Alysia Brandenburg, Tourism and the Experience Economy

Alysia has been working in the tourism and hospitality industry since her parents purchased the Victoria Hotel in Dimboola during her teens and she has a lifelong passion for sustainable, nature-based and regional tourism. Alysia has worked for resorts, major attractions, regional boards, industry associations, NFP’s and had an extensive career at Parks Victoria as Tourism Manager.

Alysia now successfully runs a specialist consultancy with a focus on the supply side including industry support, strategic input, grant/project management, destination planning, engagement and partnerships, commercial activations and experience development. She holds Master of Tourism Monash University, is a National Tourism Award Judge, an IAP2 Engagement certified practitioner, a Board Director of both Ecotourism Australia and Walhalla Committee of Management, and ART Regional Tourism Ambassador.

Alysia is highly regarded as a tourism and visitor economy leader, a highly skilled communicator and industry sector expert.

Andrew McCutcheon, Senior Trade Working Capital Executive – CBA Shepparton

With a remarkable 26-year career in the banking industry, Andrew brings extensive expertise to the Business Excellence Awards. Currently serving as a Senior Trade Working Capital Executive at CBA Shepparton, Andrew’s background includes 18 years in Agri Business Relationship banking and 8 years focused on Working Capital and Trade, giving him a well-rounded perspective on financial management in diverse business environments.

Andrew holds a degree in Agricultural Science, which has enhanced his insights into the unique needs and dynamics of agribusiness and regional economics. Although new to the judging panel, Andrew is enthusiastic about contributing his industry knowledge and supporting local business growth and innovation through this year’s awards.

Ben McIntyre, Bertoli Farm Machinery

Ben Ruscoe, Executive Manager – CBA Shepparton

Ben brings two decades of banking expertise to the judging panel for the Greater Shepparton 2024 SPC Business Excellence Awards. As the Executive Manager at CBA Shepparton, Ben has dedicated 20 years to the banking industry, 9 years in Agri Business Relationship Banking, and 8 years in Leadership. His extensive experience is backed by academic achievements, including an Agriculture Science Degree (HNS), a Master’s in Finance, and completion of the AICD Graduate program.

Ben has demonstrated his commitment to regional development by leading a successful business centre and serving as Chair of the Beyond Housing Board. His roots in agribusiness run deep, having grown up on a family farm in the Murray Valley and dedicating much of his career to the industry. With prior judging experience from the Campaspe Business Excellence Awards, Ben is well-prepared to assess and celebrate the achievements of local businesses in Greater Shepparton.

Brett Findlay, Agribusiness Executive – CBA Shepparton

Brett Findlay is a seasoned Agribusiness Executive with a decade of experience in agribusiness banking, spanning key agricultural regions such as Warnambool, Griffith, and Shepparton, where he has been based for the past six years. Brett’s solid academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting & Finance and a Master’s in Agribusiness, equipping him with the expertise to understand the unique financial needs of agricultural businesses.

His active engagement in the industry is reflected through his involvement with Riverine Plains, Fruit Growers Victoria, and Murray Dairy events. He is also a community supporter, participating in activities with the Dookie United Football Netball Club. Although new to the judging process, Brett brings a wealth of agribusiness insight and a commitment to supporting the growth and success of the Greater Shepparton business community.

Charlene Donovan, NBN Local

Charlene Donovan is currently the Community Engagement Specialist in North East Victoria for nbn’s community engagement branch, nbn Local. She is an experienced Engagement and Stakeholder Manager with over a decade of experience across all three levels of Government. Charlene excels in establishing meaningful relationships with communities, organisations, businesses, industry groups, and Government entities to support the delivery of key outcomes and place-based initiatives.

Charlene is new to judging business awards, with the 2024 Campaspe Murray Business Awards being her first experience in this role. However, she has previous experience in assessing community and event grants within a Local Government context, demonstrating her ability to evaluate and recognise impactful and innovative initiatives.

