Our Team

April Cavanagh: Director and Acting CEO

April is a dynamic Senior Executive with a proven record in business, leadership, governance, project management, and consistently delivering exceptional results. Over the course of her accomplished 25-year career, April has amassed diverse experience across various industries, including Financial Services, Agriculture, and Manufacturing. Her professional journey has taken her to London, Sydney, Brisbane, as well as India and more recently the US, providing her with a global perspective.

E: [email protected]

Katie Craymer: Brand Marketing, Communications and Events Manager

Katie is the Brand Marketing, Communications and Events Manager at TSBE. Born and raised on the Darling Downs, Katie is passionate about, and knowledgeable of our region. Across the last 15 years, Katie has held marketing, communications, operations and public relations roles across finance, real estate, private enterprise, politics, and education sectors. Holding a Bachelor of Business and Commerce with a Marketing Major, Katie brings skill and experience in strategy, advocacy, public relations, and stakeholder engagement; focused on enabling growth, improvement, and prosperity for our region.

E: [email protected] 

Codie Rowling: Marketing and Events Officer

Codie is a Toowoomba local who has an extensive knowledge of the local events scene having lived in Toowoomba and Roma. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) with Diploma's in Event Management, Tourism Management and Hospitality Management. Codie has over 12 years’ experience working across a variety of sectors including tertiary education, retail marketing and tourism, managing events ranging in size and varying in audience from international events, large scale community events to small scale exclusive functions.  

E: [email protected]

Abbey Willmington: Marketing, Communications and Events Support Officer

Abbey is a passionate Toowoomba local, recently returning to her hometown after living and working overseas. She is looking forward to connecting with regional businesses and stakeholders and contributing to the growth and success of our community.  Abbey holds a Bachelor of Design with an interst in creative persuits, particulary graphic and digital design.

Meg Spry: Personal Assistant to the CEO

Meg grew up in Mackay and has extensive experience working in administration and accounts roles in Sydney and Brisbane, before settling in Toowoomba a decade ago. Coming from farm management and agriculture industry, she provides valued knowledge and administrative support to TSBE’s Operation Administration, Health & Education and Food Leaders Australia (FLA) departments.

E: [email protected]

 

Bev Stroud: Finance Officer

Bev Stroud is our Finance Officer and comes with a wealth of accounting and administration experience.  Bev has spent the last 14 years in Dalby and recently moved to Toowoomba.  She brings experience from national and international locations.

Bev has a Cert IV in Business Administration and a Cert IV in Human Resources.

E: [email protected]

Mark Middlemiss: Membership Engagement Officer

Mark Middlemiss has a strong track record of successful project delivery in the recruitment, facilities management, and property sectors, with expertise in these areas backed by experience in business development, client management, and engagement.

As a Toowoomba local, Mark has come full circle via Sydney and Brisbane, in various corporate and professional service roles working across a diverse range of industries, including financial services, oil and gas, manufacturing, and heavy industries. This experience has equipped Mark with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that businesses face in these sectors.

E: [email protected] 

Rowie Beveridge: General Manager - Food Leaders Australia

Rowie Beveridge is General Manager - Food Leaders Australia, a role that assists agri-business in progressing value add products, helping establish go-to-market strategies and developing supply chains through to market. With more than 25 years of agribusiness experience in cotton, grain, livestock and horticulture, Rowie has a well-rounded and practical understanding of identifying genuine opportunities and benefits for producers in the food and fibre industries.  She is passionate about challenging the status quo and keen to help agribusiness excel at ethical and sustainable growth. Driven by her appetite to change the perception of rural/regional Australia she loves to advocate the innovation, smarts and quality of life that continue to grow and thrive inland.

E: [email protected]

Stephen Dummett: Innovation and Future Skills Manager

Stephen Dummett is the Agtech, Innovation & Future Skills Manager.  He joined the TSBE team from AGDATA Australia, a national industry leader in the Agtech space, where he was charged with business development and marketing responsibilities for the company. Prior to that he was the Microsoft Alliance Manager at UNISYS, a global technology company.

