A former hospitality training centre for students in the Burdekin, with a particular focus on Indigenous youth, is now flourishing as the Gudjuda Deck Café, while still providing career pathways in hospitality. When the building became vacant in 2017, mother- daughter duo Noeleen Backo and Seleena Chapman saw an opportunity to foster their passion for baking to open a café, and to also revive Certificate III Hospitality training for the region’s youth. “That’s really a big part of why we got into it, we wanted to influence them… give job opportunities for kids in the district,” shares Noeleen ..read more

The Table NQ held its May facilitated networking event this morning, celebrating small business month. It was a great morning filled with plenty of opportunities to forge new connections. Dynamic duo Ruth Guice and Jools Munro established their innovative networking concept to enable business professionals to connect in a comfortable environment, void of awkwardness and anxiety. The events are held monthly. Main image (L-R): Ruth Guice, Natalia Wood, Soloman Egan and Jools Munro If you’ve recently held a business event and want to share some photos – please click here for our ..read more

Stakeholders and representatives alike gathered today at the North Queensland Green Energy Futures Forum to collectively shape the future of the region’s green energy sector.  Hosted by Townsville Enterprise, the forum brought together leaders and investors from diverse sectors – including industry, research, and government – to exchange ideas and insights on the evolving landscape of the industry.  Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith emphasised the forum’s pivotal role in developing a cooperative approach to address the challenges and capitalise on opportunities in North ..read more

With Townsville’s population continuing to grow and rental property occupancy rates at an all-time high, real estate experts say it is an ideal time to consider investing in real estate. “Properties are getting snapped up by interstate buyers, local investors need to see the value in investing here before it’s too late,” says Explore Property Munro & Co co-owner Jools Munro. Jools says that contrary to landlords’ concerns about their rights diminishing as a result of recent changes to rental tenancy legislation in Queensland, well- managed rentals remain an ideal avenue for financial growt ..read more

The Australian Taxation Office estimated employees were owed $3.4 billion worth of super in 2019-2020. “We regularly remind clients to check their superannuation accounts to ensure they are on track and payments are being made by their employer,” says Greg Redington, Director, Coutts Redington. “It’s surprising the amount of super entitlements in Australia that remain unpaid and the best option is to be checking your account regularly so you can raise any issue with your employer if payments are not being made.” If you have had several jobs during your working life, you may have had super paid ..read more

Inspired by a shared goal to build a stronger, more resilient community, the free monthly Together Townsville Networks events aim to empower attendees to expand their connections, explore partnership opportunities and develop cross-sector relationships between individuals, local community organisations and not-for-profits, and businesses of all sizes and industries. Main image (L-R): Jade McDonald and Teresa Hudson If you’ve recently held a business event and want to share some photos – please click here for our submission form ..read more

Business Network International (BNI) is one of the largest business referral networking organisations in the world. It utilises a structured system that trains and supports business leaders in building trusted relationships that generate referrals and business growth. Townsville has six BNI Chapters that each meet weekly. BNI Velocity meet at The Balcony Restaurant on Wednesday mornings. Main image (L-R): Daniel Ufer, Rhett Stubbs, Nikki Strano and Bernie Hock If you’ve recently held a business event and want to share some photos – please click here for our submission form ..read more

Every six weeks, business professionals and entrepreneurs alike gather for The Table NQ breakfast meet ups. Attendees kick off the morning by introducing themselves to those at their designated tables, before transitioning into guided networking activities, expertly led by co-founders, Ruth Guice and Jools Munro. “It’s an opportunity to show others what you do and make connections,” explains Ruth, who noted they welcomed over 90 business professionals to their inaugural launch back in February 2023. As a communication mentor who focuses on networking and presentation skills through her busines ..read more

Having spent most of her career in male dominated industries, Dianne Newell has faced numerous challenges stemming from unconscious bias as she navigated the path of leadership. These obstacles, though at times often subtle, caused her to question her own capabilities and the value of pursuing a career in these industries. Now, as the founder of The People & Culture Link, she is passionate about promoting inclusivity in the workplace and mentoring women to flourish in their careers. “The ‘think manager, think male’ stereotype has been particularly impactful, leading me at times to question ..read more

When you imagine a region primed to deliver green energy, with growing capabilities in hydrogen and sustainable fuels, but also nestled between two World Heritage ecosystems, and an island playground off its coast, you’d be forgiven for looking to an international example. But Australia’s most liveable future green manufacturing city is right here, in Townsville North, Queensland. CopperString is the most advanced electricity project in the country. Townsville is on a journey, and one that places the capital of North Queensland in the driving seat as the country moves toward a clean economy to ..read more