OUR TEAM

John Todd

John Todd

Executive Officer
John Todd
Executive Officer | AIMM, MIEF, JP
Biography

John lives in Emu Plains and has lived in the Penrith / Lower Blue Mountains area all his life. John has been with the centre since July 1992 and was previously a Bank Manager for the Westpac Banking Corporation for 20 years. In addition to many years in business, he holds a Diploma of Advanced Business Facilitation.

John is a Justice of the Peace and is a member/director of the following organisations:

– Past Chair of BEC Australia

– Past Member Penrith City Council’s Floodplain Risk Management Committee.

– Foundation Member & Past Chair of Business & Enterprise Facilitators.

– Past Vice President, Treasurer & New South Wales representative National NEIS Association.

– Past Board Member of Business Innovation & Incubation Australia Inc.

– Member of Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce, Biznet Regional Chamber of Commerce & Hawkesbury City Chamber of Commerce.

– Member of the Institute of Managers and Leaders

– Past Director of Football and President Blacktown Spartans Football Club Inc.

– Past Director Biznet Regional Chamber of Commerce

– Past Director of Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation (now Penrith Business Alliance)

– Past Director of Nepean Skillshare

– Past chairperson for the BEC Central Regions Group.

– Past board member & founding member of Penrith Nepean United Soccer Club.

– Past committee member of Nepean District Soccer Football Association Inc.

Alex Hawkins

Alex Hawkins

Business Advisor
Position
Business Connect Advisor

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

Click here to book an appointment with Alex

Biography

Work Mobile:

0418 457 183

 

Main Area’s covered:

Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Picton

 

What is your role at WSBC & how long have you been with us?

Business Advisor – 3 years with WSBC. I have been involved with Business Connect since 2013

 

What qualifications and business experience do you have?

I have a bachelor degree in Business (Major Marketing) and have run my own small businesses since 2010 – 11 years

I have worked in corporate sales since 17 years of age, 24 years.

 

What is the best part/your favourite thing about your role?

I enjoy helping people to realise their dreams and aspirations

 

What do you find most rewarding when helping small businesses?

It is rewarding to see people, start, grow and and achieve their goals!

Seeing some one start something they thought they couldn’t and seeing someone be successful at it!

 

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. – Walt Disney

 

What is the best piece of advice you can give a potential or existing business owner?

Go with your gut instinct!

 

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?

I enjoy spending time with my family and I am a huge Sydney Swans fan so like to get to as many games as I can!

 

What’s your favourite line to use as an ice breaker when meeting someone new?

What is your why?

 

Tell us your best joke:

You can see me in waterbut I never get wet. What am I?

  • Reflection

Rebecca Di Noia

Rebecca Di Noia

Business Advisor
Position
Business Connect Advisor

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

Click here to book an appointment with Rebecca

Biography

Work Mobile:

0434 507 079

 

Main Area’s covered:

Parramatta, Cumberland & Fairfield LGA

 

What is your role at WSBC & how long have you been with us?
Mobile Business Advisor & since Sep 2016

 

What qualifications and business experience do you have?

Rebecca was involved in her husband’s construction business in the area of business administration for 10 years.  Later, she has worked as a Sustainability Advisor, under both Federal & State government-funded programs, to help residential & small businesses with energy reduction.

In 2013, Rebecca established and operated her own e-commence business and offered products online & on Amazon Australia and Singapore.

Rebecca was part of the Australian Export Trading Tour to Shanghai, China, in 2019.   In March 2021, Rebecca was one of 9 finalists for Kochie Business Builder “Back to Business” competition, as well as in September, Rebecca was part of the judging committee for The Stevie Awards for Women in Business 2021.

Rebecca has also volunteered as a mentor for social enterprise business, as well as a Student Mentor for Global Scope, by Practera, with Western Sydney University, Parramatta.

Rebecca is an Accredited Mental Health First Aider

What is the best part/your favourite thing about your role?
Seeing the joy from business owners when they realised their potentials.

What do you find most rewarding when helping small businesses?

Helping them fining solutions.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate….. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, to be gorgeous, talented, and fabulous. Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others won’t feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God within us. And as we let our light shine, we consciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

What is the best piece of advice you can give a potential or existing business owner?
If you don’t try, the answer is always no

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?
Reading and singing. I have been singing for the past 40 years! (opps, there goes my age!)

What’s your favourite line to use as an ice breaker when meeting someone new?
“Hi How are you?”