Stephen has broad experience in the Education, Defence, Agriculture, Local Government and Technology sectors in sales, relationship management, project management, marketing, accounts, and ICT management.  More recently, he has completed his Graduate Certificate in Business majoring in Strategic Marketing at the University of Southern Queensland.

Stephen is well equipped to facilitate collaborative partnerships across sectors, regions and supply chains, and contribute to economic growth and the creation of jobs through innovation and technology adoption.  Stephen welcomes your contact and looks forward to building an engaged regional innovation ecosystem.

E: [email protected]

Anna Geddes: Agribusiness Development Manager

Born and raised in Toowoomba, Anna brings a robust background in agriculture to the TSBE team. With over 15 years of experience in policy and sustainability across key regions in Queensland, she contributes a wealth of knowledge to our initiatives. In her recent endeavors, Anna spent the last 5 years in the superannuation industry, working for one of Australia's largest funds. Her focus was on servicing employers and their members in Southern Queensland and Northwest New South Wales. Anna's career reflects her passion and commitment to sustainable practices, coupled with a holistic understanding of various sectors.

Anna holds a Bachelor of Applied Science with a major in Natural Resource Management.

E: [email protected]

Nilesh Prasad: Trade and Market Development Coordinator

Nilesh Prasad, our Trade and Market Development Coordinator, brings vast expereince to the role that supports TSBE members who are current or future exporters, helping drive the development of an international and domestic export culture across the region. Nilesh has more than 15 of experience in management and public administration roles including roles in local and federal governments such as Investment Fiji – Ministry of Industry & Trade, and Fiji Olympic Committee, including 10 years of experience in working with Economic Development Agencies in New Zealand and Fiji.

Nilesh’s background is in project management, strategic management, planning, event management, marketing, human resources, finance, contractor management and has completed a Master of Commerce in Management and Public Administration.

E: [email protected] 

Lance MacManus: General Manager – Energy and Infrastructure

TSBE stretches from Toowoomba to Roma, and in order to service the region, Lance can be found across the Maranoa and Western Downs meeting with members and businesses as part of his role as General Manager of Energy and Infrastructure.

Supply chain engagement, tendering and investments opportunities are Lance’s specialties, a result of vast consultancy and management experience. While TSBE works with a wide range of industries across the region, Lance works to link regional business opportunities and tendering success in the resources, renewables, coal seam gas, mining, infrastructure and development sectors.

E: [email protected]

Reagan Parle: Senior Project Manager – Energy and New Industries

Reagan is a skilled business development manager with a project management background. He offers a unique mix of experience and knowledge, having worked in major projects for the owner, contractor, supplier, government and community side in supply chain coordination, sales or lead stakeholder management duties.

He has a demonstrated history of delivery, working for civil, mechanical engineering and rail sector contractors.

Reagan returned to TSBE in 2021 to the Energy & Infrastructure portfolio with a speciality in emerging energy industries, such as hydrogen.

Reagan previously held a senior management position with TSBE and was fundamental in establishing the member offer across supply chain engagement of CSG, coal, road, solar and wind sectors.

Reagan holds a Graduate Certificate of Business with a Masters of Project Management.

E: [email protected]

Hayley Warren: Project Manager - Hydrogen

Hayley was born and bred in the Western Downs and is passionate about economic change to grow the prosperity in the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region. She has a keen interest in social development and appreciates the role social enterprises play in improving the wellbeing of our community. 

Hayley has been a part of the TSBE team for over five years where she gained an in-depth knowledge of TSBE’s operations and our members which enables her to make meaningful connections amongst our membership database and to business opportunities. 

As an experienced project officer, Hayley has played a key role in delivering an array of TSBE projects ensuring businesses have visibility into upcoming opportunities in our region.

Hayley holds a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management.

E: [email protected]

Daniel McNamara: Business Development Manager - Energy and Infrastructure

Daniel McNamara is passionate about the Toowoomba region which he has called home for over 40 years. A qualified carpenter and builder, he has a real interest in property and real estate having built and invested in commercial and residential property and worked as a commercial Real Estate Agent.

