The Sunshine Coast Business Council (SCBC) has welcomed four new board members to its ranks following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting at TAFE Queensland East Coast in Mountain Creek last week.
Re-elected SCBC Chair Sandy Zubrinich said she was delighted to welcome Dustin Welch from Savills Sunshine Coast who will represent the Property Council of Australia, Tim Boag from MODE Design Corp representing the Urban Development Institute of Australia, Mark Skinner from Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd and Ben Simpson, Regional Manager of Stockland Sunshine Coast to the board.
“Collectively, our new board members bring a wealth of expertise in property, economics, urban development and tourism to the table, which I’m sure will be of substantial value in guiding the SCBC’s actions over the coming year,” Ms Zubrinich said.
“In 2015, we aim to work closely with the various levels of government to address key infrastructure needs within the region, attract investment to the area and foster growth and employment opportunities.”
“In particular, we’ll be championing the roll-out of various projects such as the Bruce Highway upgrade, the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion, and the development of the Kawana health precinct.”
Ms Zubrinich said the SCBC, which has been the voice for business on the Coast since 2004, would also continue to identify strategies to tackle important issues facing the Sunshine Coast region such as the high youth unemployment rate.
“We’ve already come a long way in this area following the successful Youth Prosperity Forum held in November 2013, where the SCBC brought together a range of government officials, local employers, community leaders and Sunshine Coast youths to address the problem.”
“However, our unemployment rates are still unacceptably high and there is much work still to be done.”
Ms Zubrinich said the SCBC could not have achieved so many positive outcomes in the past year without the efforts of the board’s outgoing members, Michael Hopkins, David Oliver, Peter Bolton-Hall and former board member Tim Hughes who retired earlier in the year.
“These board members have all made a significant contribution to driving a range of SCBC initiatives in recent months and we are very appreciative of all their hard work and support.”
Ms Zubrinich said the SCBC intended to propose a change to its constitution at the upcoming general meeting in March, allowing the board to appoint David Oliver as the organisation’s first lifetime member.
“David was a founding board member of the SCBC when it was first established in 2004 and has contributed to the organisation in many ways, including as the treasurer and as a member of the economic portfolio.”
“David has been an extremely energetic, enthusiastic and respected board member and we are delighted that he will continue to be associated with the SCBC as a general member after stepping down from the board.”
“I am also very grateful for all the efforts of the four existing board members who will continue with us for another term in 2015 — Tony Sowden, Hayden Rudd, Simon Ambrose and Tony Vickers.”
For more information regarding the SCBC, please visit www.scbusinesscouncil.com.au or call (07) 5444 3909.
Interviews: Ms Zubrinich is available for interviews on request.
Media contact: Maya Gurry – Fresh PR & Marketing, P: 0410 109 102, E: maya@freshprm.com.au
Overview of board changes:
Existing board members (re-elected)
- Sandy Zubrinich, Zubek Pty Ltd — Chairperson
- Tony Sowden, Tony Sowden Legal — Board member and secretary
- Hayden Rudd, NCP Bathrooms & Plumbing Centres — Board member and treasurer
- Simon Ambrose, Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd — Board member
- Tony Vickers, Midson Construction — Board member
New board members
- Mark Skinner, Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd — Board member
- Dustin Welch, Savills Sunshine Coast — Board member (representing the Property Council of Australia)
- Tim Boag, MODE Design Corp — Board member (representing the Urban Development Institute of Australia)
- Ben Simpson, Stockland — Board member
Retiring board members
- Michael Hopkins, Master Builders — Former deputy chair
- David Oliver, Greenway Architects — Former treasurer
- Peter Bolton-Hall, Paceline Property — Former board member
- Tim Hughes, Suncorp — Former board member (retired mid-2014)