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Naomi MIDDLEBROOK
Naomi Middlebrook is a passionate communicator, educator, and lifelong advocate for the arts. With more than four decades of experience across speech, drama, theatre, film, television, and corporate training, she has dedicated her career to helping others find their voice and tell their stories with confidence. Based on the Gold Coast, Naomi is deeply embedded in her community through her teaching, writing, and involvement in local initiatives and events.
Currently Naomi works in Performing Arts at All Saints Anglican School on the Gold Coast, a position she has held for 30 years. She is also the Convenor of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod (voluntary) and has been part of this organisation for some 40 years.
A self-confessed bibliophile and storyteller, Naomi is the founder of The No Guilt Book Club, a welcoming space that celebrates reading for pleasure and connection without pressure. She is also a writer and editor-in-chief for Gold Coast Panache and Slim magazines, where she brings warmth, insight, and a keen eye for human stories to her editorial work.
Naomi’s work reflects her enduring belief in the power of the arts to inspire, connect, and transform.
Amanda APPEL
Amanda Appel is a Gold Coast-based entrepreneur and company director with close to 20 years' experience across marketing, public relations and business development spanning corporate, non-profit and consulting sectors. She is currently an Executive Director of the following companies: Makki, The Bower Estate and Kwila Lodge, and has previously founded and successfully exited several businesses including BLOC Cosmetics and The Skin Centre Medi Spa.
Amanda brings strong governance experience to the Board, currently serving as Chairperson of Somerset College, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course. Her earlier career included marketing and communications leadership roles at what was previously known as the Gold Coast Arts Centre (now HOTA) and RSPCA Queensland, giving her a longstanding connection to the arts and community sectors.
Amanda is passionate about supporting local arts and cultural initiatives on the Gold Coast and is excited to contribute her strategic, marketing and governance expertise to the Gold Coast Eisteddfod Foundation.
Karen PHILLIPS
Karen Phillips OAM brings a long-standing commitment to the arts, leadership development, and community impact, underpinned by extensive experience in shaping initiatives that deliver meaningful and lasting outcomes.
A passionate advocate and contributor to both the Gold Coast and Queensland. Over the past two decades, she has served on a number of key community boards including the Gold Coast Community Fund and as Ambassador for the Vinnies CEO Sleep Out.
Karen has significant knowledge of the region’s economic and industry development, tourism, promotion, administration, project and community facilitation. She was awarded Gold Coast Citizen of the Year in 2018 for service to the Gold Coast community.
As a committed women’s leadership advocate, Karen’s specialised in the women’s market for 30 years working with some of Australia’s major organisations, small business and industry associations on female advocacy. As executive Director of the Women in Business Australia & Women in Business Awards of Australia, she understands the characteristics and challenges facing women developing & leading business. She has developed key women’s initiatives including the highly coveted Women in Business Awards and Leadership Program in cities and regional territories, QLD Women in Business Summit, Women in Business UAE Chapter, international women’s delegations, as well youth initiatives including the Empowering Young Women’s school series & IMPACT Youth Summit. Author of the best-selling International Women’s Day centennial book ‘Women’s Words of Wisdom, Power & Passion’ launched as part of the nation's 100th anniversary celebrations at Government House by the Governor-General. Having worked on radio, TV newspaper & print, she’s a sought-after commentator and podcaster on the women’s agenda and issues.
Launching her bespoke communications agency at 28, Karen’s worked with some of the world’s most prestigious brands, identities, Heads of State and leading companies including Qantas, CBA, Westpac, Queensland Government, 2018 Commonwealth Games, RANZCO, the Australian Federation of Air Pilots and Jillaroos.
Karen has hosted the longest-running women’s breakfast series in Australia for over 32 years which has raised almost $3mill for local charities.
Geoff SMITH
Geoff has practiced as a lawyer in the City of Gold Coast for over 40 years, a partner, and an in-house corporate lawyer for one of Australia’s largest privately-owned Companies.
He is member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the current Chairman of Sports Gold Coast, a non-for-profit company established to harness the support of the local business community in the development, support and promotion of Gold Coast Sport.
Geoff has a long history supporting Gold Coast community projects and currently sits on the board of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod, Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame, Connecting Southern Coast and the Gold Coast Innovation Hub.
Richard MUNRO
Richard Munro is currently a Director of Alternate Strategies and focuses on assisting business owners identify their strategic succession.
Richard has been involved in the accounting Industry on the Gold Coast for 30 years and have held numerous volunteer Directorship roles in both professional, sport and Not for Profit organisations including:
CPA Australia Gold Coast - Gold Coast TAFE - and the Gold Coast Arts Centre now known as HOTA.
He enjoys contributing his experience to assist with the Gold Coast Eisteddfod Foundation to bring cultural youth development to community members and their families.
Nick SCOTT
Nick is proud to serve as Chair of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod and as Chair of Regional Development Australia (Gold Coast), allowing him to contribute meaningfully to both the arts and the broader community. Alongside these commitments, he continues his volunteer work as an Ambassador for Volunteering Gold Coast and through his involvement with the Business Excellence Awards. His professional life includes his directorship and part ownership of the two leading radio stations on the Sunshine Coast; an industry he remains deeply passionate about. At the heart of it all, however, is his family: his wonderful wife and life partner, Irene, with whom he shares many travel adventures, and his children.
Jacqueline BOJANOWSKI
Jacqueline is the Global PR Manager at the world’s largest direct to consumer bridal brand, Grace Loves Lace.
With more than eight years experience in PR and marketing, Jacqueline has driven widely recognised campaigns and projects for a diverse portfolio of the city’s most recognised brands across major events, tourism, hospitality, retail and more.
Jacqueline also sits on the Executive for YP Gold Coast – a not-for-profit and advocacy based organisation that delivers a robust calendar of high-quality events that help to pave the way for the city’s success and growing professional landscape.
Known in the industry for delivering outside the box campaigns that pack a punch, Jacqueline’s skills span across event management, activations, brand positioning and strategy.
Tim BAUMANN
Tim Baumann is a Partner at RedeMont on the Gold Coast where he practises predominately in succession, wills and estates. He advises professionals in the medical, legal and corporate/ business fields as well as charities and related corporations and trustee companies in multiple jurisdictions throughout Australia. He is admitted as solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia. He is also a member of the Gold Coast District Law Association and Queensland Law Society.
Pro bono work is an important part of Tim’s practice. He has regularly volunteered at various community legal centres including the homeless persons legal clinic and self-representation services of the District and Supreme Courts of Queensland and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. He has also served on various community, education and charitable boards.
Born on the Gold Coast, Tim has always had a strong interest in Arts. As a student over two decades ago, he participated in past Eisteddfods as a natural extension of his involvement in string orchestras, plays and musicals.
