Business Advisors

Court Sayer-Roberts

Industry Specialties – Accommodation & Food Services, Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, Retail Trade, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Arts and Recreation Services, Financial and Insurance Services, Transport, Postal and Warehousing.

Business Issue Specialties – Business planning, Budgeting, Start up, Business Disruption, Bookkeeping, Banking and finance, Strategic Planning, Pricing & Costing, Taxation Issues, Crisis Management.

Court is a qualified small business financial counsellor who has over 20 years management experience including 9 years at senior management level within the food manufacturing industry within New Zealand and Australia overseeing the production and launch of major food brands and products.

Court has experienced firsthand the challenges that rural businesses face, having been through drought periods himself with both SunRice and his own businesses in Leeton, which includes small business consulting, and owner/operator of a café and catering business.  Court also codeveloped a federally funded small business support program for small businesses experiencing financial hardship.

Court works closely with small businesses in building and coaching high-performing teams and individuals to meet their goals, as well as help develop business relationships with their key stakeholders through changing environments. This means helping simplify business processes and understanding finances to make informed decisions.

Court provides small business advice in the local government areas of Leeton, Griffith, Narrandera, Hay, Edward River, Murray River. He can also assist with navigating the extensive range of government assistance packages presently available.

Qualifications

Diploma of Financial Counselling

Diploma of Hospitality Management

Small business experience

Business Connect 2022- present

Regional Small Business Support Program – 2020-2022

Greg Bowers

Industry Specialties – Leadership, team building and mentoring. Strategic planning and implementation. Business planning. Business development and sales. Business restructuring and continuous improvement.

Greg’s Business experience extends over 30 years across small businesses, not-for-profit, national and Multinational Companies. This experience includes being on several boards of directors, including NFP, thus ensuring capability through all levels of business.

Greg has specialised in business-to-business (B2B) supply chains, manufacturing, sales, marketing, financial management and continual improvement.

Greg has significant experience living and working in regional Australia and understands the local business environment, its challenges and opportunities.

Greg has successfully worked with loss-making and turn-around businesses during the recent COVID situation. Within these regional areas, Greg has led capital-raising ventures and business acquisitions, supporting local Councils/LGAs and Chambers of Business. Strategic and business planning, and importantly ensuring implementation and outcomes from those strategies, is a skill Greg is passionate about. Coaching and development for business owners and managers is a passion of Greg’s that is strongly supported by his background working with a wide range of business sectors.

Peita Charman

Industry Specialties – Sales & Marketing. Wholesale & Retail Distribution. Financials, MYOB & Xero. Information Technology. Process Improvement & Operations.

Peita is a Sales and Marketing specialist with over 25 years of experience in Australia and SE Asia.
She has assisted and motivated hundreds of small businesses and large organisations to grow, adapt and innovate in sales, communications, marketing, operational efficiency, and process improvement.

With a keen ability to deeply understand each unique business or organisation, and its’ challenges, she has provided advice and support across industries in banking and finance, retail and wholesale, government, and not-for-profit organisations.

Her background spans working for large consulting firms, global technology companies and customer relationship management providers.
She has extensive knowledge of Information Technology, Consulting, Strategy, Operations and Business Strategy.
Peita has a focus on people and building long-term relationships and is a subject matter expert who actively helps to lead, plan, conduct workshops, provide coaching and advice on specific areas of need or align different capabilities across small and large organisations.

With relevant and real-world experience, Peita is also a General Manager across multiple business functions in her own successful national business she started 15 years ago.
With a collaborative and engaging communication style, she enjoys helping people and businesses to succeed and is valued by her clients as a trusted advisor.

Karen Dempster

Industry Specialties – Tourism Product development and Training. Tourism Marketing and distribution assistance. Marketing and sale strategies – general. Communication strategy – general. Business development and diversification.

Karen is a highly skilled tourism and marketing professional with over 25 years of experience. She has worked in the public and private sectors across accommodation, transport, tour operators and attractions, including many years of private business ownership.

Equipping her with the knowledge and experience to provide one-on-one advice and assistance to businesses in the tourism sector. Karen is a strategic thinker that targets all facets of managing a business to grow destination, brand awareness, revenue and customer engagement. With many years of business management experience and delivery of training programs relating to this sector, Karen is an asset to any business requiring advice and assistance in the tourism field.

Fiona Latham-Cannon

Industry Specialties – Retail Trade. Tourism. Information Media and Telecommunication. Accommodation and Food Services. Administration and Support Services. Arts and Recreation Services. Other Services. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services. Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services. Transport, Postal and Warehousing. Wholesale Trade.

Business Issue Specialties – Social Media. Marketing. Digital Presence. Sales. Info Technology. Technology. Wellbeing / Mental Health. Seeking Grants. Business Planning. Start Up

Fiona Latham-Cannon holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) with more than 40 years of business experience spanning 5 different industries. Over 30 years, she has operated a 3rd generation family retail business operating multiple outlets in major shopping centres.

