Advice set to inspire
SIXTEEN potential future Far North business leaders met with mentors this week as Cairns Chamber of Commerce launched its annual Emerging Leaders mentoring program with a speed mentoring event.
Chamber vice-president Jesse O’Hara was a graduate of the program in 2016 and spoke to the group.
“Lean into your mentors, make genuine connections with the people standing beside you, decide if you want to make positive change – make that decision today and in the future it will come,” Mr O’Hara advised.
“This program is volunteer-led but its led by leaders and it is locally focused – I’m excited about it now, it has improved every year and I think we are at the pinnacle of it now.”
Chamber president Enver Selita said delegates were chosen based on the impact it was believed they would have as a future leader in the region.
He said it was a powerful program because it was a true partnership between the chamber and industry and business partners.
Chamber chief executive Patricia O’Neill said participants would get the most out of the speed networking session by stepping outside their comfort zone.
“It’s not a competition, it’s about seeing whether there’s a mentor match that you’ll get something out of, it could be related to your industry or be a personality match,” she said.
Mrs O’Neill said the program was based on university business mentoring programs.
The program kicked off with a speed session where delegates spent four minutes apiece with mentors including Cairns Post general manager Andy Reeves, REX Airlines state manager Steve Jones, Cairns Convention Centre general manager Janet Hamilton, Cairns Regional Council chief executive Mica Martin, and Aviation Australia business manager Chris Pigott.
Others include Alive Pharmacy Group managing director Georgina Twomey, Tong Sing director Ron Tong, ANZ Far North Queensland executive Jeffery Schrale, and independent Capital Advisors director John Mlikota. Delegates come from a wide range of fields and include Rock Ridge Farming operations manager Jess Howe, young entrepreneurs who have started their own businesses, a mechanical engineer, physiotherapist, town planner, and business development specialists.