Established in 1963, Lardner Park is a versatile event venue that has grown to host a variety of annual events including exhibitions, field days, conferences, conventions, arts and music festivals, markets, gala functions, agribusiness events, livestock shows, community events and private bookings.Through a volunteer board and committee, Lardner Park reinvests 100% back into the 300-acre property for farm operations, agribusiness development, facility development, asset maintenance and community event support. Lardner Park is committed to an ethical and environmentally proactive impact while acting as a lead promoter of innovation, sustainability, smart farming methodologies and ensuring positive and engaged future generations to come.

Baw Baw Big Blokes are a registered charity in our local community raising funds and awareness for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. We host 650 to 700 men in October each year at a fundraising event at Lardner Park in Warragul, Victoria. To date the charity has raised in excess of $900,000 which has been distributed across PCFA and other local initiatives, including funding for a Level 1 - First Aid and Defib certification program for ALL Year 9 students across every secondary school in the Baw Baw area, funding to support local Prostate Nurses, awareness campaigns across the shire for men aged over 40 to get checked and importantly funding for our local hospital to support men diagnosed with and managing a Prostate Cancer prognosis. This is the single most successful fundraiser in our local area and I'm proud to be associated with and contributing to its success.

Leading the single largest system change in the companies history Viatek transition to a new ERP platform. Upon completion I will exit the business in late 2019 and and look to the next exciting chapter and opportunity.

What I love about my role with Viatek is using our solutions, our services and our capacity to help businesses with real answers to real problems. We do this by understanding a customer’s technology-related concerns, analysing processes and making recommendations across a portfolio of services. My focus happens to be print. Business issues and concerns in this space are just as critical as ICT services in today’s connected office. I’ve been in IT since 1988, and with Viatek since 1991. I’m a proud Gippslander and even prouder that Viatek started in this area over 30 years ago.I am real believer in local community, building strong local networks across our region. Encouraging participation in local clubs, organisations, sports and charities is very rewarding, it helps our community to prosper, which in turn grows local business and opportunities for our kids.My parents instilled strong business acumen and community values in me from a young age. They owned and operated a number of local businesses in the district and my father continues his long-standing involvement in Rotary. I like to think I’m following in their footsteps and so help by volunteering with my own children’s activities. As an involved local, I want to show my children – and others – that the more we get together and support our community the stronger we become and the more opportunities we create. This is as true in our local business as it is in growing our community and employment opportunities for our children.

GCLP is a Community Leadership Program - designed to challenge some of Gippslands future and current leaders. The program invovles active participation throughout Gippsland and was co-facilitated by Gayle Hardie (Global Ledaership Program) and Mellissa Bastian (GCLP Alumni). Through greater community understanding and self awareness the program develops skills and attributes in participants to continue their leadership journey.

I started a small business providing IT support services in 1990, included hardware, software, installation and training services. We grew to support many local and interstate clients and eventually sold the contracts to other providors as my role at the Xerox Buiness Centre and then Viatek evolved and took my full attention.

As Operations Manager, I worked very closely with the MD to provide day to day operational and strategic support for the business outside of our sales team.

As Service Manager I was in charge of all related service issues and escalations withing our small team. From providing and developing customer service to support and leadership for the service team.

Servicing and supporting customer enquiries with Fuji Xerox Copiers and Multi Function devices.

Started with Canon on a traineeship servicing Canon Computers, back in the day, they did manufacture computers, believe it or not then gained access to their copier and fax divisions through a dealer in my local area servicing copiers and fax machines for approximately three years.