Daniel's experience with various industry sectors is an asset to TSBE and our members. He is more than happy to assist members with market intel, business leads, business to business introductions, strategic planning and helping to identify niche markets. The Business Development Manager as part of the Energy and Infrastructure team, he works hard to create opportunities for TSBE members and help identify major projects to bring to the region and ensures these opportunities cascade to our members. Dan travels throughout the region and loves nothing more than to get on site to understand the businesses that help make our region so prosperous.

E: [email protected]

Josh Edwards: Health and Education Manager

Josh, TSBE’s Health and Education Manager, brings more than 18 years of experience in commercial banking specialising in the healthcare and education sectors. Having spent the past 11 years in Toowoomba and Darling Downs Region, he understands the opportunities and challenges in these key industries and is eager to advocate for our members. His diverse skill set and passion for our Region’s primary employment industries, health and education, mean he is well equipped to drive positive outcomes for our network.

Josh holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance, Banking and Accounting and a Masters of Sustainability Science.

E: [email protected]

Ashley Williams: Indigenous Business Connector

Ashley is the Indigenous Business Connector working out of both Toowoomba and Chinchilla. Ashley is a proud Koa People and Wakka Wakka People man who has extensive experience making and managing connections within the resource, infrastructure, and government sectors. With experience spanning Arrow Energy, ARTC and the National Native Title Tribunal, Ashley is passionate and knowledgeable about connecting and assisting Indigenous businesses grow in our region. 

E: [email protected]

Mark Mason: Project Manager – Olympic Strategy and Legacy

With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon TSBE, in partnership with Toowoomba Regional Council, is delivering a project targeted at identifying and capturing opportunities across the region that will stem from the delivery of The Games. Mark has been appointed to capture and develop these opportunities and to provide advocacy for the region in the lead up to The Games.

With experience gleaned from the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the London 2012 Olympics Mark has a well-developed understanding of the development and delivery of an Olympic Games and a deep appreciation of the benefits Olympic Legacy can bring to the region.  Mark also has a broad understanding of the mechanics of community development and the importance of balancing commercial activity and social cohesion to improve the liveability of the region.

Mark is actively pursuing opportunities for the region in agriculture, sports infrastructure, tourism, energy and community development that are linked to Brisbane 2032.

E: [email protected]

Amanda Maurice: Lead Business Coach, Business Navigator Western Downs

Amanda is a skilled professional with a passion for local business resilience and success.  

Drawing from over 20 years’ diverse work experience including hospitality and events, management accounting, economic development and financial counselling, Amanda’s approach to coaching blends practical wisdom with genuine care. ​

Born in Victoria and raised in Tasmania, Amanda has also enjoyed working and living in the Northern Territory and on the Gold Coast, before settling in the Western Downs during 2012.  Amanda especially enjoys the sense of community and outdoors lifestyle the Western Downs offers for her and her young family.  

E: [email protected]

Suzie Wood: Business Coach, Business Navigator Western Downs

Business Coach Suzie Wood is a senior finance professional with a unique blend of Australian and International business experience in a wide range of industries, across both large and small businesses. Suzie is a Big 4 trained Chartered Accountant with over 20 years experience and has a sound ability to understand holistic business financial requirements, helping drive efficiencies and innovation across various business functions.

Successfully delivering a diverse array of financial reporting, forecasting, budgeting and business case proposals, Suzie is passionate about increasing business owners’ capacity to understand and analyse their finances to drive business improvement. She is adept at rapidly establishing working relationships with local networks and key stakeholder groups and businesses.

E: [email protected]

Ailsa Cass: Marketing Advisor, Business Navigator Western Downs

Ailsa is a qualified and passionate marketing professional with experience working with a diverse range of organisations. Ailsa assists clients with preparing marketing strategies and plans, advises on digital media tools and ensures the service is well promoted.  Ailsa particularly loves helping businesses define and own their brand position and then tell their story consistently across all marketing communications/platforms.

Fastidious with details, Ailsa is also a strong project manager ensuring clients are well looked after and projects are delivered to the highest standard.  With a real passion for ecommerce Ailsa also runs the peer group for our Western Downs based ecommerce businesses assisting in both technical and website design using the Shopify platform and ensuring user experience is delivered.

E: [email protected]