Judy is a business contractor (freight and event planning), and President of Celebrate Glasshouse Country Inc. Originally from Victoria, Judy also lived and worked in New South Wales where she operated a successful caravan park, before moving to the Sunshine Coast in the late 1990s. Since moving to Glasshouse Country five years ago, Judy has been actively involved as a member of the Executive Committee of Glasshouse Country Chamber of Commerce. Judy also helped establish Celebrate Glasshouse Inc. (previously Celebrate Beerwah Inc.) as a means of improving the living and business standards in our region.
Judy leads the Celebrate Glasshouse Country team to deliver projects designed to support community groups, businesses and tourism in Glasshouse Country – including the highly successful Beerwah Street Party in 2015 and 2017. She is passionate about the community and has led her team of volunteers to achieve strong results for the region.
Q&A with Judy
What do you see as the biggest opportunities on the Sunshine Coast in the next two years? The Sunshine Coast Airport expansion has the potential to unify the Sunshine Coast, as we work to be good hosts to our new range of visitors, and use the overseas flights to take our products to a larger market.
The promotion of the SC Hinterland will showcase the range of activities and experiences available across the whole of the Sunshine Coast. It will provide a broader appeal to visitors seeking more than a beach experience, and encourage residents to explore and appreciate this beautiful region.
What made you want to join the RDA committee? I saw the opportunity to represent the Glasshouse Country and Hinterland region, learn new skills, and network with a wide range of people who want the best for the Sunshine Coast.
If you could change one thing about the Sunshine Coast what would it be? I would change the transport networks to ease the congestion and make public transport a viable option.
What is the best advice you have ever been given? It’s not what you know, it is who you know.
What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your résumé alone? I have a positive attitude and have used all my working and volunteer roles to give those around me the best possible experience.
What’s your favourite place on the Coast to spend your weekend? Peachester.
Any famous last words? Having worked for 16 years as a delivery contractor servicing Gympie, west to Kingaroy and all over the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland, I feel I have a strong understanding of issues affecting small businesses, and the challenges we face with road infrastructure and traffic management.
My background in education, project management, tourism businesses and transport industries give me a wide range of experiences and skills to draw from.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Sunshine Coast is part of a national network of 55 committees made up of local leaders who work with all levels of government, business and community groups to support the development of their regions.
Find out more about the RDA Sunshine Coast Committee here.