Tell us your best joke:
Actually, I think I am quite a dry, boring person so there is really not much joke I can give you

 

Jane Tweedy

Jane Tweedy

Business Advisor
Position
Business Connect Advisor

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

Biography

Work Mobile:
0490 102 194

Main Area’s covered (geo):

The Hills, Blacktown

 

What is your role at WSBC & how long have you been with us?
Business Connect Advisor, 3 years

 

What qualifications and business experience do you have?
Masters of Applied Finance (with merit) MAF, Bachelor of Commerce and Administration BCA, Graduate of The Recipe for SEO Success, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Certificate IV in Small Business Management, NYIP Diploma in Professional Photography, plus completed many other training courses.
Has worked with small businesses through prior corporate roles and previously had a small property investment company, and tried out being a wedding photographer. In 2014 started a business helping people with resumes, and more recently have reinvented that into a new business. Also launched FAQ Business Training in direct response to the frustration of the amount of small business owners I had seen being ripped off. An active volunteer, running a Job Search group in Penrith and the Blue Mountains, a Max Potential Community Coach and director on the Hawkesbury Community Financial Services Ltd Board that runs the Bendigo Community Bank® in Richmond and North Richmond.

 

What is the best part/your favourite thing about your role?
I love helping people, it’s always been part of my DNA, and I love variety so the role is awesome for me.

 

What do you find most rewarding when helping small businesses?
Helping small business owners get through difficult situations and seeing them come out the other side with a great sustainable business. Helping business owners uncover what they almost had, but couldn’t quite achieve themselves.

 

What is your favourite inspirational quote?
I don’t have one, preferring to create my own that apply in the moment.

 

What is the best piece of advice you can give a potential or existing business owner?
If you’re unsure, ask for help. It’s better to fill in gaps than get stuck, or get ripped off.

 

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?
Recently my life has been all about setting up my new businesses and speaking at various events like CopyCon and Wordcamp, which has the benefit of learning from the other speakers at them too. Luckily I love what I do, and happily stay up into the wee hours of the morning. When not doing business activities, I like exploring new places, even if that means being a tourist in my own town. In the summer love taking advantage of our pool, but my favourite thing to do is snorkel. I often balance a snorkelling trip with a trip to the theme parks (most years I hold a Dreamworld or Movieworld season pass – and I prefer to go without any kids in tow!).

 

Tell us your best joke:
I think my brain is so full with business stuff, I can never remember the punchlines of jokes! As a kiwi I think I become the joke, particularly when I say one of ‘those’ words.

Kyriae Simpson

Business Advisor
Position
Business Connect Advisor

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

Click here to book an appointment with Kyriae

Biography

Work Mobile: 0447 773 285

Main Area’s covered: Hills, Hawkesbury, Blacktown

Small Business Experience
Repetitions Group Fitness and Personal Training 2008 – Present

Other Work Experience
12+ years in Marketing and sales roles at Lindt and Nestle.

Kyriae has over 12 years experience in corporate Marketing managing successful brands in large global companies, along with operating various small family owned businesses. Kyriae’s corporate background has provided formal training in building strong marketing, financial and sales based plans and can apply this to helping your small business. With specific experience in the retail, finance and the professional services sector, Kyriae’s focus is on getting the basics right and setting your business up for profitable growth, whilst also advising on how to develop a strong marketing plan.

Kyriae is passionate about helping small businesses thrive and has a good understanding of the daily operating challenges. Whilst every business is different, Kyriae understands the common factors that make a business successful and can provide guidance on how to help your business operate more efficiently.

Viktoria Darabi

Business Advisor
Position
Business Connect Advisor

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

Click here to book an appointment with Viktoria

Biography

Position

Disruption, Tourism, Food and Beverage and Marketing Small Business Solutions Advisor

Biography

Work Mobile:
0415 676 238

Main Area’s covered:
Parramatta and surrounding, Hills, Hawkesbury, Fairfield, but all LGA’s with Zoom.

What is your role at WSBC & how long have you been with us?
COVID Business Solutions Advisor
1 June 2020.

What qualifications and business experience do you have?

Viktoria has over three decades of experience as a small business owner and contractor, having worked on marketing and critical thinking skills with SMEs in the food and beverage services, tourism, hospitality, culinary tourism and events space.

Her specialty is helping organisations to harness products, services, experiences and trends – translating them into profits. She does this by helping them amplify their passions, skills and stories through events and activities that excite existing and entice new customers

She has a keen eye for current and future trends in entrepreneurship, marketing, tourism and gastronomy, blending a marketer’s mind with an entrepreneur’s spirit.

