RDA Central West Podcast Series

Maree Statham is the twice-elected Mayor of Lithgow and one very interesting woman.   Our podcast episode with this passionate community member will air this Friday. Maree tells us all about how the Local Government Area (LGA) of Lithgow is moving on up and how the area is, in her opinion, the most underrated tourism destination in NSW. If you truly delve into what this LGA has to offer, you couldn't help but agree.   We find out about Lithgow LGA's new tourism branding - Seven Valleys Tourism and just how much this community has to offer both residents and visitors alike.   Maree has been an actively involved community member for decades, in addition to running her own hair salon and etiquette coaching service for 49 years.   Through loss and hardship, umpteen winnings of Fashion on the Field, and many a challenge, Maree has continued to navigate the world of local politics with positivity and grace, championing a brighter future for locals of the Lithgow LGA.

Kellie is co-owner of the Central West's favourite community newspaper - Village Voice, alongside husband and RDA board member Rich Evans.   This dynamic duo moved from Western Sydney some years ago and has planted roots firmly in the Lithgow / Portland community, establishing a hugely popular free local newspaper for Bathurst and Lithgow LGA's, which champions all things local.   Kellie is involved in a number of business ventures and community initiatives and tells us all about how the Lithgow LGA is going places and what it's like to be a tree-changer in this vibrant community.   Hear from Kellie on Facebook video via our page or download the episode any time wherever you get your podcasts from.

Joining RDA director Wayne Sunderland for episode 63 of the Business Leader's Breakfast Series are the fabulous duo from Clever Cookie Academy - Peita and Rob Mages.   Clever Cookie Academy has taken the local tutoring world by storm with their colourful branding and commitment to make learning fun.   Peita and Rob started with two students in a shed and have grown into an established academy working from an entire office floor, helping over 400 students tackle their learning challenges and excel.   Peita is a Minister's Award for Excellence in Teaching recipient for achieving record-breaking HSC results. She is a teacher trainer, expert speaker, and lover of literature. She's a pusher and is renowned for her dogged determination to help her students achieve incredible results.Prior to teaching, Peita worked in the film industry for Walt Disney Pictures, Sony  Pictures and Universal Pictures as a National Publicity and Promotions Manager. Hobbies include baking at inappropriate hours and lurking outside of her comfort zone.   Rob absolutely HATED mathematics as a child (unlike a lot of maths teachers), and it is believed this is the precise reason he's so good at explaining its tricky concepts to students. His background in the corporate sector means that he always links his teaching of mathematical concepts to a real-world setting, tackling the ‘when will I EVER use this in my life' question, head on. Rob's never give up mentality is known to rub off on his students and he is forever providing outside of hours support to Cookies stuck on maths problems.   This interview is an inspiring look into a husband and wife team who took a leap into business and never looked back.

Local wine tour operator Mitch Crump talks about the business of having a side-business and all he loves about the thriving wine region of Orange. 

RDA Director Wayne Sunderland sits down with Vicki Seccombe, Regional Manager – Western NSW for Business NSW.    Vicki is responsible for providing a voice for Western NSW businesses on the issues that are important to them. She also works closely with businesses and local chamber partners to identify key issues and seeking practical policy solutions.   Vicki has over 25 years experience working for professional associations and not-for-profit organisations in membership, events, advocacy and relationship management. Watch via our Facebook page at 8am tomorrow or download via Apple podcasts.

Regional Development Australia Central West director Wayne Sunderland sits down with incoming Telstra CEO Vicki Brady and finds out more about what it takes to become the leader of Australia's largest telecommunications company.  In this special-length episode, Vicki tells us about her career journey and more about who she is outside of Telstra. Listening to Vicki one can only leave acknowledging how humble and inspirational she is. Her journey from Holbrook to corporate leader will leave you with a smile and we are excited to see Vicki take the helm of Telstra. 

Abraham Dearmer is an army commander turned senior private equity professional.   After 15 years in the Australian Army, Abe earned two degrees and has fast climbed the corporate ladder.   During his time with Xenon Partners Abe has been involved in the due diligence of five companies and the acquisition of two, in the exciting world of tech – particularly the software as a service industry.   Abe is currently involved in the management of two Xenon Partners companies with a global customer base and a remotely located team, yet is able to call Bathurst home where he is based.   Listen in to hear about Abe's journey from the army to the senior world of tech and what he's learned along the way about life and leadership.

