BDmag Issue 18 - October to December 2023

TIME TRAVELLER’S HAVEN

The Speckled Hen Antiques and Collectibles

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Environmental sustainability for future generations

DROUGHT RESILIENCE

Innovative solutions for the future of agribusiness

PIONEERING TOWNSVILLE’S Coffee Culture

LOCAL ROASTERY INVESTS IN THE FUTURE

NOW STOCKING

CARAVANS FOR A NEW GENERATION

CONTENTS

14 CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF SUCCESS

Ingham’s Felix Reitano Real Estate commemorates 100 years in business.

15 SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO COLLABORATE FOR MAJOR PROJECTS

Connect with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning –North Queensland Regional Office

16 5 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN RECRUITING STAFF

Local recruitment and labour hire company, Signature Staff, provide advice to make your next hire a success.

18 BOOST FOR THRIVING CIRCULAR ECONOMY PROJECTS

Ensuring environmental sustainability for future generations.

21 ACCELERATING INNOVATION

Dare to think big with Smart Precinct NQ.

22 DRIVING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF AGRIBUSINESS

How the TNQ Drought Hub are turning research into resilience mechanisms.

24 COAL POWERED JOBS FOR NORTH QUEENSLAND Bravus Mining and Resources celebrates a milestone coal haul.

26 BUCKING HIS WAY INTO A NEW MARKET

Introducing Glen Young, the man at the helm of PBR Australia.

28 SOCIAL FEATURE

Knight Frank celebrate their 35th Anniversary and the Everglow Community Care Links Inc Annual General Meeting.

29 BALANCING ACT

Jools Munro explains why choosing an agent that cares about the buyer experience matters.

30 MEETING THE NEED FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC INSIGHTS

How the Regional Economic Advisory team are changing the strategic advice and investment market.

32 HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH COLLEAGUES FROM CULTURALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS

Guest Contribution article by Wendy de Munari from Work Ready NQ.

ABN 77 899 099 507 M. 0415 908 896 www.bdmag.com.au EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

E. info@bdmag.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Meghan Boland, Georgie Desailly, Julie Johnston, Elisabeth Silvester

FRONT COVER Jonathan Whitfield, Photography by Sonia Warrell, Hello Muse Photography BDMAG

PHOTOGRAPHERS Sonia Warrell, Hello Muse Photography DESIGN MAK Media PRINT Hastings Printers

We acknowledge the Bindal and Wulgurukaba peoples as Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate and pay respect to Elders past, present and future. BDmag is committed to providing a media platform that is diverse and inclusive. All contents of BDmag are subject to copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. The views and opinions of the authors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of print, the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or

A city’s culture and economy are shaped by trailblazers who lead by example, take risks, follow their passion, and get it done. In every issue of BDmag, we are constantly inspired by the individuals and organisations who continue to shape North Queensland, and this issue is bursting with such stories.

With his passion for good coffee ignited from a young age when visiting his grandfather in Spain, Jonathan Whitfield is credited for shaping Townsville’s coffee culture, establishing its first roastery in 1998. Now in its 25th year of business, and benefitting from the collective expertise of fellow company directors following a recent merger, Coffee Dominion is ready for its next exciting chapter in a fit-for-purpose commercial space, developing innovative new products and remaining at the forefront of the perfect roasted coffee beans for wholesale and retail customers. It’s the perfect read over a good cup of coffee (and Jonathan sure can make a good coffee!)

Growing up in Ayr, Glen Young probably didn’t expect that he would become the driving force behind bringing the USA’s highly successful Professional Bull Riders (PBR) to Australia. His desire to provide a pathway for bull riders to compete in the world championships and share the sport he loves has seen him buck his way through business challenges. The PBR Grand Finals have since become a firm favourite in Townsville’s event calendar, injecting hundreds of thousands of dollars each year into the local economy.

In this issue, we speak to some of the innovators who are focused on ensuring environmental sustainability for future generations, and we’re likely to see more emerge from our region with Smart Precinct NQ and the Queensland Government rolling out a project to assist business and industry to innovate and transition to a circular economy.

There is no shortage of examples in this issue of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things by pursuing an idea with passion, determination, and conviction. Enjoy the read, get inspired, make things happen!

MANAGING EDITOR

Fearless FORCE

By Georgie Desailly

An unwavering commitment to Indigenous rights and community development has seen Michelle Deshong emerge as a prominent figure in the realm of governance, advocacy, and political change.

It was a move from Townsville to Canberra after highschool that marked the start of Michelle Deshong’s two-decade long career in the public and private sectors.

“It was during my time in Canberra that I really learnt about the mechanism and inner workings of governments,” Michelle says. “It gave me an understanding of its operations, and how it impacts all our lives.”

Michelle spent the majority of her twenty-year career working at the forefront of Indigenous Affairs where she was involved in the shaping of national agendas such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and National Congress. Throughout this time, she founded Deshong Consulting in 2008, initially operating as a side venture to provide governance, leadership, and strategic planning advice. But after recognising the increasing demand for her services, she took the leap and committed to the business full-time in 2020.

“For many years, consulting was something I did on the side. It was really a mechanism for me to be able to continue to do that work across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” continues Michelle.

“But during COVID, I left my job as CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute to pursue it, which also meant I learnt some valuable lessons about being in business during a pandemic.”

Currently, Michelle works across the full leadership spectrum, offering mentoring and guidance to enhance leadership capabilities across metropolitan, regional, and remote Australia. She works closely with communities, organisations, and key stakeholders to

provide insight, networks, and in-depth engagement with, and for, Indigenous peoples. Her work over the years has seen her be named the 2015 National NAIDOC Scholar of the year for her contribution to academia and community development.

In 2016, Michelle also received the prestigious Fulbright Indigenous Professional Scholarship and undertook research in the USA and Canada on First Nations Leadership and Governance, centred around nation building and gender equality. This was followed by a Churchill Fellowship in 2018 to continue to research Indigenous rights in a global context.

“As a Fulbright Scholar, I went to USA and worked with the Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona on self-governance and leadership work with First Nations people,” says Michelle.

“I then had the opportunity to go to Canada as part of this and look at both the similarities and differences in terms of a rights-based approach for First Nations people and strategic pursuit of self-determination.

“For me, it was really about working to understand different models, creating frameworks and continuing the work with our own mob here so we can build on ideas and best practice. It is important to be visionary in the spaces and places where we have the opportunity to lead change.”

Building on her political studies, Michelle has also worked as the lead facilitator for Oxfam’s national Straight Talk program, which teaches Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women about the political system and how they can use political engagement to create change in their communities.

“I’m a firm believer that knowledge is power,” she says. “Once we are better informed, we have knowledge about the intricacies of impact, diversity and circumstance; it helps us shape who we want to be.”

