Ali Broinowski
Ali Broinowski was educated in Regional NSW and attended Sydney University to study a Bachelor of Pharmacy. Following graduation, she worked in the corporate sector for ‘Big Pharma’ before a tree change and a farmer brought her to Central West NSW.
During that time, she worked in community pharmacy as a consultant pharmacist for The Outback Division of General Practice as well as consultant pharmacist in Coolah, Muswellbrook, Kandos, Mudgee, Merriwa, Dunedoo and surrounding locales. In her time in regional NSW, Ali has volunteered as pharmacy-mentor to two students – one now living and working locally, and another at Goulburn Hospital. More recently, Ali was fortunate to work as a volunteer coach for the Max Potential project in 2020.
Ali is currently the owner, CEO, ideas lady, employer, counsellor, confidante and friend at ‘Perfectly Sorted’. Though still a registered pharmacist, she has not practiced for a number of years – instead she has chosen to launch and grow a small business, providing services for clients during the big times of life – moving house, selling a home, managing a deceased estate or simply feeling overwhelmed with running a house and all the “stuff” in it!
Ali enjoys the opportunity to share her vast experiences with others. Past mentoring/coaching roles have been extremely rewarding and she is proud of the people those mentees and coachees have become.
A ‘gentle persuader’ is the style of leadership she feels she undertakes. As a great believer of “lead by example” Ali would never ask her staff, children, or mentees to do anything that she is not comfortable in undertaking. Encouraging others to see opportunities, then exciting and nurturing them into great things is how she prefers to operate and looks forward to sharing those philosophies with others, where she can make a positive impact on someone else’s path be it personal or professional.
Sarah Christianson
Sarah Christianson believes that creating and fostering relationships is the key to business today. This is at the core of everything she does. Her customers are the reason she comes to work every day and she considers herself an extension to their business and enjoys working as a team providing tailored solutions to assist with cash management and business growth.
Working with small business has made her appreciate the extent to which they drive the Australian economy and employment. Being a part of helping small business thrive, and by extension helping the economy grow, is an exciting part of what she does.
Having completed a Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Economics from the University of New England, Sarah started working with the National Australia Bank (NAB) in May 2011. She has been in Business Banking for almost ten years and for eight of those years has worked as a Business Banking Manager in regional NSW.
Sarah is keen to share her knowledge of banking and her experience working in partnership with small businesses in regional NSW. She describes her mentoring style as ‘detail-orientated’ and is happy to be hands on.
Away from work she considers herself an amateur wine-taster and when she cooks with wine, sometimes she even adds it to the food!
Cameron D’Arcy
Cameron D’Arcy’s professional career started in the film industry working on feature films like ‘Fools Gold’, ‘Australia’ and ‘Wolverine’ to name but a few. He then moved into music videos and advertising in 2009 and began producing and directing. In 2013 he co-founded a production company called Brightworks. The company works on projects nationally and internationally. In 2016 he launched his first tourism-based business and then launched Sierra Escape in 2017 – an award-winning luxury glamping retreat based in beautiful Mudgee.
Brightworks is a Sydney based video production company wherein Cameron produces and directs TV commercials and online videos for various Australian and international brands and companies including LEGO, Fiji Airways, Canon, McDonalds, Amazon, Destination NSW, LinkedIn & Hoyts. He also owns and manages Sierra Escape and Abingdon House in Mudgee with his wife.
Cameron is interested in mentoring because he believes that Mudgee has an incredibly exciting future ahead of it, and he wants to be able to contribute in a positive way to that, by helping the next generation of business owners. He also believes that we learn and grow more ourselves by teaching others. He describes his leadership style as one whereby he tries to “practice what he preaches” and he’s not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty.
Gina Fitzgerald
Gina Fitzgeraldhas been an entrepreneur from an early age and has spent much of her professional life working as a successful small to medium business operator in the marketing, retail and hospitality industries. Following her schooling, Gina completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing and Tourism Management) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). An enthusiastic and passionate student she started her career as a Marketing & Tourism intern at the Macquarie Bank. This position gave her valuable team leadership and strategic marketing experience providing her a pathway to a Group Marketing Manager position in the hospitality industry.