Wayne Sunderland interviews Incy Interiors founder Kristy Withers. Kristy manages her international business, Sydney-based warehouse and team from right here in the Central West, based at The Hive coworking space in Orange. In 2011, interiors enthusiast and mum, Kristy, founded lncy Interiors, an Australian owned and designed company specialising in designer baby and children's furniture. lncy Interiors transpired after Kristy's long and exhausting search to find her son Oscar's first 'big boy' bed. Her regular work-related travels to the US and Europe gave her exposure to the myriad of products and styles on offer, something that was simply missing in Australia. Kristy's frustration, coupled with a gentle push from her husband Simon, to "stop talking about it and just do it!" led to the birth of lncy Interiors, and with that, the launch of high quality designer kids' furniture in Australia. Prior to starting her business, Kristy spent five years working as a corporate marketing executive for eBay - researching the market, launching new products and developing strategies. Kristy resides in Orange with her husband Simon and two children Oscar and Polly. We can't wait to hear from you Kristy!

RDA Central West director Wayne Sunderland sat down in Grenfell with returned local Paige Wood - owner of The Tin Cupboard, a delightful gift and homewares store that sends it's wares to all corners of Australia.  Paige talks about her progress from bricks and mortar store to online retailer, detailing how supportive small communities are to local businesses and the powerful impact social media can have on reaching more customers.  We hope you enjoy episode 56 of The Business Leaders Breakfast Series. 

Dr Belinda Mawhinney is the founder of The Collective, an uplifting coworking and events space that has elevated the town of Grenfell, tucked into the beautiful Lachlan Valley. Belinda spent much her childhood in Grenfell, but was determined to study social work in Sydney. After a detour via Charles Sturt University, Belinda relocated to Sydney, qualified as a social worker and spent the following two decades living, studying and working in the city.  In 2016, Belinda returned to live in Grenfell where she lives with her partner, Anthony, and five year old farmer, Frankie. After completing a doctoral thesis in 2020, Belinda saw a gap to provide a space for the many high-level remote workers she was encountering in her town. She was inspired to create The Collective, and with it, a sense of community for these people.  In May 2021, The Collective opened its doors with charming decor and an interesting mix of workshops and events, attracting some big names to this little town where NSW residents are travelling from near and far to get educated, inspired and work in this positive space.  The Collective is just one aspect of Belinda's business life, but goes hand in hand with her other business, Belinda Mawhinney Consultancy, which was established in 2016. Here, Belinda works with individuals, teams and whole organisations to enhance the capacity of people through coaching, clinical supervision and education.      

BUSINESS LEADERS BREAKFAST   Episode 54: Jessica Hickman, Founder of Bullyoloy   Jessica is the founder of Bullyology and driver of The Upstander Movement.   She is a speaker, educator, business influencer, and consultant with a core focus on empowering others to own their ability to speak out and in turn become champions of change.    Jessica provides individuals and companies with the tools and strategies that will enable them to create a thriving respectful workplace free of Bullying and Harassment.   Jessica is a published author and globally recognised speaker with a background in Council, Construction, Oil&Gas and Community. Jess is deeply committed to building strong workplace and school cultures so people can be psychologically safe across the region and beyond. 

BUSINESS LEADERS BREAKFAST Episode 53: Craig Randazzo, Chief Executive Officer of Skillset With over 30 years' leadership experience in organisational management, 21 of which have been in the non-for-profit sector, Craig leads a team of passionate people to deliver Skillset's life-changing education, skills development and employment services. While constantly reviewing the range of products and services to ensure relevance, value and quality, Craig focuses on providing what Skillset's customers, clients and stakeholders need to ensure their continued success. Craig holds two Directorships, one as Chair of Skillset's independent secondary school, Skillset Senior College, the other as Chair of the Apprentice Employment Network NSW/ACT. Craig holds a degree in Psychology and Education, an Advanced Diploma of Management, and is a fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is married with four children, has lived in Orange for 21 years and is a passionate advocate for equality of opportunity, the power of education and employment to transform lives and loves living and working in regional NSW.