Fiona is also well-positioned to advise Restaurateurs, having been one herself for around 5 years. She has driven 2 business-to-business operations in the wholesale industry and holds office-bearing positions on two Not-For-Profit Organisations’ Committees. Her most recent business activity centres around her multiple-award-winning marketing agency.

Fiona specialises in making businesses look great and perform well online while ensuring business owners have the tools they need to become consistent digital advocates for their businesses. She creates and ensures business branding and marketing strategies can be seamlessly implemented and that digital communication between business and customers/clients is simplified, on point and brand.

Fiona offers knowledge and training with a toolbox full of helpful business resources, making daily digital marketing implementation easy. She possesses expert knowledge of Social Media Creation using channels such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. She teaches simple through to advanced Graphic Design techniques maximising business advertising effectiveness using Canva. She helps create effective Online Advertising strategies using Facebook and Instagram to reach the preferred audiences. Fiona has useful iPhone Photography experience with teachable editing skills.

Small business experience

NSW Business Connect 2023 – Current

Digital Business Solutions, Australian Small Business Advisory Service 2021-2023

Executive Committee Member – Several Not-for-Profit Organisations 2018-Current

Tall Red Poppy Marketing – Founder 2014 – Current

Marketing Coordinator and Sales Support (Wholesale & Professional Services) 2012-2013

Managing Director (Retail) 1999-2012

Restauranteur (Hospitality) 1992-1997

Marketing and Operations Manager (Retail & Wholesale)1989-1998

Lisa LaMaitre

Industry Specialties – Healthcare and Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Education and Training.

Business Issue Specialties – Market research, Start Up, Strategic Planning.

Lisa has 30 years of business expertise from developing, building, and operating four businesses across the sectors of IT, healthcare, retail/rental, and events. Additionally, she has 35+ years of retail experience, 30+ years of staff management and training, and has operated a business as a franchisee. Lisa has competed in and won business innovation ‘hackathon’ competitions.

Lisa founded a multi-award winning complementary health practice in Canberra in 1997. She is a qualified Remedial Massage Practitioner and Sports Trainer. Lisa has been Massage teaching staff at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), has been part of CIT’s Massage Industry Panel, and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) updating the nationally accredited Massage training package.

Lisa prides herself on being a clear and inclusive communicator. Lisa is a consummate networker, collaborator, and community builder. She is an experienced business mentor, teacher, and lecturer who meets clients ‘where they’re at.’

Lisa has taught business, innovation, and entrepreneurship locally, nationally, and internationally. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Psychology, Neuroscience and Biology), an Advanced Diploma Applied Science (Remedial Massage), and Certificates in Training and Assessment, Retail Management, and Retail Operations.

Qualifications

B.Sc. Adv.Dip.App.Sc. (Rem.Mass)

Cert. IV TAE

Cert. IV Retail Management

Cert. III Retail Operations

Small business experience

Technology Masters 1993-present

Therapy Masters 1997-present

LaMaitre Enterprises 2006-2010

Canberra Wise Women 2015-present

Alan Pomering

Industry Specialties – Marketing strategy and management, Education and training, Branding and brand positioning, Tourism marketing, Sustainability

Alan’s experience in small business has involved running a media firm for over two decades, providing freelance editorial copy and photography content to a wide range of consumer and trade publications, locally and internationally, providing public relations support for small tourism businesses, producing a regional restaurant guide and a travel newsletter that travel agencies distributed throughout Australia, and providing corporate training in customer service.

Alan offers management, consulting, and business advisory experience, having worked at a senior level in adult education and advising a range of companies, including accounting and legal practices, golf clubs, and wineries on topics from marketing to sustainability.

Formal qualifications in business include a bachelor’s degree in economics, an MBA with a specialisation in marketing, and a doctorate in marketing.
Also, qualified in education, teaching English to non-English speakers, and webpage design (Certified Internet Webmaster).

Edwin Smith

Industry Specialties – Social Media Marketing. Social Media Best Practice. Content Creation. Instagram Reels. Tiktok.

Edwin’s spent the last 10 years working in social media, where he ran the Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok accounts for some of the biggest shows on TV, including Survivor, The Voice, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Love Island, 10 Sport and many more. During that time, Edwin also worked directly with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Off the back of this, Edwin has an intricate knowledge of what makes each platform tick.

These days, Edwin specialises in organic social media for businesses, having worked with over 300 people in the last 3 years under his small business The Social Sandwich.

Edwin’s claim to fame is that B-grade Aussie celebrities sometimes like his Instagram photos. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, has a huge collection of fun shirts and will try to make you laugh at least 2 (two) times when you speak with him.

Colin Taggart

Industry Specialties – Accommodation & Food Services, Information Media, Telecommunications.

Colin is an online media specialist and a marketing and communications professional who has started, managed and successfully sold advertising agencies and technology companies in Europe.
He has extensive public relations experience liaising with local and national media on behalf of clients.

