Committee Members

Ralph Rogers

PRESIDENT

Director, RCBCR Equity

Primary strengths

• Governance and compliance
• Balance sheet management
• Developing key strategic frameworks to achieve desired stakeholder outcomes
• Marrying funding with opportunity – venture capital
• Strong sales and marketing capabilities
• Developing and managing organisational structure and change
• Developing management teams to achieve desired stakeholder outcomes
• Conversant with Australian international tax regimes and managed businesses in multiple jurisdictions.
• A sound understanding of manufacturing, effective sales and marketing techniques, accounting and Australian and international administration.
• Experience in negotiations within in the SE Asian basin.

Maryanne Edwards 

VICE PRESIDENT

Director, MAE360

Maryanne is currently a consultant with a Global Marine Business Consultancy and has extensive international and domestic business development experience plus strong management skills gained from working in a variety of industry sectors. Maryanne successfully led the Australian Marine Export Group and Superyacht Australia as CEO for 12 years, marketing Australia as a destination for the global superyacht fleet, assisting companies both in the export and super yacht sectors enter and gain exposure in a number of key international markets and working directly with government departments helping to reduce red tape and change key regulations that were prohibiting growth in the industry.

Maryanne has served as a board member of the International Superyacht Society, Chair of the ICOMIA exporters committee and been involved in various Australian industry and government working groups. Maryanne holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and Human Resource Management, plus an MBA in International marketing and is currently chair of the Australian Marine Industry Awards. She is also a committee member of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce, a board member of Noosa Tourism and has been a resident of Noosa for18 years.

Maryanne’s expertise lies in identifying opportunities, optimising operations and fostering strong relationships with Stakeholders. Maryanne has a strong focus on assisting businesses grow their bottom line through strong day to day business management, relationship building and development of strategies that drive sales both domestically and internationally.

Joel Laventure

VICE PRESIDENT

MD, iO2 Insurance Group

Joel Laventure has over 32 years experience in the general insurance industry. In addition to Australia, Joel has lived and worked in insurance markets all over the globe, including Asia, North America, and Europe.

Prior to establishing iO2, Joel held senior management and executive positions with some of the largest global insurers worldwide, including Allianz, Chubb, ACE, and QBE.

Joel is an AFSL Responsible Manager, holds an MBA (Insurance) and is a Fellow and Risk Management Advisory Board Member of ANZIIF (Australian & New Zealand Institute of Insurance & Finance).

When not at iO2 or travelling for work, Joel loves spending time at home with his family exploring the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

Tim Rook

VICE PRESIDENT

Tim made a career change into the tourism industry and along with his wife now manages Twin Quays resort in Noosaville.

In addition to his role at the Noosa Chamber of Commerce, Tim is also President of the Noosaville Business Association and President of The Noosa Triathlon Club, a local not-for-profit sporting association.

Karen Cook-Langdon

TREASURER

Director, Aspire Property Management

As an experienced company director and CFO, Karen contributes to the financial management of Noosa Chamber resources and budgets.

Karen is a co-owner of local management rights, property management businesses and an innovative water management business, including Aspire Property Management and Flowd – Smart Water Solutions.

“I have skills and experiences in managing budgets, finances and human resources and I believe I can add value to the Noosa Chamber of Commerce committee, and its reporting and accountability to its membership.”

Andrew Davidson

COMMITEE MEMBER

Principal/Owner, Team Body Corporate

Andrew has extensive business experience working in senior executive management roles in the fast-moving consumer goods, property and retail sectors in New Zealand, Australia, Asia -Pacific and the USA.

He has worked in a number of successful organisations and has been involved in all aspects of both public and private including initial public offerings , takeovers, mergers and the sale of businesses.

Andrew’s company Team Body Corporate is an award winning business that manages over 300 Bodies Corporate predominantly on the Sunshine Coast. He employs 12 team members locally and his company is an enthusiastic supporter of Sunshine Butterflies.