BUSINESS LEADERS BREAKFAST Episode 52: Graeme Hay, Director of Barrack Broking Graeme is an experienced and professional risk consultant and insurance broker having spent nearly 20 years providing risk and insurance advice to a range of industries. Through his executive roles at two international insurance brokerage and risk advisory firms and two national Australian firms, Graeme has built a specialty on advising large and mid-sized Australian businesses on risk mitigation and insurance coverage. In representing his clients, Graeme leverages his negotiating skills and extensive relationships across the insurance sector to secure the best outcomes for his clients. He holds significant experience in advising clients in the industry sectors of: accommodation; entertainment and events; agribusiness; and real estate and property. Having recently co-founded Barrack Broking, Graeme is responsible for expanding the businesses operations into the Central West to ensure the needs of a growing group of clients are met in the region.

BUSINESS LEADERS BREAKFAST Episode 51: Victoria Spurway, Financial Planning Manager and Adviser at PmwPlus. Raised in Sydney, Victoria has been living in regional NSW for over 10 years, spending time in Wagga Wagga, before moving to Orange in 2013. After completing a Bachelor Degree in Applied Science at Sydney University and travelling the world, Victoria entered the Financial Planning Industry in 2007. With over 14 years' experience working in client facing and management roles in a diverse range of businesses, Victoria is passionate about education and the current industry transformation occurring as a result of the Royal Commission. Victoria currently holds a graduate diploma in financial planning, is a certified financial adviser and now completing an MBA from AGSM.

BUSINESS LEADERS BREAKFAST Episode 50: Jeremy Norris, Director of Byng Street Local Store.  Jeremy has been involved in the hospitality industry for the past 28 years. After finishing school in Albury Jeremy studied at Latrobe College in Wodonga before being offered an internship at a local Hotel in Albury. After a few short months curiosity got the better of him and he flew the nest and travelled to Cairns in Far North Queensland to immerse himself into the world of hotels and the rest is history. He spent time in Sydney hotels working in fine dining restaurants before travelling across the Nullaboar at the age of 24 to try something different and worked as a drillers offsider in Kalgoorlie. Perth was the next destination and back to restaurants and this was the realisation that he had a passion for the industry… After a few years in Perth he decided to broaden his horizons with a 12 month trip to Scotland to work on a family Deer Stalking Estate. This turned into 11 years in Scotland ever he worked in numerous fine dining establishments and also worked as a private chef on various sporting Estates. In 2003 after working in Jerez Spain for the McLaren testing team he joined the McLaren race team for the duration of the European Season as a chef which took him to every Grand Prix Race in Europe and UK. This was an amazing experience and inspired him to open his own catering company in Scotland which he ran for 5 years before returning to live in Australia….. After a quick visit to Orange to see his sister he purchased the now Byng Street Local Store on Byng Street and its been head down ever since. Since that acquisition in 2010 Jeremy has opened 12 venues in total of which 6 are currently in Operation. He is about to open venue number 7 in the newly renovated Dubbo Hospital and has plans to open 2 more venues in 2021. Jeremy is married to Juliet and has 2 children Monty (5) and Maggie (2).

With over 40 years' experience in mining operations and mineral processing, Tony has worked in and led both open cut and underground operations around Australia. Tony commenced his career as a motor mechanic, before progressing to maintenance and then onto operations management at various companies, including CRA, Denehurst, Mount Isa Mines, and Newcrest. More recently, Tony joined Regis Resources as Manager of Special Projects working on the proposed McPhillamys Gold Project at Kings Plains, near Blayney. If approved, the McPhillamys project would consist of an open cut gold mining operation that has a current project life of approximately fifteen years, including construction, operation and rehabilitation. It is anticipated that the project would provide a major economic boost to the Central West, employing up to 1,289 direct and indirect jobs during construction, and 788 direct and indirect jobs during operation. The project is currently under assessment by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. During his spare time, Tony helps run the 396 hectare family farm at Crookwell, and he enjoys spending time with his family which includes six grandchildren at home near Orange.

Bruce King is the inaugural CEO of the Regional Investment Corporation.  The Regional Investment Corporation delivers farm business loans to farmers to encourage growth, investment and resilience in Australia's regional communities. Bruce has a deep understanding of Australian agricultural production systems and the investment decisions required to underpin their long-term success. With over 15 years' experience in agribusiness and finance, he has held senior positions at Rabobank in Australia and New York. More recently he has been an investment manager specialising in water and agricultural enterprises. His early career was in grain trading. Combined with his experience in agribusiness and finance, Bruce grew up on a 7,600 hectare beef cattle and mixed cropping property in Central Queensland and he understands the opportunities and challenges farmers face on a day-to-day basis.  