Council finds experienced hands for NORTH RAIL YARDS PROJECT

The North Rail Yards project has recently taken a giant leap forward with the naming of its first board member and chair of the company to oversee the city-shaping project, with experienced local businessman John Rosel securing a seat at the head of the table.

The North Rail Yards is set to be an active and exciting precinct in the heart of Townsville City, providing contemporary use of the rail heritage buildings while retaining key architectural form and historical elements.

Mr Rosel, a Townsville local with extensive experience in property development, including attraction of investors, plans to use his expertise to head the Council-formed company and oversee the development of the North Rail Yards.

Deputy Mayor and Council’s Planning and Development Committee chair, Mark Molachino, says Mr Rosel has excellent knowledge of North Rail Yards, including the site constraints.

“John will lead the way as the North Rail Yards company looks to formalise the sites as the southern gateway into Townsville City,” Cr Molachino says.

“Council has a vision to see this project contain high-density residential housing with commercial and cultural activities that educate and celebrate our city’s heritage and future.

“The development of the Townsville North Rail Yards presents a significant opportunity to reconnect the City of Townsville to its past and create a unique and exciting offering within the Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA).”

Mr Rosel says he is excited to be involved with the city building project to help deliver a great outcome for the people of Townsville.

“The North Rail Yards has been a long time in the making and has had to overcome many hurdles. However, the intensive work that council has done on this site, to overcome those hurdles and mitigate the risk, has brought us to this point,” he says.

For more information or to register your interest in North Rail Yards as a developer or commercial entity please visit northrailyards.com.au.

Deputy Mayor Cr Mark Molachino with John Rosel, inspecting the North Rail Yards facilities

“ There is still a lot of work ahead, but this is an exciting opportunity, and one I am honoured to lead for Townsville.”

North Rail Yards (artist impression)

Coffee Culture

By Julie Johnston

With his passion for good coffee ignited at a young age when visiting his grandfather in Spain, Jonathan Whitfield is credited with shaping Townsville’s coffee culture, establishing its first roastery in 1998.

Now in its 25th year of business and benefitting from the collective expertise of fellow company directors following a recent merger, Coffee Dominion is well positioned for growth and innovation in a new fitfor-purpose commercial space with state-of-the-art equipment.

“I visited Townsville in 1987, liked it, and thought it was a prime location for living in the tropics, go gem fossicking, paddle outrigger canoes, and set up a coffee roasting business by travelling and sourcing coffee direct from PNG and Indonesia,” reflects Jonathan, who had recently emigrated to Sydney from the UK.

“Following the plan, in 1997 my wife and I moved to Townsville and I worked as an accountant, where I met my first business partner. At the time there were only about 30 roasters in Australia.

“We thought we were bringing coffee to North Queensland. Merlot coffee was then served at one café in North Ward but otherwise, there was only the equivalent of rotten cask port being served through the Twin Cities.

“In the first week we had four fire engines, one ambulance and two police cars to assist us in putting out a rather noticeable smoky roasting

problem. My landlady insisted on throwing me out of my apartment for the crime of ‘stinking the neighbourhood out,’ because as a conscientious worker I took my work home.”

Orders for their beans were few and far between, so they opened Coffee Dominion in the CBD. Before long, they had earned a reputation for the best coffee in town, particularly with visitors from southern states craving their caffeine fix. Local wholesale demand started to grow, and Jonathan continued to explore options for sourcing the best coffee beans from around the world.

“Initially, I travelled to Sumatra and the Highlands of Papua New Guinea believing I could source directly,” he says.

“It’s hard to find a coffee farmer in these countries, they are generally subsistence farmers with just a few coffee trees for a cash crop and no processing facilities. This compares to the coffee monoculture of South and Central America. Every coffee origin is different in respect to its grading and business practices.

“I have tried on a small scale to source coffee directly from the coffee farms, but if you get a phone call in the middle of the night to say your coffee is stuck in

Good Morning Coffee Trader Managing Director Rob Aumend and Coffee Dominion founder Jonathan Whitfield Image credits: Sonia Warrell – Hello Muse

a container in East Africa, cooking in 50 degree heat and you must deposit $10,000 into a bank account to pay a new local tax, there is some realisation of your business’s deficiencies.

“You need feet, contacts, and expertise on the ground. All roasters apart from the big guys have to use coffee or commodity brokers for introductions, negotiations, pricing, and shipping.

“I travel to the coffee producing countries to further understand the product, choose coffees and to gain a connection to place. Travel also allows you to appreciate the terroir and people who have nurtured the coffee during its journey to the cup.”

In 2020, having outgrown the leased premises in the CBD, Jonathan seized the opportunity to merge with Good Morning Coffee Trader, which offered him the opportunity for greater buying power, a succession plan, and access to skills to assist with the continued business growth.

“Good Morning Coffee Trader has four locations throughout Townsville which on average go through 2000 kilos of coffee beans per month,” says Good Morning Coffee Trader Managing Director, Rob Aumend.

“This vertical integration stabilises Dominion’s business with a large wholesale customer, enabling them to focus on innovation, while securing Good Morning Coffee Trader’s coffee import capacity and pricing.

“ The brand wouldn’t be where it is today if Jonathan hadn’t opened the café and introduced Townsville to good coffee, but ultimately that diverted some of his focus from the roasting.

“Now, without being tied up with operational issues and drawing on the past 25 years learning and refining his skills, he is able to be the creative driver.”

To remain at the forefront of roasting, the company has invested heavily in equipment and a custom fitout at the Meehan Street premises in Garbutt. This includes a roastery to accommodate the state-of-the art Loring S35 Kestral roaster, a dedicated cold coffee brewery, climate-controlled storage and packing room, barista training bar and customer lounge.

“We have modified and imported a packaging machine manufactured in China specifically to produce a coffee bag that will have double the amount of coffee in it than a traditional pod, be 100% compostable, and produce a solid cup of coffee for the customer for the same price.

“Coffee is seasonal in Townsville, with a 20% decline in sales during the summer months, and there is an increased consumption of cold coffee beverages. We have a small cold brew laboratory that is now experimenting in cold water extraction of coffee concentrate, nitro and cold brew as a result of this growing segment, but it certainly requires increased knowledge of food chemistry.

“We will revisit the initial premise of sourcing direct from Papua New Guinea. The Port is a comparative advantage for us. With a little more growth, a container load of coffee from a single origin becomes viable. We will now be able to store the green beans in our new cold room storage facilities and this will offer greater consistency, increased quality control and price advantage.”

The new space will provide an opportunity for coffee aficionados to learn more about the beans and how to make the perfect cup of coffee.

“Whether it’s two bags for your home or two hundred kilos a week for your café, people who have a genuine interest in coffee can engage directly with a roaster and the sampling can happen immediately at the point of purchase, so it’s a whole other level from what has been experienced before,” says Rob.