Her webinar topics centre on: mindset, critical and innovative thinking skills; researching and testing your business ideas; creating emotional connections with sizzle; essential communication channels, brand-building and retention activities; and Street Smart PR and digital marketing.

Viktoria advises businesses affected by disruption: COVID, natural disasters, competition, new technologies, infrastructure or globalisation. She is a member of the Civic Square and Powerhouse Parramatta Community Reference Groups. She founded the Hawkesbury Artists and Artisans Trail, Hawkesbury Antiques Trail and co-founded of the ILoveWindsor campaign/website.

Viktoria is an Accredited Mental Health First Aider and also holds BEC Australia Advisor Accreditation.

What is the best part/your favourite thing about your role? People, people, people!!
Helping passionate small business owners who understand that running their own business while all-consuming, is also a privilege and to treat it as such. Being able to share my knowledge and experience to help small business owners think critically about the what, where, why and how of what they are doing. To help them solve problems and get their ‘end game’ vision in play.

What do you find most rewarding when helping small businesses? When a small business owner learns to eat, sleep and drink the marketing of their business every day, treating it as equally important as day-to-day operations.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

What is the best piece of advice you can give a potential or existing business owner?

Think critically about every what, where, why and how of anything you plan to do from a customer-centric perspective. Nothing else matters. ‘Data’ is king and ‘content’ is queen.

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?
Visiting artisanal food and drink places anywhere in the world, speciality grocers, farm gates, tasting new foods, learning about food trends, spending time with my grandsons, cooking, food shopping.

Julie Warner

Business Advisor
Position
Business Connect Advisor & Digital Advisor with ASBAS Digital Solutions program

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

Click here to book an appointment with Julie

Biography

Position

Business Connect Advisor & Digital Advisor with ASBAS Digital Solutions program

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

 

Biography

Work Mobile:

0414 210 979

 

Main Area’s covered (geo):

The Hills

 

What is your role at WSBC & how long have you been with us?

Business Connect Advisor, July 2020

What qualifications and business experience do you have?

  • Small Business Management Certificate IV
  • Statement of Attainment in Engaging Customers Using Social Media
  • Diploma of Project Management, Level 5
  • Graduate of The Recipe for SEO Success
  • Mental Health First Aider Certification of Accreditation
  • 7-Steps to Practical Reconciliation™ Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Cultural Awareness – Introduction Program

I started my first business at the age of 21 and currently operate two small businesses (Web Design/Online Presence and Travel Planning/Writer) as well as running a Not for Profit business network group for micro to small business owners that is in its 14th year.

I love helping small businesses to grow their brand awareness and reach their business goals whether they are just starting out or have been established for a while. Empowering people with knowledge and understanding across all areas of their business is important to me, so they are equipped to DIY or they can outsource with confidence and know the questions to ask service providers to ensure they get value for money and the job gets done correctly.

I have expertise in:

  • Website design, best practice, training and maintenance
  • SEO – websites and content
  • Social media, content creation, planning and strategies
  • Digital presence strategy development
  • Optimising Google My Business (Google Business Profile)
  • Marketing – online and offline
  • General business advisory

 

What is the best part/your favourite thing about your role?

I am looking forward to meeting and working with the local business community and helping them achieve their goals.

 

What do you find most rewarding when helping small businesses?

I love when people have that light bulb moment and things make sense, something clicks for them and they understand or can see the “Why”.

 

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

I don’t really have a favourite quote, but I quite like this one “You can’t control the past, but you can control where you go next” Kirsten Hubbard

 

What is the best piece of advice you can give a potential or existing business owner?

Research, plan and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Knowledge is power and will save you time and money in the long run if you have at least a little understanding of whatever area you are wanting to work on or outsource in your business.

 

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?

I love to travel both at home, exploring our amazing country and around the world. I also enjoy cooking, reading and playing tennis.

 

Tell us your best joke:

Remembering jokes is not really my strong point but here we go – Why can’t a leopard hide? Because he’s always spotted.

 

 

Hannah Stack

Business Advisor
Position
Business Connect Advisor

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

Click here to book an appointment with Hannah

Biography

Mobile: 0439322229

Hannah is passionate about helping small business succeed. From her background in Marketing, she can provide solutions to small business in the areas of profitable strategies, inbound marketing and all social media/digital requirements. Hannah has a Bachelor of Commerce(Marketing). She brings with her strong experience of a Strategist in developing cohesive and profitable strategies for small businesses.

