Judging Panel

Amy Gash was born and raised on the Gold Coast. Her family are the current lease holders and custodians of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort and owner operators of Gold Coast based Air Charter company Seair Pacific. Since graduating from the University of Queensland with a degree in Hotel & Tourism Management, she has worked in all facets of the business building a solid foundation of knowledge to run and operator a remote island resort, notably obtaining her pilots license in 2019. 

In 2022, Amy was awarded the Young Achiever Award for outstanding contribution to the Queensland Tourism Industry and in 2023, was recognised as ‘Environmental Warrior’ at the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year awards. Currently working as the General Manager Brand & Strategy, Amy hopes to encourage and motivate young people to pursue a career in tourism and continue to share the island’s conservation efforts with the world.

Meet Asrar Ismail, a dynamic professional who wears multiple hats in the realm of innovation and technology. With a wealth of experience and expertise, she serves as a Governance, Strategy and Compliance Manager at Quality Management Australia, where she excels in implementing international standards and best practices using Microsoft 365 tools. Alongside this role, Asrar also takes on the role of a facilitator for one of the courses in the master's program in cybersecurity at UQ, imparting knowledge and guiding future cybersecurity professionals. Additionally, she fulfills the crucial role of an (ISO 27001) information security and (ISO 9001) Quality auditor, ensuring compliance and excellence in data protection and quality management processes.

Beyond her professional commitments, Asrar is deeply passionate about giving back to the community and empowering businesses to harness the power of technology for growth and success. Actively engaged in prominent organisations such as AustCyber and the Australian Computer Society, she advocates for community involvement and drives positive change through her leadership and technical proficiency. With her dedication to innovation and excellence, Asrar is a driving force in shaping the technology landscape, forging connections, sharing insights, and collaborating on impactful projects.

Craig Tichon is a Principal Project Officer in the Private Sector Partnerships team at the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. He works closely with forward-thinking businesses to design and deliver complex, high-impact solutions for both corporate and government clients.

Craig brings extensive cross-sector experience, having supported industries including defence and aerospace, mining and resources, agriculture, tourism, health, environmental management, manufacturing, sport, utilities, and community and social services. His collaborative approach enables tailored solutions that address pressing challenges across these diverse sectors.

A passionate advocate for Queensland’s innovation ecosystem, Craig actively engages with local businesses developing cutting-edge technologies. From cybersecurity and immersive media to artificial intelligence, AgTech, robotics, machine learning, and quantum advancements—Craig leverages emerging innovation to meet corporate needs and accelerate Queensland’s tech-driven growth.

Dominic has over 24 years working with a multitude of SMB's across Australia in a number of capacities and industries. Dominic brings a wealth of industry insight and knowledge, enabling him to develop bespoke marketing and engagement strategies that are tailored and drive impact.

Ellie is the entrepreneur behind businesses - Splice Marketing (Healthcare Marketing Agency) and Telehealth Mastery (Medical Education) with a Health Tech acquisition in the process.

Her key achievements include:

• Awarded winner of Moreton Bay’s Entrepreneur of the Year two years in a row (2023 and 2022); named finalists for Brisbane’s 40 Under 40 in 2023; Greater Brisbane Women in Business Awards 2019 and 2021; Young Entrepreneur 2021 and Brisbane Young Marketer of the Year 2021.
• Grown a marketing agency exponentially from a one-woman band to 22 employees in 5 years.
• Transformed and generated millions of dollars in new business for the Australian healthcare sector.
• Launched a new business during the global pandemic offering nationally recognised accredited education to health professionals.

Jana Walker holds degrees in Economics and Management from the University of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

She began her career with PricewaterhouseCoopers before moving into the Australian banking sector. With over 20 years of experience in retail, small business, and commercial banking across Queensland, Jana has built lasting relationships with clients in a wide range of industries, including professional services, real estate, manufacturing, engineering, defence, mining, and agriculture.

Since joining Export Finance Australia in 2016, Jana has played a key role in supporting Queensland-based exporters by providing tailored financial solutions that help businesses grow and compete on the global stage.