This notable experience gave her the confidence in opening her own small Marketing Agency, Vroom Vroom Marketing. She has also held a role in the FMCG Industry as an In-market Manager at Masterfoods Australia. A challenging opportunity that diversified her sales and marketing skills.
In 2005, Gina opened fashion boutique Cherry Red in Mudgee which she successfully and passionately operated for thirteen years. This business gave her irreplaceable entrepreneurial experience and in 2017 Gina and her husband purchased the Woolpack Hotel. That business has since been transformed and in 2019 theytook over the Paragon Hotel, Mudgee. Following a renovation and new business plan the trade in the Paragon hotel has been revitalised and allowed the business to diversify into the accommodation market. In 2021 the Soldiers Motel was subsequently purchased and there are currently plans in place to convert five neighbouring terraces into accommodation.
Gina is currently Managing Partner at the three businesses;Woolpack Hotel, Paragon Hotel and Soldiers Motel Mudgee with a focus on HR, marketing, operations and business development.
Gina believes that being a Mentor allows her to use the experience she has gained throughout her working life to help someone on their professional journey. She appreciates that a Mentor can provide a fresh perspective and encouragement and to be a trusted sounding board. Gina is excited to be a part of this Program and feels the experience will also provide her with an opportunity to further grow and learn.
Andrew Keipert
Andrew Keipert began his career as an electrician and refrigeration mechanic and has been predominately self-employed throughout his working career to date. His background led to owning and operating an electrical contracting company, with a strong team of employees and contractors, servicing the mining industry and completing large scale infrastructure projects within both underground and surface mining facilities. Through that process, Andrew developed a love for the art and science of business.
Having completed a diploma in business specialising on entrepreneurship, Andrew ensures that he is surrounded by like-minded people who are passionate about building great businesses and creating value in the world. He decided to become a Business Coach and subsequently qualified as an Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Implementer.
As one of only 25 EOS Implementers in Australia (450 globally), Andrew’s role is to assist business owners, and their leadership teams, to implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System within their respective businesses. His focus is on helping to take business operations to new heights, allowing owners to work on the business not necessarily in the business. Being a Business Coach allows Andrew to do what he loves, with people that he connects strongly with making a difference in the world as a better business can lead to a better life.
Andrew believes that both Coaching and Mentoring have a positive effect on personal growth. He has developed a strong love of learning throughout his career and believes that learning from others is one of the fastest ways to reach one’s own goals. He describes his Mentoring style as query-based. He enjoys partnering with Mentees in both a supportive and challenging way that gets them to think through options and explore different scenarios within their business context.
Trine Gay
Trine Gay attended a Boarding School in Sydney and completed her HSC in 2000. She then proceeded to carry out her Bachelor of Marketing and Tourism at the University of Canberra. Having completed her studies, Trine relocated to Sydney to pursue a job starting as a Marketing Executive with Thrifty Car Rental and completed her time there managing and transferring all marketing initiatives into NRMA Australia. Within those seven years, Trine gained National and International experience including developing executing marketing strategies, sponsorships, managing external advertising & media agencies, graphic design and public relations. Following Thrifty Car Rental, Trine then moved to Mirvac Retail Division as the Marketing Manager for their shopping centres in Central NSW.
With the lifestyle choice of being able to move to Mudgee, and setting their sights on building a family, Trine began the venture of her own little consultancy wherein she contracted to numerous businesses completing marketing and advertising activities on their behalf. It was there that she developed the interest in Burnbrae Wines, a business her Dad had owned since 2004. In 2014 discussions started regarding the prospect of Trine and her husband taking over the business once her father retired. That was the start of their world at Burnbrae Wines…
Trine’s current position is owner of Burnbrae Wines alongside her husband. They have very specific silos that they each manage because of their respective expertise. Trine’s areas are Marketing and Communications, Human Resources, Cellar Door and Events – all the areas where they spend money…!!