She has worked as Marketing Strategist and Chief Strategy Officer in her previous roles.

Jade Boland

Business Advisor
Position
Business Connect Advisor

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

Click here to book an appointment with Jade

Biography

Qualifications
Masters of Business Administration (Management)
Bachelor of Business and Commerce with specialisation in Management
Diploma in Small Business Management

Certificate IV in Customer Contact
Certificate III in Customer Contact and Telecommunications

Diploma of Legal Services, Paralegal

Certificate in Small Business Resources Social Media Online Training
Certificate of Completion – Building a Business Plan
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment – Currently undertaking

Small Business Experience
Classic Café, Catering & Coffee Truck 2009-2011
Sesame Pizza 2013 – Present
The Boss Lady  2018- Present

Introduction
Jade has owned and operated numerous small businesses since starting her career and still today continues to deliver services to small business owners.
With 7 years’ experience in the corporate world Jade is able to use her knowledge of both big business and small business to help develop your business goals.

Jade is passionate about helping small business owners level up through confidence and help them grow their business and brands. Developing a social media presence online and growing your business is something Jade can help you to achieve in your own business. She specialises in event management and planning, social media strategies, customer service and customer experience, compliance, insurances, financial planning and budgeting, staff management and much more.

While she currently runs 2 small businesses and has her own networking group Jade has a natural ability to make you feel comfortable and in good hands.
Jade knows that small business owners need support and guidance along the business journey and she is here to support and educate you along the way through the Business Connect program.

 

Graham Fitzpatrick

Graham Fitzpatrick

Business Advisor
Position
Business Connect Advisor

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business

Click here to book an appointment with Graham

Biography

 

Work Mobile:

0490 408 103

 

Main Area’s covered:

West and South West of Sydney

 

What is your role at WSBC & how long have you been with us?

Point to Point Transport and General Business Advice. Started in Sept 2017.

 

What qualifications and business experience do you have?

Advertising Certificate, Cert IV in Marketing, Cert IV is Business (Management). Worked in the Advertising Industry for 27 years for Fairfax, News LTD, Independent Publishers and a local Radio Station. Half of that time was as a Branch Manager at a number of Community Newspaper Offices.

 

What is the best part/your favourite thing about your role?

Meeting new people

 

What do you find most rewarding when helping small businesses?

When you see a business put into practise what you have discussed with them and then having them thank you for the help and support.

 

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

You can do it!

 

What is the best piece of advice you can give a potential or existing business owner?

If you don’t enjoy want you are doing, don’t do it!

 

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?

Tell Bad Dad Jokes

 

Tell us your best joke:

The other day, I bought a thesaurus. When I got home, I opened it up and all the pages were blank. I have no words to describe how angry I am.

 

Nathan Todd

Nathan Todd

Digital & General Business Advisor
Position
Digital & General Business Advisor

Click here to book an appointment with Nathan

Biography

Nathan has a passion for people and taking their small business to the next level. From his experience gained through being a Digital Solutions advisor and also program manager across NSW/ACT, as well as owning his own social media business, he has assisted many businesses in transforming their marketing and implementing profitable strategies. He has a wealth of experience in social media and digital marketing and coming up with low budget solutions.

Stemming from his extensive experience across several diverse industries, he has a profound ability to identify strengths and weaknesses within a workplace culture, business direction and strategic planning, providing effective solutions and strategies to improve and plan for business success both short and long term.

Work Mobile:

0437 609 290

Main Area’s covered:

Western Sydney

 

What is your role at WSBC & how long have you been with us?
ASBAS Digital Business Solutions Advisor & Program Manager since July 2018.

 

What qualifications and business experience do you have?
Certificate IV in Business
Diploma of Management

 

What is the best part/your favourite thing about your role?
Getting to meet local business owners regularly and helping them with the services I can provide.

 

What do you find most rewarding when helping small businesses?
Making them realise how important a digital presence is and how it can change their business dramatically.

 

What is your favourite inspirational quote?
The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

 

What is the best piece of advice you can give a potential or existing business owner?
It’s never too late to make changes to your business. What you implement today will improve your business tomorrow.

 

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?
I am big on fitness so gym and running takes up a bit of my time, but I love to relax on a weekend and watch the Panthers play.

 

What’s your favourite line to use as an ice breaker when meeting someone new?

I’m half the size of my dad but twice as good.

 

Tell us your best joke:
My ceiling isn’t the greatest, but it’s up there (love my dad jokes)