“Jonathan wants to maintain an affordable price point, and provide sustainably sourced, quality roasted beans to retail and wholesale customers, and we’re excited to continue to expand on that and bring his vision to life.”

After all, as Jonathan himself says, “A good coffee, well roasted, is simple and delightful. An exceptional coffee provides you with that moment of unadulterated enjoyment in time and place where your mind is emptied of all concerns.”

“ Like any business we must keep innovating,” says Jonathan.

Joe Thomas with the Loring S35 Kestral air roaster

Developing 100% compostable bags to be produced at the Garbutt premises with the correct quantity of ground beans to produce a quality cup of coffee

Community Care Links Inc is

leading

aged care provider, with 35 years local experience of supporting people to remain living independently at home and in their communities.

Everglow o ers a supportive team environment, with above award wages, internal accredited training, and employment flexibility, as well as a work life balance, career opportunities and access to salary packaging.

SMART BUSINESS OWNERS invest in leader development

A leader who is engaged and high performing offers many competitive advantages for a business, and smart business owners know that investing in their leaders can improve productivity, profitability, workplace culture, and customer experience. Good leadership requires high standards of skill in critical areas such as communication, setting direction, problem solving, decision making, motivating staff, managing performance and demonstrating good duty of care for each team member. Investing in leadership has never been more important and there are a wide variety of ways to do this:

Leadership 360-Degree Feedback: Expertly facilitated approaches using tools such as Team Management Systems’ Linking Leader Profile (LLP|360) helps a leader understand their leadership impact and what they need to adjust to build a better team relationship and achieve high team engagement. The LLP|360 as illustrated, assesses a leader’s competence across 13 critical leadership skills, and in a practical and measured way, reveals potential roadblocks to leadership effectiveness and the adjustments a leader needs to make to get a better leadership result.

Leadership Coaching: Aligning your growing leader with a confidential source of coaching support is arguably one of the most effective means of leadership development. With confidence in their coach, this approach can help leaders or aspiring leaders grow beyond their vulnerabilities in a manner that involves goals, skillsbased learning and change, and achievement. This form of development is delivered one-to-one and can be offered in the field on a real-time basis or back at the office at the start or finish of each day, week or month.

Leadership Development

Workshops: Another effective method for leadership development is the immersive approach of workshop-based training. This approach provides participants with an opportunity to connect with other leadership learners and engage in hands-on and fun learning processes centred around critical leadership skills. Unlike structured diploma-based training, workshops can be tailored and focussed around the needs of a group or even designed to be company specific.

Team Management Systems’ Linking Leader Profile (LLP|360)

Active HR, a North Queensland-based HR Agency, offers comprehensive leadership development solutions that can be tailored to the needs of any business. Our team are qualified and accredited in a variety of tools, including The Team Management Systems Linking Leader Profile (LLP|360), and are ready to help you improve the impact of leadership in your business.

A TIME TRAVELLER’S HAVEN

By Georgie Desailly

Peruse the cabinets of The Speckled Hen Antiques and Collectibles, and you’ll find a range of hidden treasures waiting to be unearthed. From old film cameras to fine china and silverware, the items located within the store tell stories of eras long-gone. Situated on Flinders Street, The Speckled Hen was first established in Brisbane back in 1967 by Joëlle and Ian Fleming. However, a relocation to Townsville led the couple to inaugurate the store once more in 1970, where they continue to manage it today with their son Tristan.

“The aim of the shop was never to deal in priceless antiques but more about learning, rescuing and promoting an interest of the past,” says Tristan. “It really was circular economy at its finest, before it became the buzz term it is today.

Having grown up within the walls of the heritagelisted building, Tristan has many fond memories of working alongside his parents as a child. After stints in the film and hospitality sectors across Australia, he returned home eight years ago to help manage the business.

“ For my parents, antiques were and continue to be their passion and love, and that’s why they do it. It’s their passion that has driven them throughout all these years.”

A passion for telling stories of the past runs through the blood of the Fleming family, who own The Speckled Hen Antiques and Collectibles.

Tristan and Ian Fleming. Image credits: Hello Muse

Now 42, Tristan is preparing to take over the reins from his parents upon their retirement.

“I spent a lot of my childhood running around outside the shop after school and helping with the restoration of items and machines wherever I could,” says Tristan. “It really was my playground, and whilst I went off and did other things with my life, I kept being drawn back to it.”

It’s no secret that the undulating landscape of the once-thriving CBD, now marred by economic downturns, has cast its shadow upon businesses in the vicinity, and throughout the years, The Speckled

Hen has not been immune. But, despite the challenges, the Fleming family has weathered the storm, and in 2020, the store celebrated its 50 th anniversary.

Ian attributes such longevity to their customerfocused approach, and owning their building, which he says offered them a semblance of resilience compared to other businesses in the area.

“If we did not own our building, it would have been a very different story for us,” explains Ian.

“We’re fortunate that we don’t have to worry about paying rent. For us, as long as we can make some sort of wage and keep the place going, that’s what we do.

“We set it up more as a hobby, not so much a business, and that’s how it’s always been. But when you’re doing it as a commercial business and you’ve got all those expenses, it’s very difficult and people haven’t been able to maintain that.”

Ian points out that these challenges are not unique to Townsville and instead are being encountered on a global scale.

He believes the key to reviving the CBD hinges on placing tourism and leisure at the front and centre of revitalisation efforts.

“Every city in the world faces similar issues because retail has changed. All the activities that used to take place in the city centre, like banking and insurance, are all gone and done online.

“The CBD needs to shift its identity from a purely commercial and financial situation to a centre of tourism, lifestyle, and leisure. We need giftware stores, coffee lounges, entertainment, boutiques, and more of a focus on our heritage-listed buildings because that’s what tourists want.”

As for the future of The Speckled Hen? “We don’t have plans of going anywhere anytime soon,” adds Ian. “Besides, what else would we do in retirement?”

“ When we first opened all those years ago, the city centre was buoyant, everything was centralised here on Flinders Street,” continues Ian.

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  

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How can BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES help my business?

question that gets asked by business owners from all walks of

Craig Smorfitt, a Client Manager at Coutts Redington, explains an Accountant Business Advisor helps you work on your own progression and partners with you to improve the future path of your business ventures.

“An Accountant Business Advisor advisor is a valuable resource from the very beginning to the end,” he says.

“The impact of how the business is structured prior to the ‘doors opening’ can be significant on your tax outcomes many years down the track.

“An Accountant Business Advisor looks at your business from the outside in, giving you an objective perspective to identify key issues and assist with strategies to improve cashflow. Reviewing historical data to identify patterns, trends or seasonal fluctuations helps to set realistic goals and forecasts for the future, and to create detailed and accurate budgets.”

A key element that is sometimes overlooked in businesses is exposure to risk.