Charlene is also a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation – Australian Agribusiness Leadership Program (2024) and the Fairley Leadership Program (2023). These leadership programs have significantly enhanced her business acumen and strategic thinking. They provided her with the opportunity to engage with business and industry leaders, understand current challenges and opportunities, and develop innovative solutions to complex problems. This experience has deepened her understanding of the business landscape and equipped her with the skills to drive positive change and innovation in her current role.

Courtney Walder, Sales & Operation Manager - SCA Shepparton

Courtney has cultivated a wealth of experience in her 17-year career at Southern Cross Austereo across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. She has excelled in various sales and leadership roles in her time. In 2022, Courtney expanded her expertise by managing Sales & Operations for Bendigo, Ballarat, and Gippsland, and last year she had the opportunity to bring her skills back to her hometown of Shepparton. The role enables her to support her team in achieving both their own goals and those of their clients – a responsibility Courtney considers a privilege.

Courtney’s passion lies in working closely with businesses, from local to national, to develop tailored advertising and marketing strategies. She values the unique approach SCA takes by truly listening to business owners and managers, understanding their challenges and aspirations, and creating customised solutions to help them succeed.

Courtney’s current role extends beyond strategy to include coaching, leading, and mentoring her teams, empowering them to support their clients effectively while also developing their own skills. Courtney’s educational background includes a Radio Sales Management certification from AFTRS and a Master of Leadership from Deakin University.

A dedicated member of the Greater Shepparton Business Network, Be Bendigo, and Destination Goulburn Valley, Courtney brings a deep commitment to community and business growth to her role as a judge in the business awards.

Damien Cocks, Greater Shepparton Business Centre

Damien brings over 20 years of management experience across not-for-profit organisations, local, state, and federal governments, as well as the corporate sector. His extensive background in media, government, and private sectors has equipped him with specialised skills in leadership, communications, stakeholder engagement, corporate reporting, media relations, government liaison, and marketing and customer service.

He has served as the editor for two regional daily newspapers, the Shepparton News and Bundaberg News Mail. Additionally, Damien led the Economic Development and Communications Business team at Mitchell Shire Council during the COVID-19 recovery and played a key role in Media and Community Engagement during the 2010 bushfire recovery in Murrindindi Shire.

Damien has completed a High-Performance Leadership program, holds IAP2 certification, and is the Fulton Hogan Blueblood leadership cohort.

Darren Payne, VET Specialist Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University

Darren Payne is an experienced hospitality professional with a strong background in restaurant and hotel management and cooking. He has successfully managed operations, engaged with industry partners, and developed training micro-credentials in the hospitality sector. His career highlights include being an owner-operator of three restaurants and operations manager for large hotels/ gaming and sporting venues. Darren works within the Adult Education sector, where he enhanced industry engagement and led innovative projects, contributing significantly to business growth.

Dr Phuc Nguyen, Senior Lecturer, La Trobe Business School, La Trobe University Shepparton

Phuc is a Senior Lecturer within La Trobe Business School at La Trobe University. She received an MBA and PhD degrees in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from La Trobe University (Australia). Before joining La Trobe University in January 2018, she also held a position of lecturer at Foreign Trade University (Vietnam) and research fellow at the University of Melbourne (Australia). Teaching multiple management subjects aside, she also does research into logistics and supply chain integration, supply chain sustainability, service supply chain management, public services contracting out, employment services delivery and welfare state. Engaging with the GSBN Awards has been a highlight of Phuc’s job over the years. Not only does it allow her to work more closely with the Greater Shepparton City Council, Chamber of Commerce and businesses in the region but it also presents a valuable opportunity to celebrate all the talents who have been making great contributions to Shepparton economy and community.

Ian Nalder

Jenny Sim

With a diverse career spanning healthcare, farming, and business administration, Jenny brings a wealth of experience to her role as a judge for the business awards. As a trained nurse, farmer, and former office manager, Jenny has developed a unique perspective on dedication, hard work, and community engagement.