Business Leaders Breakfast, Episode 47: Luke Cantrill, Managing Director of Cantrill Organics.  Cantrill Organics, Australia's largest organic cherry orchard, is a family owned and operated orchard located in Nashdale, NSW. Luke Cantrill is the 6th generation of Cantrill farmers in Orange district following in the footsteps of his father John. The Cantrill Family has been farming in the Orange district of NSW for nearly 170 years and is committed to providing certified organic & biodynamic, high quality produce including cherries and a variety of other organic crops. The farm has 8,000 cherry trees which with the farm focused on expanding and planting new earlier varieties to double production over the next 3 years. Cantrill Organics supplies both domestically and has a strong focus for building future export markets.

BUSINESS LEADERS BREAKFAST Episode 46: Jerone Bodiam, Regional Manager – Central West NSW, Industry Capability Network Jerone has worked in the retail, construction, and manufacturing industries for 33 years. Before commencing with ICN, he has run several businesses in the Central West over this time, Jerone also serviced construction sites with primary inputs and consumables. This has given Jerone a sound knowledge of the regional construction industry and its diverse needs. Jerone prides himself on helping small and large businesses and strives to develop productive business relationships and provides a valuable service to NSW industry.

Episode 45: Dannielle Ford, Director Solicitor at Cheney Suthers Lawyers.  Dannielle Ford is a Director Solicitor at Cheney Suthers Lawyers. Dannielle grew up in Orange and graduated from Orange High School in 2008. She then studied a Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws, primarily by distance, at the University of New England. Dannielle started working with Cheney and Wilson Solicitors (as it then was) in 2009 as a legal secretary. She studied full time while working full time at the firm. Following admission as a solicitor in 2014, Dannielle stayed on at Cheney and Wilson as a solicitor. In 2015, the firm had a restructure and was named Cheney Suthers Lawyers. On 1 April 2019, Dannielle, Alice Byrnes and Kirsty Evans acquired the firm from Tony Cheney and Aaron Suthers. The firm has since grown employing a further three solicitors and a number of support staff. Dannielle is the President of the Central West Law Society. She was also an Executive Councillor of NSW Young Lawyers from 2016 to 2018 and attended many meetings in Sydney with her son, Mack, who is now 3 years old.  

Andrew was born in Wagga Wagga and raised in Maitland, where his father was the local mayor. He studied Economics and Law at Sydney University where he met his wife Christina. They have four children.   Prior to entering politics, Andrew set up a business with his brothers in Hong Kong before practicing as a barrister in Orange, NSW in the fields of civil litigation and family law.   Andrew's foray in politics began in 2011, following his successful campaign to secure the NSW state seat of Orange for The Nationals. In 2015, he backed-up his 2011 result.   Andrew resigned from the NSW Legislative Assembly in 2016 and was elected to the House of Representatives the same year, for the seat of Calare, NSW. He has since been re-elected in 2019.   In January 2019, Andrew was appointed Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister and in February 2020, appointed Australia's Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education, and Minister Assisting the Trade and Investment Minister.

In episode 43 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Sam is joined by Peter Bishop of Bishop Wagyu and Quality Genetics International.    Peter's 26 years in agriculture has enabled him to develop sustainable management practices in order to produce the highest quality Wagyu and Angus beef.   Peter completed the Australian Institute of Companies Directors course in 2008 and he has been a Director of the Hunter Local Land Services for 2 years, Mudgee Merriwa Rural Lands Protective Board and Director/Treasurer of the Australian Wagyu Association for 7 years.   More recently Peter was the Director of Farm Management for a large foreign Chinese company that operates several large properties in Queensland and NSW, responsible for 40 staff.   While Peter completed an Advanced Diploma of Farm Management at University of New England (Armidale) his father was actively involved with the Regional Development Australia Hunter board.   Peter and his family run a farm in Cowra farm where they continue their Wagyu passion.

Chair of RDA Central West, Ruth Fagan, joins Sam on Episode 42 of the Business Leaders Breakfast. Ruth Fagan has extensive advisory board experience, in a State and regional capacity. She has been involved in a range of industries, including tourism, agriculture, planning and retail. Ruth is presently, a Councillor on Cowra Council and has been since 2004, a Board Member of Local Government NSW and Chair of Regional Development Australia Central West. Trained as a journalist and a resident of Cowra for 40 years, Ruth has worked as a journalist, Tourism Manager and operated a number of businesses in Cowra including a gift shop, a motel, a vineyard and a dress shop. She has been a state appointed member of the Joint Regional Planning Panel for the Western Region and a Board Member of Tourism NSW. She is a member of the Cowra Showground, Paceway and Race Course Trust, the Cowra Business Chamber, Cowra Special Needs Services Board, Chairman of the Cowra Festival of International Understanding and various local committees. Ruth holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from Charles Sturt University and is the Business Development Manager and partner of a real estate agency in Cowra.

