OUR APRIL EVENT
Power Panel!
This month we draw from the depths of talent in our very own SBWN business network for a special format business forum dinner event.
SBWN will present 3 inspiring individuals who have created successful businesses on their own terms. With very different backgrounds and their own unique stories this Q & A style event is sure to leave you with plenty of motivating ideas to take away for your own business and personal development.
Gillian Mertens
A founding member of SBWN – who has served in every Committee position over the years, Gillian is passionate about women in business and particularly values the opportunity to meet with so many inspiring ladies through her work with SBWN.
Island Mowing, which Gillian and her husband Peter established some 27 years ago, has grown to the point where it now services 450 clients. Peter retired two years ago and Gillian now operates the business with the support of 4 wonderful staff.
Gillian is very active in many local business organisations and this year a highlight will be her participation in the highly regarded Gippsland Community Leadership Program
Gillian also works with her daughter Lucy at the fabulous Lucy Mays Café in Korumburra!
Carrie Bruce
Carrie Bruce, Director and Office Manager at Leongatha Kitchens & Bathrooms, hales from the U.S. and arrived in Leongatha 5 years ago with her husband Dan - to join the family business.
During this time Carrie has overseen generational change and has won many awards whilst doing so, including the 2013 Housing Industry Association (HIA) Victorian Business Partner of the Year. An award that recognizes the vital work done by an individual business partner in a small to medium business within the housing industry.
Carrie's experience also includes education and training, not-for-profit/foundation management and community development. Graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia, USA in Human Development and Family Studies and earning a Masters of Community Development from Curtin University, W.A. - focusing on international community cultural development through the arts, globalization and conflict transformation, Carrie is also active in her local community through the SBWN, Beacon Foundation and Daffodil Festival; and contributes to many local and national charities including the Phillip Island Penguin Foundation and Rotary International, to name a few.
Carrie, who has recently become a new Mum, has a passion for life-long learning, professional and personal development.
Nicole Salmon
Nicole Salmon, a health and wellness professional, designs programs that allow her clients to create lifestyle change. As not only a personal trainer but a fully qualified life coach, Nicole is an expert on expanding people’s capacity to create their desired future.
Nicole loves nothing more than helping people break through roadblocks, developing a stronger understanding of resilience and inner strength and creating the inner drive to meet the challenges of life’s journey.
As a committed life long learner Nicole is currently studying to gain additional counselling qualifications.
About our venue...
Captain's Lounge, Inverloch
New Captain's Lounge Chef Tony with wife Felicity co-founded and created the Vela 9 Restaurant and wine bar in Inverloch in 2009. They established an excellent reputation in the area for fine dining and enjoyed much success over the four years, being reviewed and recommended by the Age Good Food Guide three years running. With growing family responsibilities they sold Vela 9 and took some time out travelling around Australia with their daughter. Now back in Inverloch, Tony has been recruited by the Captain's Lounge at the The Esplanade Hotel and owners Sue, Bruce & Wayne are ecstatic to have him on board.
Tony’s approach is to offer fresh, textual and seasonal flavours with an emphasis on where the food comes from and how it's grown. He is passionate about creating tasty, nutritious and innovative dishes using the freshest produce, sourced wherever possible. His aim is to create food from the heart and soul.
Above: The Captain's Lounge, upstairs at The Esplanade Hotel in Inverloch plays host to our April Power Panel Dinner Event.