Professor Karen Becker is an experienced leader in the tertiary education sector. She commenced her career in corporate human resource management and then management consulting before moving to universities where she has held academic and leadership positions across three universities. As a leader in higher education, Karen has a track record in building a strong positive workplace culture that capitalises on opportunities for change and innovation, and encourages all people to thrive in their workplace. 

In 2020, Karen was appointed the inaugural Head of Campus for UniSC Moreton Bay at Petrie; an exciting new state-of-the-art campus in the Moreton Bay region. In 2023, Karen was appointed to a region-wide position and is now Head of Moreton Bay Campuses for UniSC, responsible for the operations of campuses at both Petrie and Caboolture, and leading UniSC’s activities and engagement across the region.

Kirsty Fields is the founder and Creative Director of Social Ocean, a boutique marketing and events consultancy based in Moreton Bay. With over a decade of experience supporting micro to medium businesses, not-for-profits, and government initiatives, Kirsty is recognised for her empowering, visibility-first approach to brand storytelling and event strategy.

A sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator, Kirsty specialises in DIY marketing initiatives and training that builds confidence in women-led businesses and community organisations. Through her leadership of initiatives like the Ocean Network and the award-winning Ladies Who Long Lunch series, she champions women in business by fostering connection, collaboration, and celebration.

Kirsty’s entrepreneurial spirit, creative innovation, and philanthropic work reflects her deep commitment to purposeful business. She is passionate about elevating the voices of others and brings a values-led lens to her judging across these prestigious categories.

Leanne Hopkins, founder of Succeed Healthcare Solutions and Succeed Practice Management, brings two decades of clinical insight and business leadership to the judging panel of the 2025 Moreton Bay Business & Innovation Awards. Based in North Lakes, she has built two thriving, purpose-driven businesses with a strong track record of impact across the Moreton Bay region and beyond.

At Succeed Healthcare Solutions, Leanne leads a multi-award-winning team delivering innovative, group-based therapy programs for children and families. The organisation was proud to win the inaugural EPIC Assist Award for Accessibility & Inclusiveness Excellence at the 2022 Moreton Bay Business & Innovation Awards. In 2024, Leanne was also named a finalist for Occupational Therapist of the Year, and her team a finalist for Paediatric Team of the Year at the Allied Health Awards—recognition that reflects their measurable outcomes and commitment to community-based care.

Leanne also heads Succeed Practice Management, where she helps allied health businesses across Australia implement systems for compliance, growth, and team sustainability. She is known for her expertise in 3x profitability models, therapy assistant viability, and business strategy tailored to the health and disability sector.

Her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic supported thousands of therapists to pivot successfully to telehealth, and her advocacy continues to influence national practice and policy.

Leanne’s role as a judge is a natural extension of her commitment to celebrating businesses that combine purpose with performance—those who are not just growing, but genuinely making a difference.

With over 20 years of experience leading strategy and innovation teams, Lisa Kerr brings a unique blend of global experience across law, elite sport, and Research & Development. Now driving innovation in the water industry, Lisa is a collaborative and values-driven leader passionate about shaping the future.

Margaret is Managing Director of Akyra Strategy & Development with over 20 years of experience. Offering practical hands-on experience and knowledge, Margaret assists clients to define, develop and implement people management strategies using employer branding frameworks to maximise their ability to achieve business objectives. Her expertise comes from working across a variety of business and industry sectors including the resources, construction, projects, not-for-profit and professional sectors.

Noel has lectured in business management for over 21 years at tertiary level institutions, mainly located in the City of Moreton Bay. Prior to this I spent over 18 years in the retail and hospitality sectors (supermarkets, fuel, pizza delivery, retail liquor, etc.), beginning my career as a trainee manager for Coles supermarkets, and leaving the industry as a regional manager with Australia's largest video game company - Timezone. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in management and HRM, a master’s degree in information technology, and a PhD in corporate reputation. More recently I have undertaken research into the resilience of small business during the Covid pandemic (in the Moreton Region) and am currently investigating our region's reputation with a view to attracting new businesses to the city. Finally, I volunteer as a board member for a local non-profit (Encircle) which provides community services to those less fortunate than many in relation to homelessness and domestic violence, among many others.