“An Accountant Business Advisor will not only assist you with achieving your business goals but also ensure you have thought of the necessary insurances and have the correct measures in place to help protect what is important to you.

“Tax planning is crucial for businesses, and a business advisor can help optimise the tax efficiency of your business structure while ensuring compliance with current tax law.

As time passes, the goals and circumstances of a business evolve, and working alongside a trusted Accountant Business Advisor can help the owner navigate these challenges, while ensuring you are

“Partnering with a trusted Accountant Business Advisor can potentially increase your business growth, minimise risk, and equip you with strategies

A

life is, “why do I need business advisory services?”

“An Accountant Business Advisor will help you understand the goals you want to achieve, and this could be ensuring the longevity of the business to be passed down within the family or the sale of the business to a third party.”

a century of success Celebrating

By Elisabeth Silvester

A fifth-generational Ingham family-owned business has celebrated its centenary anniversary in the furniture and real estate business.

The Felix Reitano family business was started by Felix Reitano, who immigrated to Australia from Naples as a 12-year-old. He worked with his uncle in a greengrocer store in Sydney and later moved to North Queensland to cut cane, eventually purchasing his own farm.

Felix also operated out of the Commercial Hotel at Halifax as a commission agent, auctioneer, and barber before setting up an office on Herbert Street, Ingham in 1923. From there, he built his empire with the help of his family and the business has since become a prolific North Queensland owned and operated brand. Family, staff, friends, and local dignitaries marked the 100 th birthday with a weekend-long celebration honouring the Felix Reitano family.

Felix Reitano III, who now acts as a consultant for Felix Reitano Real Estate, says the celebrations had been a year in the making.

“Our family is still very united but unfortunately, we only see each other at funerals so we wanted to take the opportunity to have a fun time together,” he says.

“We invited family from all over Australia and around the world, family friends, staff, business associates, local organisations, the Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto and the Mayor of Hinchinbrook Ramon Jayo.”

The birthday celebrations included a meet-and-greet at the Herbert River RSL, a bus tour to the original Reitano home and business sites, a group lunch at the Lucinda Point Hotel followed by dinner at the Royal Hotel. A visit to the grave sites of the prominent family members, including the original Felix Reitano, and a family brunch at the home of the Felix III and Judy Reitano wrapped up the weekend.

Felix III says he believed his grandfather would be proud of the legacy he started.

“A hundred years is a long time for a business to operate considering that some businesses operate for a lot shorter time,” he says.

“ I would like to think the original Felix would be happy with all we have achieved.”

It has not been all smooth sailing for the business after a flood destroyed the Herbert Street showroom in 1967 before a fire gutted the Cartwright Street store in 1997.

The family rebuilt from the ashes and reopened their office and storeroom at the same Ingham site in 1998 at 109 Cartwright Street where they still operate out of to this day.

Currently, the business manages close to 200 properties and has sold residential, commercial, and rural real estate all over north and western Queensland and conducted auctions as far away as Thursday Island.

Felix III says looking forward to the future he was hoping to hand over the company reins to his son, Felix “Peter” Reitano IV.

“I like to think the younger ones can have a greater control so I can take a step back, but I want to make sure it is right because we pride ourselves on our service,” he says.

“We want to thank the local community because without their support over the last 100 years we wouldn’t be here.”

Peter, Margaret, Felix and Judy Reitano cut the 100 year anniversary cake.

Seizing the advantage: Supporting local businesses to collaborate for major projects

North Queensland is home to a multitude of major projects spanning various industries, and many of these projects require sub-contractors to provide goods and services. Engaging early in the supply chain process can lead to success for local organisations, so it is important to stay informed about major project investments.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Businesses of any size can contribute as part of the supply chain to major projects. When business and industry prioritise local suppliers to deliver goods and services to complete a major project, they have a positive impact on the local economy and community. Local suppliers are more likely to understand the needs and challenges of the local market and offer greater flexibility and the ability to problem solve on the ground. Sourcing local can reduce transportation costs, environmental impact and promotes sustainability.

TAPPING INTO OPPORTUNITIES

The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning –North Queensland Regional Office offer regular industry-focussed events and workshops to keep local businesses and industry informed about upcoming major projects and investments. These events are a great way to network, knowledge share and stay up to date with the latest industry trends. By attending these types of events, businesses can gain insights, connect with potential partners, and learn from industry experts.

ENGAGE EARLY TO AVOID MISSING OUT

When businesses engage early there are significant opportunities to contribute to major projects in North Queensland. They can position themselves for success by understanding the project landscape and aligning their capabilities with project requirements early.

• Stay informed about major project investments.

• Understand the requirements, compliance standards and procurement processes.

• Engage early, to build knowledge and relationships with project proponents around your capabilities.

Connect with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning –North Queensland Regional Office to learn more about the support services to assist local businesses of all sizes and industries to identify and plan for opportunities.

Email: Townsville.NQRO@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au Phone: 07 4758 3406

Keep updated for future Industry Support Workshops

5 mistakes to avoid when recruiting staff

The true success of any business can be measured by the relationships within the organisation. Business managers and owners will establish their road to success by optimising their most valuable asset – their staff.

Vlasta Eriksson is the founder and director of Signature Staff, a recruitment and labour hire company established in Cairns in 1998 and operating in Townsville since April 2023.

The recruitment process can be an incredibly time-consuming and costly exercise. Creating and nurturing positive relationships between the Employer and New Recruits are key to the ultimate success of any business, and a good recruitment process can start things off on the right note.

Here, Vlasta identifies 5 mistakes business owners and managers should avoid when recruiting:

1. Not defining the role

Know who you are looking for! Have an in-depth job description outlining duties, accountabilities, skills, and qualifications.

Identify what characteristics and behaviours would fit into your culture and the position. Do not focus on skills and qualifications only.

2. Chasing pink unicorns

Research the ‘market value’ for the position you are looking for and make sure your offer is compatible. If you wish to attract outstanding people, you need to offer conditions to match! Top-talented people are not attracted to the mediocre.

3. Unstructured interviews

Have an organised, structured, and systematic approach to ensure all applicants are scored against the same criteria.

Create an interviewing template, this way all candidates are asked the same questions, and nothing is forgotten.

Prepare behavioural style questions to identify the characteristics and behaviours.

Use the same person to conduct the interviews and remember it’s a two-way conversation.

& Labour

4. Not being diligent with background checking

Offering jobs to candidates on “gut feeling” can be devastating for a business.

Conduct at least two reference checks on all candidates that you are considering offering your position to. Make sure these are bona fide referees. Consider social media checks, but ensure you are within the boundaries of the Anti-Discrimination Act and Privacy Laws.

Other checks such as criminal, health, drugs, skills and behavioural are recommended but this depends on the role you are recruiting for.