Mayor of Cowra Shire Council, Bill West, is our guest on episode 41 of the Business Leaders Breakfast. Councillor Bill West was first elected to Cowra Shire Council in 1999. He was voted Deputy Mayor in 2004 - 2005, Mayor in September 2008 and has been re-elected Mayor each term since then. Born and educated in Cowra, Cr West is a fifth generation farmer with a keen interest in public administration. He is passionate about conveying his community's needs and views to Council. Cr West is a strong voice and advocate for Central NSW. He is a past Chair of Centroc, and is currently the Portfolio Mayor for Regional Prosperity to the Central NSW Joint Organisation, a Board member of the Local Government NSW Local Water Utilities Policy Advisory Group and a member of the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's Town Water Risk Reduction Program Stakeholder Advisory Panel. At the local level, Cr West is Council's representative on the Cowra Saleyards Committee and the Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee. He also represents Council on the Cowra Community Development Trust Committee, Cowra Health Council, Cowra Japanese Garden Board, Japanese Garden Maintenance Foundation, Lachlan Regional Transport Committee Inc and the Western Region Joint Regional Planning Panel. Cr West has a keen interest in sport and is a former Sydney Grade cricketer and is a life member of the Lachlan Cricket Council. He has been a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) since 1964, and is a past RFS Group and Brigade Captain. In recent years he was made an honorary member of the Country Women's Association Cowra Evening Branch.

In Episode 40 of the Business Leaders Breakfast RDA Central West CEO, Sam Harma sits down to talk to Wayne Sunderland almost a year after he first appeared on the series.  Wayne is the CEO of Central NSW Business HQ, but his career started in the Royal Australian Navy and then moved to the ATO. He worked as a business advisor for eight years before becoming the CEO of Business HQ and he is privileged to work with a talented team of advisors who cover 24 Local Government areas. Business HQ's aim is to help small business start, grow and to reach their potential. Business HQ look at things from all angles to see things from many different perspectives to assist in developing a solution that fits all parties' expectations and moves businesses forward in their endeavours.   W: https://www.bizhq.com.au/

Episode 38: Amy van de Van, Franchisee of Quest Orange   At only 29 years-old, Amy van de Ven has already ticked off a number of business achievements in her 11 years in the travel & accommodation industry.   In 2014, she was named Quest's Business Development Executive Employee of the year and in 2017 was awarded The prestigious Quest Apartments Hotels Chairman's Award.   In 2019, Amy ticked off her biggest achievement yet when she opened her first business; a Quest franchise located in Orange, NSW. This effort saw Amy become the youngest franchisee ever in the history of Quest.   Amy is consistently implementing initiatives to boost the morale and efficiency of Quest Orange and support those around her and in late 2020 Quest Orange was awarded the HM Awards Best Serviced apartment property.

In Episode 37 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Sam is joined by Hamish Munro, Founder and Director of Pairtree.   Hamish is a fifth generation farmer from Cumnock and has always been interested in technology and innovation.   In 1999, he positioned the cattle enterprise to supply beef to the European chilled beef market. This included the installation of a laptop and RFID scanner within the Cattle yards and incorporating (the now National Livestock Id Scheme) RFID Life Time tracking tags.   In 2018, Hamish was asked by NSW DPI to assist in finalising the Farm Decision Technology project run between two research sites in Orange and Molong.   Hamish than initiated a new business called Pairtree Intelligence and applied for the NSWDPI GATE program to refine the offering of what Pairtree really was and how to take it to market.   In 2019, Pairtree was successful in applying to the largest and longest running Agtech accelerator in Melbourne, SproutX, which also provided some pre-seed capital to the business. Pairtree now has over 80 national integration partners that can supply data to the Pairtree platform and start to make the daily operations for farmers more streamlined and more productive.   W: https://pairtree.co/