Becoming involved in a program that assists other people in business really excites Trine. For people to learn from the experiences that she has been through and giving them advice on areas that she improved on during her time in business could truly make a person’s ‘process to success’ a lot quicker. What drives Trine to be a part of this program is her belief that we always learn from our mistakes. She is passionate about the idea of elevating someone’s thinking so that they look at what they are doing in a different way and get to the end result. Trine describes her leadership style as quite relaxed yet she likes to get the job done in the most efficient and beneficial way.
Simon Leven
Simon Leven is the Managing Director of Leven Smash Repairs (LSR) Mudgee & Dubbo and part owner of the mechanic shop next door to LSR Mudgee, “Advanced Automotive Services”. He began his career 19 years ago working for his father as an apprentice panel beater and spray painter. Over the years he has developed strengths that include running high performance teams, building relationships, strategy and innovative problem solving. Simon draws inspiration and fulfilment from contributing to regional communities in the Dubbo – Mudgee region of New South Wales; establishing an enterprise where people can flourish professionally and personally. Looking back, he attributes the significant business growth to having an open mind, and a focus on learning which he has invested in heavily.
As LSR’s leader, Simon is comfortable in any role from working with key stakeholders, including insurance firms and local governments to where the ‘magic happens’ i.e. on the shop floor. Committed to continuous improvement, Simon is passionate about making LSR the best place to work in the Industry, where the team can grow and expand their opportunities. In this area he is ‘Thinking Big’.
As an entrepreneur, Simon’s achievements include jointly launching a “start-up” auto mechanical business that has successfully been operating for seven years, and also acquired a second autobody repair business in Dubbo. In under three years he has grown the group’s workforce to over 50 employees with many more positions continuing to open up. As a measure of success, LSR was repairing 230 vehicles per year in 2009, ten years on LSR is well on its way to repairing 4,000 cars per year!
Over time, Simon has needed to adapt, learn from setbacks and grow the business in a period where the industry is undergoing significant change. He was grateful to have the team recognised for these achievements through winning the ‘Outstanding Business Leader Rhino’ award in 2019 and Mudgee Clock Award ‘Outstanding Business with over 20 Employees’ in 2018.
Admittedly obsessed with the smash repair industry, Simon began making dramatic product and equipment changes to complement the business’ already established reputation for professionalism by having the most advanced repair technology available on the market. He prides himself on reinvesting money and energy back into the business. He loves helping the LSR team accomplish their personal and professional goals, celebrating wins and creating an environment where everyone is excited to come to work.
Simon describes mentoring as ‘personally fulfilling’. In addition, throughout his career there have been numerous people who have been enormously generous with their time – mentoring and coaching him. Looking back, he recalls the imprint that they have left on his life and wants to follow their fine examples. Simon consistently has a strong belief in his mentees and loves working on fostering that with them. Once there is that belief there, quality conversations can be had aimed at personal accountability and learning through a growth mindset. Key principles that are important to Simon include leading by example and spending time understanding the mentee’s world view.
Annette Petrie
Annette Petrie has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Charles Sturt University. To fuel her on-going passion for learning, she subsequently studied with the Legal Profession Admission Board at University of Sydney and was admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW in 2016. Annette is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Petries Mitre 10 group and, along with husband Philip Petrie, is the owner of ten (10) such stores across NSW.
As part of previous board positions, Anette completed an Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course and currently sits as a proud yet humble board member with Lifeskills Plus here in Mudgee.
Annette actively belongs to a Leadership Group of Professional women and has, as part of that group, a Mentor to support and challenge her on-going professional development. Annette loves the learning she receives from the group which supports and encourages her in leadership roles, curiosity and growth. She shared that she loves being stretched (although sometimes it is
uncomfortable but that is good!) and making sure that her people are also continuously learning and growing too.
Annette is currently enrolled in the ‘Can Too’ program learning how to Ocean Swim and raise money for cancer. Annette signed up to be a Mentor on our Program and shared that “When you stop learning you stop living and I want to encourage people to continue learning and growing and living an amazing and full life”.