5. Taking too long to decide

Respect your potential employee’s time and let them know where you are at in the recruitment process. If a candidate doesn’t know where they stand, they will most likely keep looking. The last thing you want is to miss out on a great employee to your opposition just because you dragged your feet.

For more recruitment and labour hire tips and assistance visit signaturestaff.com.au or call 4050 3888 to arrange a time to speak to our Townsville BDM, Vanessa McKinnon.

Boost for Thriving

CIRCULAR ECONOMY PROJECTS

By Georgie Desailly

Recent investments into circular economy-based initiatives have put the region at the forefront of innovation and development.

Steve Hannah, Paul Bull and Jason Lange

Image credit: Veronika Gibson – Chasing Dreams Photos by V

A simple visit to your local coffee shop now offers more than just your daily caffeine boost. Behind the scenes, many food and beverage businesses are now involved in an innovative project that is transforming used coffee grounds into valuable soil products.

The initiative, known as the Smart Coffee Project, began in 2022 and took shape when Jason Lange, one of the three directors of organic waste company Atlas Soils, was approached by a volunteer group who sought solutions to divert coffee grounds from landfill.

“Atlas Soils was created by three Townsville dads with the vision of reimagining how we treat landfills and to turn waste into a value-based product for the community,” says Jason.

“At the time, we were already converting organic waste and weed products into humisoil for local lawns to eliminate the need for harmful fertilisers. When we were approached about a solution for coffee grounds, it was a natural progression from our existing work.”

Twice a week, community volunteers collect the coffee grounds and food scraps from more than 30 businesses across Townsville. These materials are then delivered to Atlas Soils’ factory, where they are transformed into high-quality soil products for use in domestic agriculture and commercial applications.

Building off the success of the Smart Coffee Project, Atlas Soils formed the Resource Recovery Network in July. The new not-for-profit is dedicated to establishing other innovative projects that transform waste collection and activate circular economy outcomes in Townsville.

They obtained seed funding from Domain Central, where their food and coffee traders have also joined the initiative to transform their waste not only into soil products, but also a special coffee blend that can be sold back in the stores.

“All key community-led projects including initiatives like the Smart Coffee Project, will fall under the umbrella of the Resource Recovery Network,” explains Jason.

“We believe very strongly that Townsville is placed to be a global leader in applied circular economy and we are proud to play a small part,” says Jason.

“Funding innovation in small business not only allows our cities to ‘get to the future first’ but it builds capacity and enthusiasm where it is needed the most.”

Such funding support can also be seen in the Burdekin, where construction began in September for the world’s first municipal wastewater bioremediation treatment facility known as RegenAqua.

The technology is an innovative water treatment solution that uses endemic seaweeds and river grasses to strip wastewater of environmentally harmful pollutants like nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon dioxide before they enter the ecosystem.

Their efforts in the space have also attracted the interest of major corporations, including McDonald’s and Coles. In May, Atlas Soils was among eight businesses awarded funding from the highly competitive Coles Nurture Fund. The $490K grant will support the purchase of new technology that separates packaged food waste.

Jason says the funding signifies how bigger businesses are prepared to back innovation in the space.

Developed by aquaculture and waste management company, Pacific Biotechnologies Australia (Pacific Bio) in collaboration with James Cook University (JCU), RegenAqua will play a major role in helping Queensland achieve reductions in nutrient pollution outflow, providing increased protection for the Great Barrier Reef.

“Pacific Bio has been focused on developing a solution for removing toxic nutrients and carbon dioxide from urban wastewater for a number of years,” explains Pacific Bio CEO Sam Bastounas.

“We have achieved a significant global breakthrough with RegenAqua that is carbon neutral, low cost and readily deployable.

“RegenAqua uses river grasses in an engineered solution to clean water, and these grasses can then be converted into highly effective biostimulants for farmers, known as PlantJuice, and into drop-in liquid biofuels, like sustainable aviation fuel and bioethanol.”

“ This enables us to continue creating projects that transform waste management and make it more costeffective for local businesses.”

RegenAqua utilises endemic seaweeds and river grasses to strip pollutants from wastewater Image credit: Caldwell Media

The Burdekin RegenAqua facility is due for completion in March 2024, and will include 12 initial tertiary treatment ponds, with the potential to expand to 16 ponds to accommodate future growth needs.

Funding support from the State Government under the Building Our Regions (BOR) Program and Burdekin Shire Council helped fund initial earthworks for the facility pad.

“In August 2023, Burdekin Shire Council and Pacific Bio entered into a 13-year agreement to build and operate the facility,” says Sam.

“Burdekin is the first council to recognise the importance of this breakthrough technology and has committed to the world’s first commercial facility. Not only does this benefit the environment, but it offers significant cost efficiencies in infrastructure and electricity which will benefit ratepayers for years to come.

To ensure circular-economy focused projects like Atlas Soils and RegenAqua continue in the region, Smart Precinct NQ is preparing to launch The Circular Economy Industry-Research program.

Supported in partnership with the Queensland Government, CEO Cassandra Cazzulino says the program will deliver a range of events, collaborative efforts and $320K in grant funding to directly support local industry and research to test and validate ideas that adopt circularity.

“Sustainability is no longer a choice; it’s a responsibility,” says Cassandra. “The local competitive grants program will fund innovative ideas to support the growth and health of our community and natural resources.

“A localised roll out of this transformative program will allow us to embrace the unique opportunities of our people, ideas and the environmental attributes of our regions.

“It’s a real opportunity for industry and community to collectively activate fit-for-region, innovative circular solutions and learnings that can be deployed globally from Queensland.”

Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin and Sam Bastounas, CEO of Pacific Bio Image credits: Caldwell Media

“ We hope it will be the catalyst for other utilities and councils to adopt nature-based solutions like RegenAqua.”

A circular economy is an economic system focused on reducing resource waste and environmental impact by promoting product longevity, reuse, recycling and resource circulation.

Accelerating INNOVATION

In the vibrant world of innovation, Smart Precinct NQ is the partner, connector, catalyst, and launchpad for innovative ideas and new business in North Queensland.

Smart Precinct NQ (SPNQ) Chief Executive Officer, Cassandra Cazzulino, says the hub is the dynamic link to the people, industry, and resources to help you fast track your idea and find those important commercial pathways.

“Our team are brilliant at helping you take your concept from startup to scale up, we identify your needs and gaps and help you navigate barriers to ensure you’re ready to launch your big idea, and more importantly be ready for investment.

“We provide support, guidance and upskilling to ensure you have a higher chance of success and you get to work with other entrepreneurs that are experiencing similar challenges. In addition to being your super

connector to tap into knowledge and networks to help you succeed, we will give you the pat on the back when you need it and be your critical friend to keep you accountable and on track if you need that too.”

The comprehensive support is delivered through a range of resources designed to empower growth. From skill-building workshops to tailored start-up accelerators, incubator programs, and seasoned business growth advisors, they provide the tools and support needed at every step.

to innovate and transition to a Circular Economy.