The Business Leaders Breakfast is back for 2021 and kicking off the series is David Waddell in episode 36. David Waddell is in his second year the CEO of OCC having previously held the position of Director of Development Services for a decade. David and his family moved to Orange in 2009 when he was Manager of GHD's consulting practice in Orange. David is a Chartered Chemical Engineer and a Chartered Member of the Planning Institute of Australia. He worked on several high profile projects over his consulting career including the Sydney Desalination Project and Northwest Metro. He currently sits on the Orange 360 Tourism Board. W: www.orange.nsw.gov.au

In the 35th and final episode of the Business Leaders Breakfast for 2020, Sam is joined by the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler MP. After leaving school Roy enlisted in the Australian Army where he was posted to Brisbane in the reconnaissance sniper platoon.Upon leaving the army, he went on to work in the NSW prison system as a drug and alcohol counsellor and group psychotherapist, lead multidisciplinary allied health teams in the NSW disability sector and was the regional manager of the Western Region of the NSW Police force. Elected to the NSW Parliament in 2019, Roy now works tirelessly for the people of Barwon. W: https://www.roybutler.com.au/

In episode 34 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Sam is joined by Cowra's Jordan Core. Jordan is the President of the Cowra Business Chamber and Leader of the Cowra Business Hub. He is also the Branch Manager of the local NAB and is an experienced local business leader who is driven to achieve the best for his community. W: www.cowrabusinesshub.com W: www.cowrabusinesschamber.com.au

In epsiode 33 of the Business Leaders Breakfast, Sam is joined by Co-Founder of Spilt Milk Bar - Andrew Hamilton.  Together with business partner Sarah Quigley, Spilt Milk Bar continues to go from strength to strength. Having recently celebrated their first birthday in Orange, Spilt Milk has also opened a store in Canberra with another on the way for Tamworth.  Their cow to cone approach, unique flavours and use of local produce makes their gelato and sorbet truly special. W: https://www.spiltmilkbar.com/

In episode 32 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Sam is joined by Rabobank's Central NSW Regional Manager, Toby Mendl. Toby Mendl is Rabobank's Regional Manager for Central NSW and has been helping family businesses with their finance requirements for 18 years. His banking career has taken him from Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands to London and then Sydney, but his passion for agriculture brought him back to regional NSW and agribusiness banking. W: https://www.rabobank.com.au/

In Episode 31 of the Business Leaders Breakfast, Sam is joined by Michelle Stivens from Heifer Station Wines in Orange.  Formerly the Deputy Registrar at the Orange Court House, Michelle is now the co-owner of Heifer Station - a multi award winning business featuring a vineyard, cellar door, animal petting farm whilst offering wine tastings, guided tours, functions and events. W: https://heiferstation.com/

In Episode 30 of the Business Leaders Breakfast, Sam sits down down with entrepreneur and start-up guru, James Lloyd.   After living and working in Sydney, James moved back to the bush to co-found Ribbon Gang Advertising Agency. He has also gone on to set up a number of other initiatives, including data analytics software Hive Business Intelligence and Bathurst's first co-working space for startups, Upstairs Startup Hub.   W: https://ribbongang.com.au/about/

In Epsiode 29 of the Business Leaders Breakfast, Sam is joined by Steve Semmens - The Persuader.  Steve is an experienced and professional Emcee and is also known as the King of Networking. He is a leading expert in assisting medium businesses and large corporations to work smarter by utilising networking as their primary marketing and collaboration tool.  W: https://thepersuader.com.au/

In episode 28 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Sam is joined by Workforce Specialist and Founder of Pulse HR, Tamara James.  Tamara is a well known workforce specialist and HR/IR expert and in her role she partners with businesses & organisations to remove the worry & stress surrounding the function of people management, allowing them to refocus on their core business activities.  W: http://pulsehr.com.au/ 

In episode 27 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series Sam is joined by Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council, Bobby Bourke.  Elected to Council in 2004, Cr Bourke was then elected Deputy Mayor in 2017 and Mayor in 2019 and has been involved in various aspects of the local community, including the Bathurst Op Shop for years.  W: https://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/

In Episode 26 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series Sam is joined by Di Gill - Coordinator for the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) for the Western NSW Local Health District.  With over 20 years experience delivering mental health services in rural and remote communities, Di works tirelessly to raise awareness of, and reduce stigma associated with mental health.  Please note we did have some technical difficulties during the recording of this episode and the first few minutes are missing from the conversation.  W: https://www.ramhp.com.au/

In episode 25 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series, Sam is joined by Mayor of Blayney Shire Council, Scott Ferguson.  A plumber by trade, Scott has served on Blayney Shire Council since 1999 and was elected Mayor in 2012.  W: https://www.blayney.nsw.gov.au/

