Leader Connect: Start Up and Entrepreneurs Network

Paul is the Co-founder of GeoNadir and has gone from disposing of bombs in the military to disposing of bombs in business. In both careers he has had close calls, but no significant unintended explosions.

Paul’s careers have provided him with unique insights and skills around strategic leadership in complex environments, confidence under fire, and a focus on details because your life depends on it.

He has used these skills to: deliver projects on both national and international stages; build a STEM education social enterprise to be internationally recognised; raise over $7M in equity and non-equity funding; advise national not-for-profit boards on strategy and governance; and now builds GeoNadir with his co-founder Dr Karen Joyce.

In 2016 Paul was recognised as the Institute of Managers and Leaders, Emerging Leader of the Year, and gained his Chartered Managers accreditation in 2020. Paul holds a Master of Philosophy from the University of Queensland.

Outside of work you will find Paul on the beach volunteering at his local Surf Lifesaving Club, or on the water enjoying the Great Barrier Reef.

Affectionately known as the ‘Bob the Builder for Small Business’ (can she fix it, yes she can), Tamara Simon is the Small Business Speaker, Author and Coach driven by CURIOSITY, CHANGE and SIMPLICITY.

Where most people see things as they are (problems), Tamara sees things differently i.e the possibilities and simple systems which reveal how things can and should be.

For over 25 years, she’s been helping owners navigate challenges by repairing, renovating and rebuilding their often expensive hobbies and dysfunctional workplaces into simple profitable small businesses they actually love by:

• Solving frustrating problems
• Simplifying overwhelming systems
• Supporting them in times of confusion and uncertainty.

And that’s why she wrote her first business book The Five Little Business Pigs which draws inspiration from The Three Little Pigs fairytale because that’s how we build our small businesses, from straw to stick to brick. But there’s 2 others: The Reno and The Rundown.

Tamara’s understanding of the challenges facing small business owners and CEOs as they juggle managing their time, staff, systems AND growing the business is evident in her stories and ability to think on her feet and problem solve on the go.

With over twenty-five years experience in change management, business improvement, organisational development and training, she has worked with over twelve industry sectors across public, private and not-for-profit organisations.

Tamara’s leadership and management expertise has been formally recognised as a:

• Queensland Finalist in the Telstra Young Business Women’s Awards
• Brisbane Finalist in the Institute of Manager and Leaders’ Excellence Awards
• Recipient of the Queensland Industry Training Council’s ‘Leadership in VET’ Award.

When Tamara is not coaching, speaking or writing, you’ll find her fully immersed in her other passion: SPORT which includes being an unapologetic member of the Hawthorn AFL Club.