Virginia McDougall

Authentic Leadership in a male dominated Industry

Understanding yourself and those you work with

Optimising communication

Virginia is a passionate technical leader who believes strongly in Women supporting eachother in the business environment. She is currently the Senior Engineering Manager at Cubic Defence Australia where she strives to focus on inclusive leadership, continuous improvement and team building.

Virginia began her career with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering with the Army and had a 25 year career with the Defence Force. Her service provided the opportunity to work with many great teams across Australia, on deployment and in the USA. A career that provided constant opportunity to learn and apply that knowledge, Virginia has completed her Master of Business Technology, GLAM course, Chief Executive Women’s leadership program and many Women’s STEM and leadership conferences.

A proud Mum of three children, Virginia and her husband decided to settle in Townsville and put down roots in this wonderful community.

Julie Johnston

Building Confidence in Your Media Presence

Media and PR Fundamentals for Brand Awareness

Integrating Media Exposure into Your Business Strategy

Julie Johnston is the Managing Director of Creative Concepts PR. She has over 20 years’ experience working in PR, marketing and media, and is skilled at finding the beating heart of a story. Julie works with small to medium businesses, entrepreneurs and thought leaders to build their brand exposure and credibility through media coverage, and offers one on one coaching and workshops to teach others how to create their own PR. Julie is also the owner and Managing Director of BDmag, a quarterly print magazine and digital platform to showcase North Queensland’s entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders, which provides her with additional insight in understanding how to pitch to the media.

In 2023, Julie was a mentee in the Townsville Business Women’s Mentoring Circle, guided by Dr. Jo Lukins. Now, she is thrilled to give back by supporting women in finding their voice and gaining media confidence.

Julie said her topics will give mentees a clear understanding of how media and PR can elevate their personal and professional brand while providing them with practical skills to take action.

Stephanie Barwick

Building teams

Critical Conversations

Driving culture through partnership

Stephanie Barwick is an experienced healthcare leader and the General Manager at Mater Private Hospital Townsville, where she oversees strategic operations, drives organisational excellence, and fosters professional collaboration. With a deep commitment to delivering high-quality patient care and improving operational efficiency, Stephanie has a proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams and implementing innovative healthcare solutions.

Stephanie began her career as a registered nurse and midwife at Mater Private Hospital Townsville and has since worked across the country, from regional hospitals to major facilities like the Royal Prince Alfred in Sydney and internationally at the Centre for Medical Simulation in Boston, Massachusetts. Her extensive experience includes serving as Director of Clinical Education and Executive Director, Mater Education, where she championed workforce development and simulation-based training to enhance healthcare delivery.

Stephanie’s fellowship at the Centre for Medical Simulation in Boston further deepened her expertise in medical education, leadership development, and healthcare simulation. She is passionate about mentoring and developing future leaders. Stephanie is also a mum to two young boys and is a strong advocate for women in leadership roles.

Kerry Spina

Client Relationships and Retention: The Power of Personalisation and Connection

Mindful Productivity and Efficiency: Maximising Time and Energy

Values-Driven Business: Optimising and Aligning Core Values

Kerry Spina is a Wellness Coach, Consultant, and business mentor with over 23 years of self-employment experience. She co-created the Kids in Harmony program, authored and self-published a range of books and wellbeing resources, and launched the Harmony Hub Online Wellness Membership for women. With extensive experience in designing impactful programs, managing online courses and memberships, and leading both in-person and virtual teams, Kerry brings a wealth of knowledge in creating successful, values-driven businesses.

Kerry’s mentorship focuses on empowering women to embrace soulful self-care while building businesses that align with their mission and core values. Her approach is grounded in the power of connection, helping clients lead with peace, power, and positivity. Through her programs, Kerry has impacted thousands of families and educational organisations in our region and continues to guide women to unlock their full potential, both personally and professionally, enabling them to thrive as confident, purpose-driven leaders.

Claudia Brassard

Maximizing Human Potential

Cultivating Dynamic Team Excellence

Strategic Career Navigation

Claudia possesses a unique blend of skills cultivated through extensive experience in the engineering field and high-performance sports, contributing to her remarkable success.
As a qualified mechanical engineer and certified practicing project executive, Claudia has overseen the successful delivery of large, complex infrastructure projects and programs spanning various asset classes. Her expertise extends to managing extensive project portfolios and teams. Claudia is widely recognized as an authentic leader and highly regarded people manager, renowned for her ability to cultivate team collaboration and establish mutually beneficial partnerships. Thriving in complex operational environments, she provides invaluable insights, identifies risks and opportunities, troubleshoots effectively, and drives performance.

Before embarking on her engineering career, Claudia Brassard arrived in Australia as a professional athlete in 2001, joining the Townsville Fire after competing in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Transitioning from player to coach, Claudia served as both assistant and head coach of the Townsville Fire, guiding the team to three WNBL championships during that period. Her experience in elite sports has honed her ability to drive human performance and cultivate relationships within high-performing teams, making her an asset in any leadership role.

She is committed to leveraging her expertise to empower others and foster a culture of success and growth.

Claudia was a mentor for LGAQ’s developing manager program as well as for JCU female engineering students. She is passionate about enabling individuals to become the best versions of themselves.

Claudia is currently the Business Leader Regional Queensland for Stantec a global engineering and design firm. She is also a Director on the Board of Basketball Queensland.