For the 24th episode of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series, Sam is joined by Holly Manning, Director and Founder of Manning PR and Media. Listen as Holly explains more about their business, including Lunchbox Entertainment, and their new venture ‘Orange Open Air' which will take off in 2021 and their work with the Orange Farmers Market.  W: https://manningpr.com.au/ W: https://orangefarmersmarket.org.au/

In episode 23 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series, Sam is joined by CEO of LiveBetter - Natalie Forsyth-Stock.    With an extensive background in investment banking, Natalie made the move to the community sector in January 2019 when she took on the role of CEO at LiveBetter.    LiveBetter is a regional community services organisation providing services across NSW and QLD. Employing approximately 1,600 people, the Livebetter head office is located right here in the Central West in Orange. W: https://livebetter.org.au/

In episode 22 of the Business Leaders Breakfast, RDA Central West CEO is joined by Pip Brett, owner of homewares and clothing store JUMBLED, located within The Sonic at Orange.  Always an innovator, Pip has taken the traditional business model to the next level by introducing travel tours to Morocco and events like The Huddle. She also has her own podcast - JUMBLED Loves a Chat.  W: https://www.jumbledonline.com/     

In episode 21 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Sam is joined by Member for Bathurst and Minster for Regional Transport and Roads, the Hon. Paul Toole MP.  Paul's commitment to the community started at a local government lebel in 1995 and he has been a Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council before being elected as the Member for Bathurst in 2011.  W: https://www.paultoolemp.com/

In the 20th episode of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series, Sam is joined by the Hon Fiona Nash, Charles Sturt University Strategic Adviser - Regional Engagement and Government. Prior to her current role, Fiona spent twelve years in the Australian Parliament as a Senator for NSW and also held ministerial positions including Rural Health, and in Cabinet the positions of Regional Development, Regional Communications and Local Government and Territories.  W: https://www.csu.edu.au/

In episode nineteen of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series, Sam is joined by Cheif Executive of the Western NSW Local Health District, Scott McLachlan.  Scott heads up an organisation that manages hospitals and health services in an area as geographically large as the United Kingdom, and is passionately motivated to improve health outcomes for rural people. W: https://wnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/

In episode eighteen of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series, Sam is joined by CEO of the Orange Ex-Services' Club , Daniel Perkiss.   Heading up one of the Central West's largest hospitality operations, Daniel is in a unique position to reflect on the challenges of the past six months from both a local business and community perspective.   W: https://oesc.com.au/

IT specialist, innovation expert, cloud computing authority and Director of Performance IT, Craig Murphy, chats over coffee with RDA Central West CEO, Sam Harma in episode seventeen of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series.   Recently relocating to Orange to help drive innovation in the Central West, Craig was previously leading the Global Entrepreneur Program for IBM Australia. His enthusiasm for innovation and technology has helped many in the startup and business community. W: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gtmurph/?fbclid=IwAR15sDOziuK2Y7JsIHTn55QdBcx13qObdGd8oe8uQRx2fYqZVIGw_qoLKY8

In episode 16 of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series, Sam sits down with Gerada Mader, Head of Community at Bathurst's Upstairs Startup Hub.    With 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, a passion for ideas and business, Gerada has a deep understanding of entrepreneurship and what it takes to get an idea off the ground.  W: https://www.upstairs.org.au/about/

This week marks our fifteenth episode in the Business Leaders Breakfast Series and Sam sat down with Central West Media CEO, Rich Evans.  Rich started his first design agency business, REDD, in 1999 and has go onto launch The Village Voice and publish the Bathurst City Life magazine's. He is also the President of Lithgow's signature event, Ironfest and has a podcast of his own - The Uncommon.  W: https://issuu.com/villagevoice.net.au W: http://www.bathurstcitylife.com.au/ W: https://ironfest.net/ W: https://ironfest.net/

Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton MP is our guest for episode fourteen of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series.  With an electorate covering 49% of NSW, Mark is also the Federal Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government.  W: https://www.markcoulton.com.au/ 

In episode thirteen of the Business Leaders Breakfast Series, and just in time for the end of the financial year, Sam talks to Weston Ryan from pmwPlus.  Weston is a Chartered Accountant and Principal at the Orange based accounting and professional services firm which has been a wonderful source of support through COVID-19.  W: https://www.pmwplus.com.au/