In her retirement, Jenny stays active as a volunteer and dedicated Rotarian, channeling her passion for service into supporting her local community. Her experience as a business awards judge over the past two years has further deepened her commitment to recognising and celebrating the achievements of local businesses. Jenny’s multifaceted background and genuine interest in the success of others makes her a valued member of the judging panel.

Katie Taylor, La Trobe University Shepparton

Katie is a dynamic and passionate professional with 17 years of experience in the higher education sector, having worked at both La Trobe University (both Bundoora and Shepparton campuses) and The University of Melbourne in Parkville within a diverse range of roles – including industry engagement, student selection and recruitment, careers and employment and event management. Katie’s current role at La Trobe in Shepparton sees her cultivating and maintaining relationships with business and community organisations to develop and secure opportunities for La Trobe students and staff. She actively engages with internal and external partners, promoting the Shepparton campus to local and community organisations via events/activities that support community engagement and actively liaises and collaborates with relevant teams in the University to ensure a cohesive, planned approach to engagement. This is Katie’s second year on the judging panel for the Young Professional of the Year and she looks forward to seeing the amazing talent that contribute their skills and leadership to our local community.

Kevin Borrman

Kevin Borrman brings over four decades of expertise in the gas fitting and engineering sectors to his role as a judge for the Business Excellence Awards. His career, marked by technical prowess and leadership, spans across multiple facets of the industry, from hands-on technical roles to senior management and regulatory oversight.

Kevin began as a gasfitter/plumber apprentice with Colonial Gas in Shepparton in 1972. His career trajectory included a significant role with British Gas in London (1972-1974), contributing to gas conversion projects. Returning to Australia, Kevin worked with Gas & Fuel as a fitter and later as a supervisor, managing gas fitters, contractors, and apprentices. His notable projects include the installation of natural gas systems for SPC, Campbell Soups, Ardmona Canary, Stanhope Dairy, and Mooroopna Hospital. Post-privatization, Kevin’s roles with various private gas companies included trainer, safety officer, and contract manager, covering an extensive region from Melbourne to Gippsland and southern NSW. His work as an Industrial Gas Inspector for the Office of Gas Safety NSW further highlights his deep expertise in safety and regulatory compliance.

Though retired from full-time work, Kevin remains active in the industry through occasional consultancy and safety inspections for a local engineering firm in the Victorian Alpine area. Kevin has previously served as a judge for the Business of the Year Trade Services category, where his extensive background in safety, management, and industry standards provided invaluable insights into evaluating business excellence.

Kirstie Ash

With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Kirstie has a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver exceptional customer service. She has spent more than 12 years teaching customer service skills to future hospitality professionals, focusing on fostering strong relationships, exceeding customer expectations, and creating memorable experiences.

Throughout Kirstie’s career, she has been committed to excellence in customer service, both in practice and in education. Her experience ranges from managing hotel operations and training teams to leading hospitality education programs and serving on various community boards. This blend of practical experience and educational leadership has equipped Kirstie with a keen eye for recognizing outstanding customer service.

As a judge, she is eager to celebrate the local businesses that excel in providing memorable customer experiences.

Lisa Knight, Greater Shepparton Business Centre

Michelle Cobb, Regional Development and Engagement Manager - nbn Local

Michelle Cobb has over 25 years of experience in economic and regional development, across commercial and local government sectors, and as a small business owner. She kicked off the first-ever Business Excellence Awards program in Moira Shire back in 2007 – and has been judging business awards for the last 18 years. Michelle’s expertise lies in strategic planning, community engagement, and attracting investment. She’s led major regional projects, secured over $12M in funding, and developed economic strategies that have helped drive growth and create opportunities for local businesses.

