Women’s Network Australia | Our Team

Cheryl Gray has spent the best part of three decades promoting women and helping them to succeed. Throughout her career as a journalist, in public affairs and running her own communication consultancy, Cheryl has developed a diverse network of contacts and is excited by the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience so that others can shine.

Cheryl has a Bachelor of Business (Communication), along with international qualifications in communication measurement and evaluation. She is Board Deputy Chair of not-for-profit disability services organisation, MyHorizon, and is a former Treasurer and Management Committee member of Women’s Legal Service Queensland. She has previously held Board roles with the Queensland Paralympic Committee and the Moreton Bay Colleges Foundation.

Cheryl provides a voice for women in small business as a representative to the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Small Business Roundtable, and the Queensland Government’s Industry Skills Advisor Small Business Industry Reference Group. She is also the Australian representative for WEConnect International, a global organisation driving more money into the hands of women in business.

As a mother of two adult sons, Cheryl knows what it takes to balance work and family life. She is a passionate lifelong learner, speaker and advocate for gender equality.

Bec McCoan is a content specialist. She has a broad skillset across digital and social media platforms, including website maintenance, preparation and distribution of eDMs, graphic design in Canva and more. Her digital skills enable her to quickly learn new systems and find efficiencies. 

Bec built a career in local and state government and leading teams in business administration. She has developed an exceptional reputation by consistently servicing customers and managing stakeholders with her “above-and-beyond” attitude and exceptional interpersonal communication skills, which she applies in her role with WNA. 

Nicole is the key point of contact for WNA Members. Her welcoming and caring nature is matched by her skills in administration and support services.

She has extensive experience in small business administration, from book keeping to frontline services. Her goal at WNA is for every member to take advantage of the full benefits of membership.

Carlie Clark is the Founder and Creative Director of Hello Creative Agency, specialists in brand, strategy, marketing, web and content. She leads a dedicated team of creative thinkers  who empower business owners to make clever, creative decisions, by planning and executing a custom strategy to bring creative ideas to life.

Founded with a vision to revolutionise the way brands connect with their audiences, Hello Creative Agency has quickly emerged as the creative heart of the industry, having worked with impactful brands such as Foodbank Queensland, Meta, Hyundai, Ray White and now Women’s Network Australia.

Kat Lynn
Founder, Foodie Shots

Kat is a photographer, foodie, and champion of small business, who believes at that heart of everything we do is the story behind it.

Looking for the ‘why’ was part of the driving force that saw Kat launch Foodie Shots in 2018, leaving behind the safety of corporate customer experience design for the sometimes scary, but always interesting life of a professional photographer.  Kat’s human-focused approach to business has seen Foodie Shots go from strength to strength as client’s are treated to unmatched support and dedicated professionalism.

Kat’s advocacy extends beyond just her clients, though. As a member of two local chambers, and advisor of the Toowoomba Food and Agri Advisory Group (FAN), Kat champions local industry and producers, and develops partnerships and collaborations throughout the region.

Chris Knight
Director – Inspirational Connections

Chris Knight is a passionate humanitarian, writer and poet who loves promoting the achievements of women and supporting them to succeed in business and in life.  Her background includes corporate governance, compliance and the disability sector.  Chris provides training, mentoring and support services to women in government, business and the not-for-profit sector. 

For over 30 years she has advocated for gender equality and raising the status of women.  She is a Global Ambassador for Soroptimist International and an amazing Dream Catcher.  

Leanne Elich
CEO – Leanne Elich Consulting

Leanne Elich is the CEO of Leanne Elich Consulting (L.E.C), Business Psychologist and Sales Acceleration Specialist. The creator of the Business Mastermind Program and author of Solving the Sales Equation.

Leanne is fortunate to be one of Australasia’s most successful Technology Business Executives and leading experts in high-performance sales teams with over 25 years’ global experience. A graduate of the University of Sydney, Harvard Business School and Harvard Medical School, her expertise is bridging the gap between science and business using Neuroscience and Behavioural Science frameworks.

L.E.C. builds and delivers sales and leadership training programs to teach you the skills, strategies and tactics to occupy a unique position in the marketplace, influence your customers and win more sales.

