The Brisbane Economic Development Agency’s Business Growth, Trade & Talent and Brisbane Business Hub Team plays a crucial role in securing investment that will maximise Brisbane’s long-term economic growth and create opportunities for local businesses.
Backed by years of experience and local know-how, our team is here to assist you with your business needs.
Miriam Kent - General Manager of Business Growth, Trade & Talent and Brisbane Business Hub
Contact Miriam via email or LinkedIn.
Miriam Kent is the General Manager of Business Growth, Trade & Talent and Brisbane Business Hub for Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA). Miriam is passionate about her role and works hand-in-hand with the Brisbane businesses community to help local businesses grow, scale and thrive economically.
Miriam has a wealth of knowledge in customer experience, stakeholder engagement, and international business development, with a commercial mindset gained from 20 years in the private sector and 13 years with local government. Miriam is experienced in understanding the needs of businesses and can support their needs to expand and scale internationally and also how to support international businesses establish in Brisbane.
Having worked at Brisbane City Council for over a decade leading transformational customer experience projects and delivering community facilities and strategies, she is focused on delivering resources to empower businesses, and actively advocates and champions support for the Brisbane business community. Having also worked for over 15 years internationally in the retail sector understand the economic impact of private sector growth and expansion.
Miriam joined the BEDA team to launch Brisbane Business Hub in October 2020.
Business Growth, Trade & Talent
Andrew Neilson - Head of Investment
Contact Andrew via email or LinkedIn.
As Head of Investment Andrew leads a team focussed on facilitating and delivering a broad-range of assistance for businesses whom are establishing, expanding and consolidating investment in the City of Brisbane. He leads investment attraction and business growth initiatives across Brisbane’s six (6) priority sectors including construction, logistics, business services, health, food and tourism. Andrew has extensive global stakeholder networks across government and private industry with over 25 years’ experience working within international B2B markets across technology and manufacturing.
Charan Judge - Senior Manager, Investment Attraction
Contact Charan via email or LinkedIn.
Charan attracts and facilitates international and domestic investment in the Greater Brisbane region, with a focus on key industries including food and agribusiness, logistics and distribution, and advanced manufacturing.
He can assist with the preparation of business cases; developing and implementing business development programs; liaising with public and private sector allies; and working closely with State and Federal agencies on market entry, strategy development and business planning. Charan also provides insight to prospective businesses relating to property selection, labour analysis, grants and incentives, and facilitates key introductions to local stakeholders.
Lisa Cavallaro - Senior Manager, Business Growth
Contact Lisa via email or LinkedIn.
Lisa is responsible for project and stakeholder management, specialising in developing the region’s food and agribusiness sector. She offers access to a network of industry stakeholders and can assist you to create connections with the sector and implement business development programs.
Lisa heads up Brisbane EDA’s Future Food Initiative, a platform of industry development programs which helps food businesses improve their business capability and readiness for the domestic and global market.
Thomas Handford - Business Development Manager
Contact Thomas via email or LinkedIn.
Thomas is an experienced Business Development Manager focussed on investment attraction, enabling and facilitating business development and creating employment opportunities. Thomas can assist with site selection, navigating local council planning regulations and providing innovative solutions to support businesses in their growth.
Thomas works collaboratively with all levels of government, industry groups, regional and international chambers of commerce to support new and existing partners in achieving success and growth.
Siyu Wang - Business Development Manager
Contact Siyu via email or LinkedIn.
Siyu is responsible for identifying, supporting and retaining business expansion opportunities within the Brisbane region from Brisbane’s key priority sectors. Siyu works closely with the Senior Manager, Business Growth and the broader Investment Portfolio to implement and operationalise business growth programs, manage client relationships and accounts, as well as drive business development opportunities for industries to achieve exponential growth.
Siyu joined the BEDA team in May 2022 after 14 years working at the University of Queensland’s Global Engagement office.
Emily Moore - Manager
Contact Emily via email or LinkedIn.
As Manager of the Brisbane Business Hub (BBH) Emily thrives on meaningful connections made with colleagues and stakeholders, which helps to deliver outcomes that are both memorable and life-changing. Knowing what people need and want by listening and asking the right questions while also taking an interest and keeping them in mind for future connections, conversations and deliverables is her specialty.
As a creative thinker and with over 15 years spent in international events and project management, Emily's skills include making visions come alive by thinking big, making the usual unusual, leaving no leaf unturned, investigating all options and implementing the unexpected.
Chloe Budd - Program Coordinator
Contact Chloe via email or LinkedIn.
As the Program Coordinator for the Brisbane Business Hub, Chloe is responsible for the programming of workshops and events aimed at supporting local businesses in Brisbane. Chloe is passionate about her role and thrives on connecting businesses with the resources, support and connections they need to thrive and grow.
With over 15 years’ experience in event and project management Chloe has extensive experience in program development and stakeholder management.
Topaz Heslep - Receptionist
Contact Topaz via email or LinkedIn.
Topaz Heslep manages front of the house services for the Brisbane Business Hub, reserving meeting rooms for members, reception and operational services. Co-facilitator for event registrations, and workshop set-up processes with the Program Coordinator.
A compassionate relationship professional with combined industry expertise in leisure, tourism and event management, acquiring proficiency in front office management, strata community, event coordination and corporate services. Topaz has a client-focused, dedicated demeanour with a strategic approach in the workplace, gathering inspiration and motivation to create memorable experiences. Utilizing her passion to communicate, deliver and exchange services that are valuable for clients and business partners.
Hannah Reugebrink - Administration and Stakeholder Coordinator
Contact Hannah via email.
Hannah Reugebrink facilitates and supports the mentoring and coworking programs for the Brisbane Business Hub.
After five years of international experience in project support and administration, Hannah is Adaptable and approachable with an enthusiastic problem-solving mindset and relishes the many moving parts of The Hub. Perfect attributes to foster the continued growth and implementation of support programs The Hub offers.
Marketing Team
Ivett Guerra - Marketing Manager
Contact Ivett Guerra via email or LinkedIn.
Ivett is responsible for strategic marketing initiatives to support the growth of local business and to attract national and international business investment and talent into Greater Brisbane. She is a passionate, innovative, and collaborative senior marketer who has gained her knowledge from working at national advertising agencies in Sydney and Melbourne, managing advertising and communication strategies for Federal and State government departments, and leading integrated content marketing campaigns to help drive growth for Australian Catholic University and Griffith University in Queensland.
She has proven experience in delivering creative marketing and communications plans across national and international markets, most recently delivering successful integrated marketing campaigns for Trade and Investment Queensland in Latin America and China. She is driven by delivering positive results for businesses and building significant stakeholder partnerships. Ivett’s formal qualifications include a Master of Applied Commerce (Marketing) from the University of Melbourne.
Brigid Speechly - Marketing Executive
Contact Brigid via email or LinkedIn.
Brigid is the Marketing Executive for the Brisbane Business Hub and Growth, Talent and Trade department, assisting with the strategy, execution, budget and reporting across digital, content and campaign marketing.