“This will be on every business’ agenda in the future,” she says.

“It’s about using valuable business resources wisely, think about waste as a resource instead of a cost, and finding innovative ways to reuse, repurpose or even remanufacture to save or make money whist protecting our greatest resource, nature.

“It’s meaningful work, we are about to deliver a local fund to support business and industry innovation that will have a lasting impact on our city and our natural resources like the reef. It’s a collaborative effort and we want to involve as many businesses as possible to consider the power of sustainable innovation.”

Cassandra says Smart Precinct NQ is at the forefront of the evolving business landscape and are currently rolling out a project with the Queensland Government to assist business and industry

Don’t waste your idea any longer, schedule a discovery session and learn how you can bring it to life by contacting the team at the Smart Precinct on 1300 467 119 or info@spnq.org.

“Anyone and everyone can innovate, and we want to help you develop your business or product ideas.”

issues that affect farming and agricultural industries directly from the producers.

“Our Problem Statement Portal is vital in identifying and capturing current issues facing the industry and ensuring we can link real-world problems with innovative technological solutions,” says David.

“Our hope is that by understanding the core issues affecting farmers and producers, this information can be used by researchers within JCU as well as entrepreneurs and innovators to solve these problems.”

Starting with the problem in mind has already proven to be effective. In March, the TNQ Drought Hub team worked with Agscent, a bio agritech company in New South Wales, to trial a new method of breath-testing pregnant cattle at JCU’s Fletcherview Research Station in Charters Towers.

“We wanted to test their technology in northern Australia to ensure the devices are ready for use in the northern beef herd and are able to withstand our tropical conditions,” explains David.

Driving innovative solutions

“Current cattle pregnancy detection methods can be expensive and reliant on veterinarian availability. This restricts the ability to pinpoint which breeders should be sold during critical times, such as droughts, or to enhance productivity for financial resilience as a buffer.

By Georgie Desailly

North Queensland is no stranger to the hardships brought about by drought conditions. But in the face of such challenges, the Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (TNQ Drought Hub) is spearheading efforts to reshape how agribusiness approaches sustainability and drought resilience through new innovation and education.

Supported by the Federal Government’s Future Drought Fund, TNQ Drought Hub is part of a network of eight hubs nationwide with a shared mission to equip farmers and producers with proven solutions to operational challenges in a bid to increase droughtreadiness.

“Therefore, a more affordable, effective alternative, such as this, can help cattle producers make key decisions earlier, which is a game-changer, particularly in the event of a drought.”

In line with such innovation, TNQ Drought Hub have also helped deliver several subsidised accelerator courses for local innovators, and through their Drought Resilience Grants Scheme, have funded a range of projects aimed at strengthening agribusiness in the region.

An integral focus of the Hub’s ongoing efforts revolves around developing frameworks that assist local producers and farmers in adopting the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) model within their operations. The Hub is at the forefront of national research and development in this field, which aims to enhance sustainability and economic viability within the Australian agricultural industry.

“ESG considerations are pivotal for the agricultural industry as they provide a holistic framework for responsible, sustainable and ethical practices, while also setting producers and farmers up for economic success in an evolving and competitive market landscape where sustainability is a core focus,” adds David.

“Farmers and producers in North Queensland experience different challenges compared to their southern counterparts, so at TNQ Drought Hub, we are investing in research and technology to make their businesses more sustainable and resilient to future droughts.”

Most recently, in collaboration with James Cook University (JCU), the Hub has been working with innovative technology and professionals to establish a Problem Statement Portal to capture and map the

“We’re thrilled to have world-class professionals, who have done similar work in other areas of the globe, working on such ground-breaking developments here in North Queensland, which is unparalleled anywhere else in the country.

“At the end of the day, it is crucial to remember that the impact of drought extends far beyond farmers and producers. It causes a chain reaction; it impacts the local economy, and everyone feels its effects.

“We’re striving to mitigate these impacts and build a more sustainable and economically resilient community for everyone.”

“ Drought has a significant impact on the wellbeing of people and communities across Tropical North Queensland,” explains TNQ Drought Hub Director, Dr David Phelps.

Dr David Phelps, TNQ Drought Hub Director and Ms Charlotte Wood, Agscent Technical Field Officer at James Cook University’s Fletcherview Station Image credit: Scott Radford-Chisolm

Coal powered jobs for NORTH QUEENSLAND

Bravus celebrates a milestone coal haul

The Carmichael coal mine has ten million reasons to celebrate, with the Central Queensland operation officially railing more than 10 million tonnes of highquality coal for export to the world.

The milestone is a testament to the hard work of many thousands of regional Queenslanders who so passionately supported Bravus Mining and Resources over the years of obtaining its comprehensive approvals and building the mine and the supporting Carmichael Rail Network.

The Carmichael mine, near Clermont in Central Queensland, supplies high-quality coal internationally to help meet rising demand for energy in developing countries, while creating local jobs and economic prosperity in Queensland communities.

Bravus Mining and Resources Chief Operating Officer Mick Crowe says reaching 10 million tonnes of coal railed was an incredible moment for the company and those who have supported it.

“It has been a long journey from obtaining comprehensive approvals to building both the mine and the railway,” he says.

“Along the way tens of thousands of people have passionately supported our business. This is a terrific achievement for the team at Bravus Mining and Resources, our contracting partners, and our supporters.”

Mr Crowe says the business has also delivered on its promises to regional Queensland, creating ongoing

jobs and opportunities for workers in Townsville and other regional centres.

“At the outset of the Carmichael mine and rail Project, we committed to delivering more than 1500 direct jobs during the construction and commissioning period and we’ve well and truly smashed that goal,’’ he says.

“At the peak of construction, we employed more than 2600 people, many of them living in regional Queensland.

“In addition, we have paid more than $2 billion and counting to regional Queensland contractors and businesses, creating ongoing opportunities for many workers.’’

Today there are more than 750 people working at the Carmichael mine at any one time, with another third of that number on their operations swing.

“The majority of our workers live in regional centres like Townsville, Rockhampton, Clermont, Charters Towers or Mackay,’’ Mr Crowe says.

“We always knew the mine and rail project would create genuine jobs and opportunities in Central Queensland and we are proud to see what an impact it has made to the lives of so many workers and their families.”

Stephanie Wilson, Mick Crowe and Nigel Webster

The 10 million tonnes of coal was transported by Bowen Rail Company from the mine to the North Queensland Export Terminal, north of Bowen, on the 200km Carmichael Rail Network. The rail network, which connects the Galilee Basin to the Newlands Rail System into the Port of Abbot Point, was built as part of the Carmichael Project.

Bowen Rail Company is a sister company to Bravus Mining and Resources and was established in 2020. The business now employs more than 150 people in Bowen to operate, support and maintain its locomotives and rollingstock.