Colin has proven expertise in launching new businesses and developing branding, marketing plans, websites, social media, and e-commerce strategies. For many years he was the publisher of the Wagga Wagga City Council Official Visitors Guide and worked with Riverina Regional Tourism, publishing The Riverina Holiday Guide. He has also delivered services to businesses as a digital advisor for the ASBAS Digital Solutions program.

Colin has a profound understanding of the hospitality and tourism sector. He has strong links within the Wagga business community as a former board member of the Wagga Business Chamber, the Business Enterprise Centre, and the Riverine Club. He has extensive public relations experience liaising with local and national media on behalf of clients. He publishes magazines and websites for RAAF Base Wagga and Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka, to welcome families and personnel to Wagga.

Darryl Tonks

Industry Specialties – Retail Trade. Wholesale Trade. Education and Training.

Business Issue Specialties – Disability Sector. Business Planning. Budgeting. Marketing. Pricing & Costing. Commercialisation and Innovation. Strategic Planning. Time Management. Sales. Business Disruption. NDIS Audit Verification.

Darryl is an experienced small business owner, certified results coach and digital marketer. He has a proven ability to lead business transformations that increase profitability, streamline operations and create sustainable frameworks that free business owners up to focus on the aspects of the business they love and spend time with their family.

With over 25 years of business management experience, he has the ability to work with people to understand their business and personal goals and to develop sustainable business systems to provide the financial and lifestyle rewards they are looking for.

Darryl has extensive experience in agriculture, service-based business operations and aviation.
He is approachable, diplomatic and humble in his approach to serving others to gain clarity of their business vision and set and achieve their goals.
Darryl has owned and developed two small businesses including farming small land holdings and a brick-and-mortar service-based business which is a register NDIS provider.

Darryl has qualifications in bookkeeping, business, real estate and marketing. He is also the NDIS specialist advisor for Enterprise Plus.

Qualifications

Certificate IV Accounting & Bookkeeping

Small business experience

Mum and Dad’s Laundry and Car Spa 2019 – Current

Majestick Alpacas 2011 – 2019

Andrew Wales

Industry Specialties – Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services; Retail Trade.

Business Issue Specialties – Start up; Marketing; Sales.

Andrew has been the founder of several successful businesses since 2001, including Planet Footprint (International environmental reporting firm), Australia’s Oyster Coast (leading Australian oyster brand) and Outcomes Corp (economic development firm delivering labour market programs on behalf of the Australian government).

Andrew has significant experience across all areas of business including planning, marketing, sales, financial management and internal management systems development. His expertise is in the startup and early growth phase of business – taking an idea and progressing it through to the formation and operation of a successful, profitable enterprise.

Andrew has worked across Australia, as well as in the United States and Asia. Aside from his work with Business Connect and Outcomes Corp, Andrew’s current focus is on development of a broad-reaching initiative that will deliver operational supports to grass roots sporting clubs and leagues to improve their viability and social impact.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons)

Small business experience 

2001-2006: Managing Director – Omega Environmental Pty Limited

2006 – 2012: Managing Director – Planet Footprint Pty Limited (Australia)

2009 – 2012: Director – Planet Footprint LLC (USA)

2012 – 2019: Director – Andrew Wales & Associates

2019 – Present: Managing Director – Outcomes Corp Pty Limited

2022 – Present: Managing Director – Hiring Innovations Pty Limited

Dales Whyte

Industry Specialties – Traditional and social media. Creating Sales & Sales Techniques. Starting a Business and planning for success.

Business Issue Specialties – Identifying the ideal client for business success. Starting a Business and planning for success. Creation of audio visual / multimedia and image content for Business.

Dales Whyte’s career and success are achieved by utilizing the many skills gained in a diversity of business ownership and management roles, along with his successful ability to interact with people from all levels.

Dales’ empathy allows him to work alongside business owners, allowing them to become the process necessary for success.

Dales’ ability to ask quality questions, drill down & understand the needs of small business has enabled him to provide advice and assistance to thousands of small businesses across a diversity of industries.

His ability to communicate to clients is beyond question with many years in radio, sales & marketing, management, creating business, startups in an International Print Media, a Luxury Tour Business, and a Not-for-Profit organisation, making him a skilled & valuable advisor to regional businesses.

Dales is an accredited mental health first aider.

Qualifications

Accredited Business Advisor

Accredited Mental Health First Aider

Certificate II & III in Public Safety

Certificate IV in training Completion of training modules laid down by ABR 5127 -Training Manual Volume III (Navy)

Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice, Diploma of Property (Agency Management)

Behavioural Science – Padua College

Small business experience  

Whyte & Associates: 2020 – Current

The Whyte House: Jun 2015 – Oct 2018

Whyte Media: Sep 2010 – Dec 2014

Nares County Sheriff: Not-for-Profit organisation: Apr 2003 – Jun 2014

Real estate Agent & Auctioneer: 2004 – 2011

Australian Military News: 1995 – 1997

Jessica Vlaskic

Qualifications

Cert III Business Administration
Dip Team Leadership & Management

Small business experience

Moose & Co Plastering Pty Ltd, since 2010 – present