Gold Coast Insider

What does it take to turn a clever idea into a product used around the world? For Sandra Barber and the team at DockPro, it started with solving a problem: finding a better way to protect boats from barnacles without relying on toxic antifoul paints. Today, the Gold Coast company exports its SeaPen dry-docking system to more than 20 countries, helping cement the Gold Coast's reputation as a global...

How do you go from secretary on a working holiday to the head of a film studio which has attracted more $5 billion in production activity to the Gold Coast? In this week’s episode, Village Roadshow Studios President  Lynne Benzie  shares the story of a career built on curiosity, resilience and a passion for creating opportunities for others. Lynne offers a rare, behind-the-scenes peek at...

(00:00) Gold Coast Insider Introduction (00:22) Introducing Mark Girard and Invest Gold Coast (10:24) The Gold Coast: A city of unpretentious ambition (13:57) Confident businesses and a confident economy (16:53) The challenges facing the city (20:11) What infrastructure can't wait (23:35) Olympic Games: Local content and Meet the Buyer (25:15) Expansion of the screen industry on the Gold Coast...

(00:00) Gold Coast Insider Introduction (01:12) Myriad's vision for the film industry (01:57) How Myriad's technology is supporting the BioSpine project (03:41) Film and the future of healthcare (04:40) How digital twins are transforming the sports experience (05:36) The future of sports venues and stadiums (08:16) The strength and maturity of the screen industry on the Gold Coast (09:22)...

(00:00) Gold Coast Insider: Introducing Todd Babiak (00:44) Culture, identity and community (04:55) The potential of the Gold Coast (06:29) Case study: The fight to keep Austin weird (10:39) Who are we and what are we selling to the world? (11:45) Brand Gold Coast (13:55) What does it mean to be a Gold Coaster? (21:34) Interviewing Gold Coasters (23:21) Key priorities for Brand Gold Coast (26:55)...

(00:00) Introduction (01:30) Introduction to Leah Harrison (02:49) Leah’s role at LifeFlight (04:56) LifeFlight Overview and Mission (06:07) First minutes after an incident are so critical (10:37) First Minutes Matter Program Overview (21:04) Real life examples of First Minutes Matter making a difference (22:46) Recap: What is taught in the workshop (25:07) How to request a workshop (26:05) Future...

(00:00) Introduction (02:11) Shane Thomson Introduction (03:05) Regional Jobs Committee Overview (03:50) Shane’s Role as Project Manager (05:16) How the RJC Addresses Local Workforce Challenges (07:34) GC RJC Webpage & Newsletter Launch (08:29) Supporting Small Businesses & Workforce Planning (11:34) Key Workforce Challenges on the Gold Coast (14:08) Youth Workforce Trends (16:43) GC Prior...

(00:00) Introduction (01:15) What is Cyber Wardens? (03:19) Cybersecurity Risk for Small Businesses (05:11) Prevalence of Cybercrime (06:49) Common Cyber Attacks on Small Businesses (10:33) Red Flags and Warning Signs (15:44) Good Cybersecurity Habits (19:50) Cyber Wardens Training Overview (25:13) Queensland Government/Cyber Wardens Partnership 27:35) What to do if you clicked on a Phishing Link?...

(00:00) Introduction (01:37) What is the Business Industry and Regional Outreach (BIRO)? (03:36) 2024 Visa Changes Explained (04:10) National Innovation Visa (05:05) Skills in Demand Visa (07:06) Specialist vs Core Skills Streams (10:24) Resources Available for Business & Migrants (12:12) Common Business Visa Concerns (15:06) Construction Industry Visa Updates (23:21) Health Sector Visa Update...

(00:00) Introduction(00:55) Inspiration for At the Helm Career Services(02:19) Lived Experience(03:47) Women in the Workforce(07:28) Fears about Returning to the Workforce(08:27) Skills Gained During Career Breaks(10:09) Overview of At the Helm Career Services(15:25) Most Rewarding Moments(18:01) Employer Accreditation & Initiatives(22:45) What Employers Can Do(27:01) First Steps for Women Ret...

(00:00) Introduction (00:38) Gold Coast as a Small Business Capital (02:04) Post-Covid Business Shifts (05:38) Current SME Challenges (09:39) Role of Business Concierge (14:53) Emerging Trends Impacting SMEs (16:48) How Concierge Services Bridge the Gap (20:34) Most Requested Business Support (22:34) Tips for Small Business Owners (24:41) Business Success Stories (32:22) Final Piece of Advice (33:...