As part of its ongoing commitment to North Queensland, Bravus Mining and Resources recently moved into a new Townsville Headquarters.

After a six-year lease, the company relocated from the River Quays building in South Townsville to a new, fit-for-purpose, premises at the corner of McIlwraith and Dean Streets.

“The move into our new premises really cements our presence here in Townsville and reflects the success of the Carmichael mine so far,’’ Mr Crowe says.

“We’re really pleased to still be in a fantastic part of the city with access to Palmer Street, which our people love, and now we’re even closer to the stadium for when we go to cheer on the Cowboys.”

Mr Crowe says the future is bright for the Carmichael mine with the business focussing on continuing to export coal to meet growing demand for reliable and affordable energy, particularly in India and Southeast Asia.

“We are well placed to help meet rising demand for thermal coal and our product not only has a lower emissions profile than the coal supplied by international competitors, but it is mined responsibly in a highly regulated environment,’’ he says.

“Australian coal is going to have an important role to play, alongside renewables, as part of the global energy mix for a long time to come.

It takes trades and workers of all types to successfully run a mining operation from engineers to chefs, pilots to mechanics.

At any given time, there are 750 people on site at the Carmichael mine and many of them live in regional Queensland, with recruitment hubs for fly-in-fly out workers in Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns.

Bravus Mining and Resources is regularly recruiting for a variety of roles with current vacancies for bus drivers, licenced aircraft maintenance engineers, mining engineers, refrigeration mechanics, handymen, haul truck operators and diesel fitters.

To find your next job in mining, keep an eye on the vacancies page on the Bravus Mining and Resources website, bravusmining.com.au.

MILLION TONNES OF COAL EXPORTED.

“ This is great news for Townsville and regional Queensland as it will help to support secure jobs for generations to come at the Carmichael mine.”

FIRST

Bucking his way into a NEW MARKET

By Georgie Desailly

The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Australia Tour is known as the “toughest sport on dirt,” and has amassed 1.6 million devoted fans across the country since its arrival in 2005.

The driving force behind it all is PBR Australia General Manager and Townsville local, Glen Young. As a former bull rider himself, Glen spent time developing local events before joining forces with World Champion bull rider Troy Dunn to pioneer the inaugural PBR events in Australia, modelled from the successful format in the USA.

Since this time, Australia has become one of five countries that stage PBR events around the world. The national tour offers world points that enables the athletes to compete on home soil as well as in the world tour if they qualify.

“Our main goal was to offer a genuine pathway for Australian bull riders to earn substantial prize money in Australia and to compete on the world stage,” says Glen.

“There is now approximately $650K in prize money on the PBR Australia annual tour, which is providing the riders with income, the pathway and the ability to become professional athletes.” However, breaking into a new market was certainly no easy feat. Glen sought inspiration from other examples, such as Lawn Bowls, to see how it was getting television coverage, and from this, began repackaging PBR to make it more mainstream.

“In the early days, we would count the empty cans at the end of the night to understand the market share for each alcohol

brand and sit in the crowd to see what the audience responded well to throughout the events,” says Glen.

“We listened to feedback to help shape the format and entertainment for the events; all which played a key part in building the sport.”

Glen says partnering with Townsville Enterprise to stage the Troy Dunn International in the early 2000’s was a crucial learning opportunity in creating destination events.

“The support from the Council and our corporate partners has been tremendous and the business support changed the way I thought about what we could do with PBR,” says Glen.

“We used destination tourism marketing and placed an annual calendar of events so fans could follow the sport, which ultimately helped grow the fan base. Towns need that business but also the social engagement that comes from this, and we make sure we deliver a consistent product in each market.”

Thanks to this strategic approach, the PBR have not only grown their

fan base, but created mutually beneficial partnerships and experienced a 30% sponsorship increase compared to last year.

The PBR Australia Grand Finals, which is the richest bull riding event in the southern hemisphere, will return to Townsville on November 3 and 4 for the sixth consecutive year. The event injects approximately $2.9 million in direct and incremental spending into the local economy every year, and has played a key role in putting Townsville on the map as a premier eventsdestination.

“When it came to picking a home for the Grand Finals, it was the ongoing support of Townsville fans and Council that made it an easy decision to locate it in the town where we first launched PBR,” says Glen.

“It attracts so many out-oftown visitors and it’s a great opportunity to bring the country to the city, and with that brings an economic boost for the community and region.

“The continuous improvement in the quality of bulls and the calibre of the riders has led to sold-out venues across Australia in both regional and metropolitan areas.

“We also have our Junior Academy, which provides training and mentoring to our next generation of bull riders.

“We’re always looking ahead for how to make the sport better and if we sell out an event, we’re always looking for options to increase capacity for next time. It’s all about the long-term game.”

Aaron Kleier – 2022 PBR Australia Grand Finals

Everglow Community Care Links Inc AGM and 35th Anniversary

Everglow Community Care held their 2023 Annual General Meeting and celebrated 35 years at the Townsville RSL in late September. Everglow has a proud history of supporting the elderly to maintain their dignity and independence and achieve their goals.

Knight Frank Celebrates 25 Years in Townsville

Knight Frank recently marked 25 years since opening their Townsville office, celebrating with over 150 staff, clients, and business colleagues at Flinders Lane. Guests enjoyed a culinary experience from A Touch of Salt and The Vintage Bar Co. Amongst the guests were Mayor Jenny Hill, Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin and Knight Frank Australia CEO James Patterson.

Image credits: Insight Creative

John Hathaway, Helen Stallan, Nela Allan, Eileen McGrath, Huda Ammar, David Kingston and Damien Farrington

Crise Mapula, Susan Chapman, Huda Ammar, Matthew Hurley, Renée Madsen and Kim Davis

Faithful (Ana) Raumati, Michelle Eigbobo and Eileen Parisi

Matt Ryan, Craig Stack, Adam Reguson and Paul Dury

Naomi Fitzpatrick, Renee Reibel, Sarah Jang and Addie Jones

Trina Willis, Allison McKay and Joe Gedoun

Steve Motti, Peter Tapiolas and Mayor Jenny Hill Ian and Sarah Bowrey

Belinda Swan and Manpreet Sangha

Balancing Act

There is no doubt that a real estate agent engaged to sell your home should act in your best interests but Explore Property Munro & Co’s Jools Munro cautions that consideration should also be given to choosing an agent who balances your interests with a transparent and professional service to the buyer.

Jools believes that not only is it the ethical responsibility of real estate agents to ensure they are doing the right thing by both parties, but it ensures Townsville maintains a positive image to investors.

“As a regional city, Townsville continues to be under the magnifying glass of interstate and out-of-town investors, which is boosting our growth economically and energetically,” explains Jools.

“In Queensland, every buyer is entitled to conduct a pre-settlement inspection of the property they are about to take possession of to ensure it is indeed what was marketed to them, and this is enormously undervalued by buyers, agents, and solicitors.

