Mid-Western Mentoring: Leadership, Strategy & Support for Small Business Owners
The Mid-Western Mentoring program is a 9-month leadership program that is framed by sessions focused on Business Strategy, Marketing, Finance, HR, Tech, AI and Legal aspects of operating a small business – delivered largely by local specialists. The associated 1:1 Mentoring conversations happen monthly (July-February) as well a host of opportunities to collaborate and network in the form of ‘Fireside Chats’ and ‘Mentee Learning Circles’. A Graduation Ceremony wraps the program.
All participants will also receive 1:1 Coaching from Founder / Program Manager and certified Coach, Dr Pearl Daly-Swords.
Pearl Daly-Swords
Pearl is the Managing Director of the Centre for Executive Development (CED) and Founder / Program Manager of Mid-Western Mentoring Ltd. With over 20 years’ HR experience in supporting other leaders and organisations to be the very best that they can be, Pearl is driven to help leaders and their teams to explore and maximise their potential.
Having Coached leaders from across Australia, the UK, Ireland, America, China, Singapore and India, Pearl has worked across diverse industries such as professional services, retail, real estate, mining and construction, biotechnology and also within local education and government sectors.
Pearl has a flair for the design, development and delivery of leadership development programs underpinned by neuroscience and evidence-based research.
Pearl holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Chemistry with additional certifications in the Neuroscience of Coaching from the Neuroleadership Institute. She is accredited in Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and is a PRISM brain mapping practitioner.
In November 2016, Pearl moved to Mudgee with her Mudgee-born husband Adam and their boys Rian and Charlie. As well as Coaching intrastate, nationally and internationally, she regards herself as lucky to partner with local business owners and leaders in the Mid-Western Regional community. Pearl is also an active member of The Rotary Club of Mudgee Sunrise and volunteers as a Career Mentor for Headspace.
You can find out more about Pearl’s background on LinkedIn:
Alina Azar
Alina is a strategic thinker, experienced leader, and passionate advocate for regional business growth. With over 25 years’ experience spanning business management, economic development, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Alina brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to her role as Director of Development at Mid-Western Regional Council.
Alina began her career in the marketing team of a major bank before moving into the strategic and creative side of business, working with top marketing agencies across Australia and the UK. She was Chief Executive Officer of Brass Tacks, a creative and promotional agency within the Photon Group (ASX-listed), where she gained extensive experience in corporate leadership, governance, and commercial operations.
In 2010, she joined IMB Bank as Senior Manager for Marketing, Products and Alliances, leading multidisciplinary teams across retail banking, business banking, and wealth. In 2016, Alina embraced a tree-change to Mudgee, initially as Manager Economic Development, before stepping into her current role as Director Development. In this role, she leads strategy and delivery across planning, economic development, tourism, and building & environmental services—supporting sustainable growth and investment throughout the Mid-Western Region.
Alina is a strong supporter of lifelong learning and previously served as an Online Learning Facilitator with the Australian Institute of Business, teaching Marketing Management to MBA students across Australia and globally.
She is a qualified Company Director (AICD) and currently sits on the boards of both Mid-Western Mentoring and CUC Mudgee Region, contributing to regional education, business development, and leadership pathways.
Alina is also a small business owner, actively involved in her family’s farm-based enterprises, and a proud mum to three sporty kids. She thrives on helping others realise their potential—particularly in regional communities where innovation, connection and resilience drive success.
Areas of expertise: Leadership, Strategic Planning, Economic Development, Marketing & Communications, Entrepreneurship, Regional Development, Business Strategy, Finance & Banking, Mentoring, and Not-for-Profit Governance.
Ed Turner
Ed is an investor, mentor, and business builder with over 20 years of experience helping entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial-led organisations clarify, simplify, and achieve their visions.
Originally on a banking and finance career path in London, Ed was called back by his father to help grow the family business, Frog Rock Wines. Over a decade, he witnessed the rise and transformation of the Australian wine industry—scaling production from 500 cases to 60,000 cases annually and expanding sales across four continents. Alongside this, Ed launched and managed multiple ventures including a vineyard contract services business, a commercial composting operation, a contract vegetable growing enterprise supplying major fast-food chains like McDonald’s, KFC, and Subway, and built a carwash business from a greenfield site, which he has owned and operated for the past 21 years.
Having founded, led, and successfully exited nine companies across diverse industries, and now involved in the acquisition of his tenth, Ed brings deep practical knowledge in business creation, growth, and leadership development. He is passionate about empowering business owners and leadership teams to build sustainable independence, maximise results, and make meaningful impacts in their industries.
Currently, Ed has been actively involved in the search, acquisition, and operational strategic leadership of a Sydney-based business, further broadening his portfolio and hands-on operational expertise.
In his spare time, Ed enjoys quality time with family and friends, reading, staying fit, and indulging his passion for racing cars.