Interview with Professor James St John, Head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research at Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics Every day, one Australian suffers a spinal cord injury — often with lifelong consequences. But what if the key to healing lies... in your nose? This week on the Gold Coast Insider Podcast , we dive into revolutionary research...

Australia is in the midst of a youth mental health crisis — but there is hope. In this Gold Coast Insider episode, mental health educator Nicole Evans shares how she and Dr. Kylie Armstrong are transforming the way we tackle mental wellbeing through their groundbreaking initiative, ConnectedLE. This award-winning, accredited training company is reshaping best practices in mental health education b...

Dr Craig Patch, CEO & Co-founder of Adepa Lifesciences, has had an extraordinary journey that began on the rugby field and led to groundbreaking innovations in biomedical science. In this episode, Dr Patch shares how his experiences in Nepal inspired a mission to combat a fatal disease affecting premature babies in developing countries. We’ll dive into how this remarkable discovery i...

Two decades ago, securing 200 hectares for the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct laid the foundation for one of the city’s most transformative developments. In this episode we speak with Gareth Richardson, Development Manager for Economic Development Queensland, about how the Precinct - home to Griffith University, the Gold Coast University Hospital, and a thriving innovation ecosystem - ha...

“What do you stand for and why should I care?”  According to veteran brand strategist Melissa Donnelly, this is the most fundamental consumer question, and one which should inform every single business communication. But how do we cut through the noise and build consumer trust when we are living in a new ‘VUCA’ world – awash with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity? Melissa, Director...

If not for a bold tax reform in the 1970s, the life and career of the Hon Rob Borbidge AO - and the political landscape of Queensland - might have unfolded very differently. Raised on a sheep farm in Victoria, it was the abolition of Queensland's death duties that spurred his family to relocate to the Gold Coast. This move eventually led Rob to be elected as the Member for Surfers Paradise, a posi...

With sweeping workplace relations reforms introduced on 1 July, and even more coming into effect this earlier week (from 26 August), our podcast guest Catherine Craig is here to help us understand and navigate the changes. Catherine, the founder of Gold Coast company NEXUS Human Resources, walks us through a raft of new regulations regarding maternity leave, the right to request flexible working a...

A seasoned urban planner with over 20 years’ experience, this week’s podcast guest Patrick Hefferan provides an expert and nuanced perspective on how to address one of the Gold Coast’s most pressing issues: housing supply. Paradoxically, Patrick believes our housing crisis is actually a good problem to have – it means people are wanting to live, work and play on the Gold Coast, and the economy is...

In one industry on the Gold Coast, there are a wealth of jobs which you can start straight out of high school, become highly skilled and highly paid in a relatively short amount of time, and which can take you around the world (in style). Sounds enticing? Then the $1.2 billion Gold Coast marine industry is waiting for you. We talk to Gold-Coast-based Maritime Industry Skills Advisor  Adam Chanter,...

This week’s podcast guest, Rebecca Hyssett, is the Gold Coast's own ‘Pied Piper’ for the building and construction industry. As Industry Engagement Officer for Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ), she is absolutely passionate about encouraging and supporting the next generation of people into a trade. And with 61 cranes currently towering over the Gold Coast, plus major projects underway like...

Operating for an incredible 76 years, the 45-hectare Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (originally the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary) is one of the Gold Coast’s most beloved community assets, and is also a significant regional employer and training centre, with 1000+ workers, volunteers and trainees. Today’s guest Michael Kelly, who until recently was the Sanctuary’s General Manager, gives us an insight the...

Robotics engineer and entrepreneur Luis De Jesus firmly believes that the Gold Coast will be Australia's next major tech hub. His Arundel-based company Mexx Engineering - a manufacturer of robotics, autonomous vehicles and automated systems - is already one of the driving forces in a Gold Coast-led ‘Industry 4.0’ revolution, which is transforming industry processes and workplaces nationwide. R...

Concerned about business sustainability? This week’s episode is a refreshingly optimistic conversation with Professor Chris Fleming and Professor Nick Barter, co-authors of the new book,  Future Normal: 8 Questions to Create Businesses Your Children Will be Proud Of .  Four years ago, Chris and Nick, both lecturers in Griffith University’s MBA program, realised a new paradigm had emerged around co...

Before you put another product on your face, this is a podcast you won't want to miss! Skincare and cosmetics is a $100 billion global mega-industry, but a revolution is underway - one which will upend everything (we think) we know about what is good for our skin. This week we chat with Shaun Roux, the Director of Gold Coast-based biotech company BiomeCentric, which is leading the charge to em...