“A large number of out-of-town buyers are not physically able to inspect the properties they are buying, and we passionately believe that it is important for agents to offer a transparent procedure.

“We work with the buyer to ensure that through modern technology or by appointing a third-party to inspect the premises, they fully understand the asset they are taking possession of.”

“A transparent pre-settlement is better for Townsville’s longevity as a growth city to ensure we continue to be on the radar for out-of-town investors.

“At Munro & Co, we know that the easiest path is not always the best, and we will always conduct business in a balanced and ethical way.

“Our property sellers and buyers can trust we are achieving the best possible outcome while proudly marketing Townsville as an ideal location to live and invest.”

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“ Townsville will want to prosper forever, not just for a property cycle,” says Jools.

Why choosing an agent who cares about the buyer experience is a win-win for everyone.

Jools Munro Image credit: Chasing Dreams Photos by V

Meeting the need for REGIONAL economic insights

Regional Economic Advisory (REA) was created to meet the need for independent economic development advice delivered by people in the region, for the region, at an affordable price point that was within the reach of smaller businesses, councils, not-for-profits, and households.

The advisory market has been dominated by two extremes, particularly in the economics space: offthe-shelf subscription models that offer raw data with basic numeric analysis, and traditional consulting that is expensive and time-consuming from the client’s perspective, says REA’s Principal Economist, Matt Kelly.

it’s important that the people that make the decisions are on the ground and in touch with the community.

“I think our results over the past three years have spoken to that approach, be that in needs assessment to support a development application with a local council, a market analysis to support a private investment commitment, an economic development strategy or masterplan needing buy-in from elected members and the local business community, or an economic impact and cost benefit assessment to apply for a major State or Federal funding round.”

“We have invested in the databases and benchmarking to be able to turn around analysis quickly, but we also have the industry experience and relationships on the ground to make sure that our recommendations are robust and stand up to scrutiny. We stand behind our analysis and dig deeper than can be done with an off-the-shelf product, but we keep our overheads lean to meet the budget needs of a regional client base. Everybody needs to be ‘on the tools’ so to speak (especially me!),

Matt sees ongoing growth in the need for focused regional economic insights, despite disruption in the macroeconomy and broader consulting industry. He believes the outsourcing of public service functions has gotten out of hand at a national level, and that core public work and strategy shouldn’t be shifted to the private sector, particularly at a net cost to the taxpayer.

“I think a lot of what we are seeing in terms of the over-use of consultants and conflicts of interest has been coming for a while and we are overdue for a rebalancing,” he says.

“The rapid advances in generative AI will also undoubtedly disrupt the industry, but it’s important to separate the hype from reality.

“There will always be a role for quality independent

A Townsville-based economics business founded during COVID-19 is changing the market for strategic insights to support regional investment and funding decisions.

“ We’ve always seen our place in the market being in the middle ground,” says Matt.

Matthew Kelly, Alyssa Oliveri and Sean Kelly

advice from subject matter experts. We’ve always targeted our services at rural and regional clients that often won’t have the scale to secure these services in-house.”

The market is changing with really valuable niche opportunities in areas such as renewable energy and critical minerals, particularly across northern Australia. However, the broader global growth story of rising emerging markets and population-led growth generating demand for bulk agricultural and mining resources that has driven so much interest in the region is also coming into question.

“A key by-product of this is much lower fertility rates, as higher living standards and access to economic opportunity mean that larger families are no longer required. Over half of the world’s countries are now at or below replacement fertility levels.

“In time this is going to mean lower consumption growth, if not a fall from current levels. China’s demographics are of particular concern, with decades of one-child policy leading towards a rapidly aging and shrinking population base.

“There are great opportunities across northern Australia and within the North Queensland region specifically, but the macro-outlook means the future is likely to be much more nuanced. Infrastructure and investment need to be planned and targeted. Independent, regional economic insights have a key role to play in making sure that happens.”

“The global growth we’ve seen over the past 20 years has been so rapid that a lot of Asian and South American economies have matured much faster than many people realise,” he says.

How to communicate with work colleagues from CULTURALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS

Roger Wilkins’ quote underscores the immense value of diversity in solving complex problems and driving progress. By harnessing the diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that colleagues from different cultural backgrounds bring, organisations can tap into a rich source of creativity and innovation. Engaging the diverse energy of all team members leads to more open, inclusive, and productive interactions by promoting empathy, reducing misunderstandings, and valuing everyone’s voice.

Effective communication with co-workers from different cultural backgrounds is critical for fostering and maintaining a positive and productive work environment. Here are five tips to help you successfully negotiate cross-cultural communication: ONE

CULTIVATE CULTURAL AWARENESS

Take the time to learn about your colleagues’ cultural norms, customs, traditions, communication, and conflict-resolution styles. Recognise that people from different cultures may have different ways of expressing themselves, showing respect, and resolving disagreements. Cultural awareness will help you avoid misunderstandings and show respect for their points of view.

Try to use plain and straightforward language when dealing with co-workers from different linguistic backgrounds. Avoid using complex jargon, slang, expressions, or idioms that may be difficult to understand. Choose and articulate your words carefully and be prepared to restate or explain concepts to aid clarity. four

ASK FOR INPUT AND LEARN

FIVE

BE RESPECTFUL AND OPEN-MINDED

Approach encounters with an open mind, a sense of curiosity, and an eagerness to learn from others. Respect others’ opinions and practices that differ from your own. Instead of making assumptions based on stereotypes, focus on knowing each person’s unique opinions and experiences. two

LISTEN ACTIVELY AND EMPATHETICALLY

THREE

When speaking across cultures, active listening is essential. Take note of not only the words, but also of the tone, body language, and other non-verbal indicators. Empathy can help you grasp the emotions and points of view behind your colleagues’ comments. You establish a supportive environment for good communication by displaying real interest and understanding.

Don’t be scared to ask your co-workers for input on your communication approach. Seek feedback on what you can do to improve your relationships in order to better fit with their cultural norms and preferences. Be open to constructive criticism and receptive to learning and improving your own communication style.

Remember that enhanced cross-cultural communication is an ongoing learning process that involves patience, respect, tolerance, and understanding. Embracing diversity and embracing different points of view can lead to better collaboration, better problem-solving and decisionmaking, and a more harmonious and inclusive workplace.

WENDY DE MUNARI is a Communications

Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and Amazon

Author of “The Networking Blueprint: Top 20 Strategies for Building and Expanding your Professional Network”

To learn more about Wendy’s training and coaching services, visit workreadynq.com.au

Email info@workreadynq.com.au or phone 0467 976 080.

“We have no hope of solving our problems without harnessing the diversity, the energy, and the creativity of all our people.”

– Roger Wilkins, American civil rights champion.