Sachin currently leads Fair Farms – Australia’s own social compliance training and certification program for Agriculture. Sachin is a regulatory compliance professional with more than 19 years of senior management experience in Agriculture, food and agribusiness sector in Australasia. Over the past 19 years, Sachin has worked closely with over 4500 certified farmers and food manufacturers, facilitating the certification of 10,000 products across more than 15 countries.

With a wealth of experience in delivering certification programs, overseeing accreditations, ensuring regulatory compliance, conducting training sessions, and implementing quality systems for certification schemes in the food, agricultural, and agribusiness sector, Sachin brings a formidable skill set to the food and agribusiness sector in Australia. Sachin holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, a Master of Agribusiness Management, an MBA, and is a certified lead auditor for Integrated Management Systems and Internal Auditing.

As the Group CEO of KEASE International and Leaders Lounge, Sarah leads a team of qualified consultants, facilitators & coaches who are entrusted to deliver leadership solutions for ASX200 listed companies, government departments and elite sporting groups throughout Australia. Sarah's work today is a culmination of a career in banking and event management as well as qualifications in Business, Emotional Intelligence, Communication and Positive Psychology. The focus of her work is to uplift capability and deliver on business metrics by imparting the leadership behaviours necessary to thrive in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous world.

As Regional Engagement Lead in the Innovation Division of the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Sean manages Advance Queensland programs that nurture innovation-driven growth projects and connects entrepreneurs, businesses and innovation stakeholders in the Moreton Bay region to information and support and connections to assist them on their innovation journey.

Stewart Moore is the CEO and Founder of EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific certification, benchmarking, advisory and consulting organisations for sustainable travel and tourism. He is one of the Asia Pacific’s most experienced planning and management consultants. Stewart has over 30 years of experience in a wide range of disciplines from business and strategic planning, policy development, tourism destination management and marketing, sustainability, risk management and corporate and social responsibility.

Stuart has had a strong background in innovation, entrepreneurship and business advisory. He has personally owned, managed and developed five start-up businesses, mentored new business owners and helped develop and grow businesses in both Australia and New Zealand.

In recent years, he has held business advisory roles with both the Australian and New Zealand Government, supporting and guiding business owners through growth and continual improvement strategies. His guidance has been sought across all industry sectors, including manufacturing, tourism, retail, health, technology, food and professional services, having now worked with well over 1,000 businesses.

Stuart has an MBA and has graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is an author and currently the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Queensland.

A globally accomplished strategy professional, Sueanne is passionate about connecting businesses with the ultimate reason they exist: their customers. Her impressive reach has transformed world-renowned tourism regions such as Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Daylesford, The Murray Region, Palm Cove, The Scenic Rim + Moreton Bay. She has also worked extensively with market-leading brands such as Tourism Events Queensland, VTIC, lastminute.com, AVIS, Travelocity, Hays Recruitment, Terry White Chemmart + Personalised Plates Queensland.

An Amazon best-selling + multi award winning author, Sueanne combines her expertise with her impressive people skills to deliver dynamic, tangible, actionable outcomes to her clients, be they commercial results, region prosperity + diversity, or visitor servicing improvements. Her impressive experience spans the breadth + depth of the tourism + local government agenda.

With customer experience in her DNA, she is committed to transforming businesses + regions through aligning people, products + places. Her empathetic + decisive style breaks through business barriers, + brings everybody from board room to back office on the journey.

Trudi brings a wealth of multi-sector experience in various leadership roles in Australia & the UK. Trudi has an Executive MBA and is a qualified accountant and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. With more than 10 years' experience as CFO in the manufacturing sector, Trudi has experience bringing strategic initiatives to life and held the Interim CEO role at the Innovation Centre, Sunshine Coast. She has over 5 years' experience as a board member for the Thompson Institute (Mind & Neuroscience Institute) and the Thompson Foundation as well as leadership roles within the aged care sector for Not-For Profits.