In a number of successful organisations he has been involved all aspects of both public and private companies including initial public offerings, takeovers, mergers and the sale of companies.

Andrew has a strong philanthropic background including founder of Kids Help Line in New Zealand and Board member of Barnardos. He has worked as a business mentor to a number of young entrepreneurs.

Andrew is President of the Strata Community Association (QLD), the peak body in Australia and New Zealand for industry managers, lot owners, tenants and stakeholders living in strata title, body corporate, community title or owners corporations.

Andrew is married and has two wonderful daughters. He completed 10 Ironman events including Kona in Hawaii.

Caroline Edginton

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Director, CLICCSDigital

Caroline has strong business experience as an owner operator and franchisor within the travel and tourism sector.

Her background ranges from start up businesses to executive board level, with the most recent and current being technology solutions for SME’s.

She is a current Board member of Jetcorp Pty Ltd, Sunshine Coast Business Awards, and a Committee Member of the Noosaville Business Association.

Caroline has strong skills in event management and online tools that deliver seamless experiences for operators, attendees and users.

Caroline has a style that demonstrates leadership, decision making and experience within all sectors and levels of business.

Personal interests include supporting the local arts and theatre community and providing experiences with opportunity and encouragement for young talent where or whenever possible. 

Melinda Gannan

COMMITEE MEMBER

Director, First Class Functions

Melinda Gannan is the owner and director of several small businesses based in Noosa. This includes one the regions most established wedding and event companies, First Class Functions, as well as a wedding and retail florist, commercial kitchens, storage sheds and catering businesses. Being involved with such a broad range of businesses means she has a deep understanding of the commercial challenges and needs within the Shire and is a passionate advocate for small business across Noosa and the Sunshine Coast. Prior to owning her own businesses, Melinda had more than 20 years in financial services, specialising in card payments for Citibank, Visa, American Express and most recently as Vice President for Mastercard.

Melinda holds a Bachelor of Business (Communications) and a Master of Business (Marketing & Administration) from QUT. 

Jacqueline Gray

COMMITEE MEMBER

Noosa Heads Celebrant

Sunshine Coast Funeral & Memorial Service

Director, Super Simple Noosa Elopements

Jacqueline is a sought-after civil celebrant and wedding services provider.  She is also a founding member of the Noosa Wedding Organisation.

After 12 years with the Department of Justice in Victoria, Jacqueline arrived in Noosa in 1996 with a Marriage Celebrants Authorisation and before long Noosa Heads Celebrant was a well established business.

By the early 2000s she had made connections with other wedding providers and together they established the Noosa Wedding Organisation.  Now in its 18^th year with a membership of over 70 small Noosa-based businesses, the goals remain the same – to create a connected community of wedding providers, and to promote & market Noosa as the World’s most beautiful and desirable wedding destination. The majority of the businesses are small home-based or mobile services, with addresses in the Noosa Shire.

The wedding industry now brings approximately $80,000,000 to the Noosa Economy each year, has a low environmental impact with a very high dollar return. Although no longer on the committee, Jacqueline is very proud of the group’s achievements and is an active member.

In 2019, along with local photographer Leah Cohen,  Jacqueline launched Super Simple Noosa Elopements Pty Ltd, offering complete wedding packages.  They currently average four wedding bookings each week, with couples coming to Noosa from Brisbane, interstate and overseas.

Pat Rogers

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Principal, Rigby Lawyers

A practicing solicitor of more than 20 years, Pat holds both legal and accounting qualifications and is admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

​He gained significant experience in practice areas including corporate, property, commercial, trusts, private family advisory and transactional work during his time in private practice and in senior executive roles.

​Pat has held senior legal as well as risk management, governance and finance roles at the Super A-Mart Group and the ASX listed National Storage REIT.

​His experience as a senior executive officer in combination with being a senior lawyer brings a unique commercial perspective and breadth of knowledge to his legal advisory work.

​Pat is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.