knowledge of economics and business management will be a useful asset to the committee.
She has given 8 yrs volunteer tax help on behalf of the ATO and is Treasurer, Lions Club of Cairns. Antonia is a member of Marlin Coast Toastmasters Club, Mentor for businesswomen and youth and Cyclist fundraiser for charitable organisations, further demonstrating her capacity to give whilst supporting her own personal and social needs.
A parent of both university and secondary school students, Antonia engages with all ages and is socially aware and understanding of both personal and professional challenges facing business people in the region.
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Committee Member
Anthony Mirotsos
Preston Law
Anthony is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and of the High Court of Australia. He has over 10 years experience working in small and large business enterprises. This experience has involved working in Executive Management for large medical companies in Sydney and including roles as Managing Director and Sales and Marketing Director.
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Anthony commenced his experience after university in Sales and then moved into Product and Marketing Management before moving into Senior Management. During his time in Sydney and in Cairns, Anthony has also owned and operated a variety of small businesses in the Allied Health industry, Hospitality and also in Property Maintenance. After 10 years of being a business owner, Anthony decided to embark on a career in Law.
Prior to completing his law degree, Anthony commenced working at the Queensland Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). After gaining his practising certificate as a Barrister and after nearly 3 years at the ODPP, Anthony had moved into a position as Legal Officer, prosecuting various indictable offences in the Supreme and District Court on behalf of the Crown. Anthony continues to maintain an interest in Criminal Law by assisting as a volunteer at the Cairns Community Legal Centre.
Anthony decided to capitalise on his extensive experience in small to large business and commenced employment with Preston Law as a Commercial Lawyer. At Preston Law Anthony specialises in commercial and property transactions and general business advice including commercial office and retail leasing, business purchases and sales, company share acquisitions and franchising.
At Cairns Chamber of Commerce, Anthony has been involved in the Marketing Sub-Committee for four years and has expressed a desire to become more involved in the Cairns Chamber of Commerce as a member of the Management Committee. With an enthusiasm for making business a success, Anthony looks forward to adding a skill set to the Management Committee which will assist the Chamber to achieve their goals and objectives.
As a Lawyer, Anthony hopes to represent the CCC members in a professional, taskforce and outcome driven manner with a passion for meeting the members expectations at a management and strategic level.
Anthony also has a love for cycling and any cycling fundraising activities and enjoys spending time with his children. He is also the incumbent Treasurer for the Far North Queensland Law Association and thrives on helping meaningful causes which help others.
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Chamber Team
Cairns Chamber of Commerce office consists of 3 team members who have a diversity of skills to handle the various enquiries that come through Cairns Chamber office. Cairns Chamber's operations incorporate various services including membership services, Regional Migration programs, lobbying and local/national/overseas enquiries.
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Executive Officer
Mr Sandy Whyte
Sandy Whyte was born and educated in North Queensland and has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from James Cook University.
Sandy’s experience covers both the public and private sectors with sixteen years experience as a manager of not-for-profit, business and tourism organisations.
He joined the Cairns Chamber 1998 as Executive Officer to
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oversee the operations of both the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and the Cairns International Trade Centre. During his time with the Cairns Chamber, it has modernised and redefined itself as the leading business organisation in Cairns and as one of the largest and most effective Cairns Chambers in Australia. The Cairns Chamber now boasts facilities and services the equal of any Chamber in the Pacific.
Sandy is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (FAIM).
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Events & Marketing
Judy Lloyd
Judy joined the Cairns Chamber in June 2007, bringing with her an extensive sales and marketing and event coordination background.
Judy spent 19 years at the Cairns Colonial Club Resort with the first 9 years in Reception and Reservation, then the last 10 years in conference and event coordination. Quality customer service and time
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management skills were key factors in these roles which are important in her current role.
Judy's role encompasses website administration and email broadcasts, event coordination, membership enhancement, and partcipates in several Cairns Chamber sub committees.
Judy hails from a local cane farming family and loves living in this part of the world with her family.
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Roxy Voyce
Roxy joined the Cairns Chamber in March 2009 in the role of accounts, administration and assisting with the Regional Migration program.
After completing her schooling in Atherton, Roxy joined a local accounting firm where she spent three valuable years gaining bookkeeping, financial and administration knowledge and experience.
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Roxy has further developed her administrative skills by exposure to working in the construction industry as well as in corporate business services at a leading superannuation company.
Roxy is excited to be working with the Cairns Chamber team and being a part of assisting our Members' and supporting building business in the Cairns region.
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