Leanne and L.E.C. regularly contribute to both local and national media outlets including ABC radio and the Sydney Morning Herald. She is also an Honorary Clinical Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology, international Keynote speaker and Women in Leadership advisor.

Marion Mays
Founder – Thalia Stanley Group

Marion is a certified Money Coach and a property mentor, who advocates that property ownership for all women is critical.

After more than 25 years in the financial services sector and two decades as a property educator, she launched Thalia Stanley Group (named in honour of her parents) in 2014, creating a unique service that enables women to access financial literacy, while championing them into economic empowerment.

Marion has long been an champion of women, having formerly served in an official capacity as ambassadors for both White Ribbon Australia, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and now, proudly, Women’s Network Australia.

Alison Rogers
Partner and Property Consultant, LJ Hooker Pinnacle Properties Hobart

Alison Rogers is a Partner, Real Estate Property Consultant, LJ Hooker Pinnacle Properties

Alison Rogers is the powerhouse behind why the WNA Hobart events run like a well oiled machine. Alison is passionate about bringing people and property together and says “I want to inspire a sustainable approach to loving the space you live in”. Alison says that as a Leader for WNA, I have a privileged position. Whilst supporting local business owner members, I also get to host educational forums and see some true connections and collaborations taking place, we really do have loads of fun and take hold of opportunities! – really maximising the benefits of the WNA membership.

Sigrid de Kaste
Director, Stickybeak Marketing

Sigrid de Kaste is a three times International #1 Bestselling Author, Business and Marketing Consultant and Coach, and she is the Founder and Director of Stickybeak Marketing®.  Originally trained as a Photographer, Sigrid has worked in advertising, public relations, retail and marketing.  She has owned a number of retail stores in which she quickly doubled profits and tripled turnover.

Sigrid formally studied Marketing and has direct experience of starting up, building, and selling businesses; together with the different types of marketing that is required during each of these phases.

Her speciality is teaching writing, publishing and marketing a book for your business that will raise your profile and position your expertise to attract new clients.

Susanne Le Boutillier
Managing Director, Aedanna Pty Ltd

During my 30-year Senior Executive career in health and community services, I successfully led large scale change and delivered on many complex and challenging programs.

I now use my knowledge and skills to make a positive difference for others by providing consulting support to organisations navigating challenging situations and coaching executives who want the support of an individual who has walked the same challenging path and uses proven approaches.

Laura Lewis is microbusiness owner, an artist, mum, and a passionate advocate for inclusion and better services for people living with a mental illness. She’s also a disruptor and advocate to improve educating our state education system to stamp out bullying in our schools. 

Laura has faced her own challenges with mental illness and uses her lived experience as  a strong advocate for others. 

Penny is an experienced and highly regarded independent strategic management advisor  to CEOs and Boards who have an eye to sustainable market relevance or repositioning their organisation. She works at the strategic apex supporting the Board, CEO and key stakeholders.

As a former C-Suite financial markets executive, and as an independent consultant, Penny has delivered strategic advice and successfully aided transitions across 23 industries/sectors.

Penny is a mentor and master connector, with a heart-centred focus that is both warm and engaging.

Joanne is a Thought Leader in Business Strategy. She has navigated through over two decades of entrepreneurship and her mission is to guide business owners in creating their ideal futures. She leads them towards solid foundations, setting them up for successful exits that meet their future goals.

Her draws on her own journey of self-discovery which started with the gut-wrenching decision to liquidate what was a $30M business enterprise. This led Joanne on an emotional rollercoaster that showcased how disconnected from her purpose she had become, which meant she had been making poor decisions, creating a perfect storm.

Joanne has spent the last 40 years smashing through barriers in her career, some due to her gender, her own imposter syndrome kicking in, or because others perceived that she wasn’t good enough. 

She knows how challenging stepping boldly into your own power can be and has spent the last six years helping thousands of leaders to navigate the maze of success showing them that they can lead boldly and be valued for the impact they create.

Nici is a self-proclaimed software nerd within an addiction to learning. With over 20 years in the corporate arena working for a software company, she climbed to the top levels of management.

Today, her mission is to help small businesses make an impact with their website or social media and gain traffic so they can convert likes to sales.