As a business awards judge, Michelle brings a practical understanding of what makes businesses successful and impactful in their communities. With her background in leading projects, building partnerships, and focusing on sustainable growth, she knows what to look for when it comes to business innovation, growth, resilience, and real community contribution.

Michelle Marsters, Relationship Executive - CBA Shepparton

Michelle Marsters brings nearly three decades of banking expertise to her role as a judge for the business awards, with a significant 20 years dedicated to business banking in the Shepparton area. Her long-standing commitment to the region and her extensive knowledge of financial solutions make her an asset in understanding the unique needs and challenges of local businesses.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Business with a major in Accounting, which has provided her with a strong foundation for her career in banking. Though new to the judging panel, her professional experience and dedication to helping businesses thrive position her as a valuable contributor to the awards process.

Morris Sleep

Paul Bertoli, Bertoli Farm Machinery

Ron Popelier, Pop Design Studios Building & Interior Design

Sally Tremellen, Manager Digital & Broadcast TV - Channel 7 Shepparton

Promoted to Manager Digital & Broadcast TV within six months of starting at Channel 7, Sally has a long history in the sales, trade marketing, and marketing industries, working for the Terry White Chemists Group, Associated British Foods, Philip Morris, Mosaic Brands, now calling Channel 7 home. Sally’s history includes brand development, category development, and marketing in both Australian and overseas markets.

Whilst Sally doesn’t have a marketing related degree, her qualifications in Event Management enable her to concentrate on her love of being organised and detail oriented. Sally is always seeking out new opportunities to develop her strengths and regularly participates in industry and company trainings to better her marketing skills.

Terese Thomas, Management Accountant - Research Finance, La Trobe University Shepparton

Terese is an experienced Management Accountant with La Trobe University’s Research Finance Team, based at the Shepparton campus. Since joining La Trobe in 2009, she has built an extensive career in financial management within the academic sector. Her deep commitment to precise financial oversight and management, and her dedication to the local community make her a valuable addition to the panel of judges for this year’s business awards.

Vicki Scott, Executive Officer - Destination Goulburn Valley

Vicki is the Executive Officer at Destination Goulburn Valley, bringing a wealth of experience in community development and strategic leadership to her role. With a background that includes establishing impactful initiatives like the Mooroopna Park Primary School’s ‘The Park Cafe’ and the Mooroopna Family Haven, Vicki’s career has been dedicated to strengthening the Goulburn Valley region.

Her extensive experience includes roles as Program and Strategy Manager for Goulburn Murray Community Leadership and Early and Primary Years Coordinator with the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project. Vicki holds a Bachelor of Business with a major in Communications and Public Relations, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is currently advancing her skills through an Executive Leadership Coaching Program.

Throughout her career, Vicki has been recognised for her contributions and impact. She served as Project Lead for Greater Shepparton Unites in Voice, which earned a special commendation in the 2022 Greater Shepparton Volunteer Awards. She has also been a finalist in the 2024 Best Marketing and Advertising Campaign Award in the Greater Shepparton 2024 SPC Business Excellence Awards, and in the Greater Shepparton City Council Women’s Charter Award. As an inaugural Goulburn Valley Health Foundation Ambassador since 2022, Vicki’s dedication to community service continues to make a positive difference in the region.

Wendy Shanks

Wendy Shanks brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the judging panel with her extensive background in education, disability services, and community leadership. With 26 years in teaching and management within the NSW Department of Education and 20 years as CEO of Shepparton Access, Wendy’s career has been defined by her commitment to inclusion and empowerment.

Wendy holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education, and her contributions have been recognised through several honors. She was named Shepparton Citizen of the Year in 2016 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 Victorian Disability Sector Awards. Currently, Wendy serves as President of the Rotary Club of Shepparton and is a distinguished Paul Harris Fellow.

With two years of experience judging in the Business Awards, Wendy continues to contribute her insights and expertise to the community. She remains active in the disability sector, consulting with providers on the implementation of the NDIS, and supporting initiatives that drive positive change across the region.