Executive Manager - Finance
Kate works as an executive manager in the regional and agribusiness sector for Gippsland. With her expertise in banking and financial markets, and local insight, Kate has the capability to understand and tailor any finance requirements across Debt Structuring, Asset Finance, Trade, FX and generalist banking.
Ovasee
Matts's career spans over 25 years in Information Technology. Matt started in the 90’s working for a Gippsland Internet Provider called Network Technology, then a few years down the track moved across to the finance sector in IT where Matt supported technology for over 120 staff, then in 2006 Matt jumped to work in education as an IT Manager of Secondary School. To this day Matt is still there supporting the 950 students, 150 staff, and the school community by creating a culture of confident and effective technology use that leads to continual school improvement. During the years Matt has also moved into Project and Facilities Management where he has seen a hole in compliance and risk with organisations and contractors. Matt has started to develop a compliance and risk portal that Supports organisations and contractors. Matt hopes that Startup Gippsland can push his idea to the next level to ensure safety in organisations.
Simon Allsop is determined to use technology to help improve the health of others like him. His current prototype is an operator-controlled back massage machine that can be operated from the prone position and complements offerings provided by medical professionals. Simon was inspired to develop his idea after multiple prototypes realising that a machine controlled by the patient gave a lot of precision control over the massage. Having seen the benefits that regular, proactive massages have had for his own back health, he’s decided to develop his own product and bring it to the world.
Simon has worked in a number of places around the world, but has always wanted to return to South Gippsland where he grew up, and cherishes the picturesque setting and natural beauty of the region.
Ramp Tech
Douglas Donaldson grew up in Eltham in Melbourne’s outer suburbs. After completing his diesel fitting apprenticeship, he eventually began working in his family business, which manufactures a variety of products, including truck curtains. During his many years there, he noticed recurring complaints about the unreliable components of the truck curtain systems available on the market. In 2014, Doug purchased a 1988 Hino 12-pallet curtain-sided truck with the view to develop what is now Ramp Tech: an automated system that revolutionises the loading and unloading of trucks.
Doug lives on a small farm in Iona with his wife, son and mother, alongside chooks, sheep, goats, steers, and a cat and a dog. After years of R&D, he’s looking forward to getting the Ramp Tech product into the market.
After two decades of visiting parents in South Gippsland and doing the first year of COVID lockdown at 'the lavender farm', Kayt could resist the pull no longer, finally buying her own place and permanently moving to the region. Fortunate to be in the tech industry and remote working for some years pre-COVID, it was an easy change from Melbourne living to the lush green hills and beautiful waterways. (In all truth, there was no going back to Melbourne after spending some of 2018 and all of 2019 doing a lap of Australia with her car and swag).
Now, with many friends and family visiting, Kayt found herself curating travel plans for others. What if there was an app for that? I'm sure you've seen this kind of thing before, some executed reasonably well, others leaving much to be desired. This one, well, it's got some twists, and she’s keen to make it happen. So watch this space: it’s time to let the rest of the world know all about the wonderful communities and extraordinary small businesses of Gippsland.
Simplify Design
Adam is the Founder and Art Director at Simplify Design; a creative agency that simplifies the branding process for startups and established businesses. Adam’s goal at Simplify is to help companies develop their brand story, values and purpose. He strives to create identities for companies that their customers will love and trust.
When not in design mode, you will often find Adam out surfing somewhere on the Bass Coast.
He loves the fact that owning a business in Gippsland allows him to get in the water everyday after work.
Refresh Tabs
Refresh Tabs was founded in 2021 by Cath Macdonald and Dee McColl. Wanting to live more sustainable lives, Cath and Dee wanted to provide a way to cut down the amount of waste generated from toothbrushing. Refresh Tabs are toothpaste tablets that don’t use plastic packaging and use no water in either making the tablets or brushing your teeth. As an added bonus, they’re also much less messy than traditional toothpaste tubes!
Cath Macdonald has been living in Gippsland for over 25, after moving from Melbourne for work and never leaving. The biggest reason she loves living in Gippsland is the people: they are genuine, friendly and caring.
Garden Design by Imelda Dover
Imelda Dover’s strengths in aesthetic and spatial design, along with her deep understanding of cultivated plant uses, habits and requirements, and awareness of contemporary impacts such as the changing climate, come together as she garners and coordinates resources to develop user-focused environments.
As an artist, Imelda is represented in the Art Gallery of Western Australia collection, and exhibited at significant contemporary art spaces including the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art and ACCA in Melbourne. She merged her artistic career into exhibition design and management, and has also followed her love of nature to lead visitor programs in national parks, including at Kakadu National Park and South Coast NSW.
Having developed suburban, courtyard and rural gardens, Imelda is driven by a desire to enhance peoples’ lives through the design and nurture of gardens that are responsive to the ambitions and capabilities of the garden custodian, creating attractive liveable environments and increasing social amenity.
Burbs Brewing
James Gardiner and his wife Bridie started Burbs Brewing to bring quality craft beer to the average Australian. As such a small-scale brewery, they can truly craft their products to make consistent, quality beer and cider while supporting Australian producers.
James has previously been working as a member of the Police Force for eight years, and used to commentate on esport events. After living in Melbourne, he and Bridie moved to Warragul and love the friendliness of everyone here, the space and of course, the quality of products that come out of Gippsland.
Silver Penned Writing Studio
Kate Ginnivan dons her best hoodie & Chucks combo whenever she gets the call up to do what she loves most: write captivating content for small businesses.
While establishing Silver Penned Writing Studio, Kate had one singular mission in mind: ensure every small business has the power to steal the show – online & in-store – with the sheer strength of word wizardry.
When she’s not drinking too much coffee in her home office in Leongatha, you’ll find Kate wandering the rail trail with her beloved dog Memphis, or chasing the perfect light and photo opportunity atop the Strzelecki.
With a lifelong love of content creation and 20+ years of teaching writing, Kate is a successful ink slinging, yarn-spinning, silver-penned devil.
Stay in the Game
Stay in the Game is an all natural health product for people aged 40 and older who need to keep their systems running. A scoop a day can alleviate bone, muscle and joint inflammation, as well as common stomach complaints like indigestion and bloating.
SITG was developed by Jennifer Belsar, a mother of four adult girls, who believes the body can always recover if it is given the right ingredients.
Stay in the Game was born in Korumburra where Roy and Jen live, work and play all year round.
Stay in the Game
Stay in the Game is an all natural health product for people aged 40 and older who need to keep their systems running. A scoop a day can alleviate bone, muscle and joint inflammation, as well as common stomach complaints like indigestion and bloating.
SITG was developed by Jennifer Belsar, a mother of four adult girls, who believes the body can always recover if it is given the right ingredients.
Stay in the Game was born in Korumburra where Roy and Jen live, work and play all year round.
South Gippsland Tutoring
South Gippsland Tutoring is a personalised tutoring service aimed at primary school-aged students. Jackie Van Velzen is the sole owner and operator, and is a fully qualified primary school teacher who is extremely passionate about learning.
I love living in Gippsland for the fresh air, rolling hills, clean beaches and of course, the beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
SGT started in February 2022 with the realisation that many families have struggled through the past two years of remote learning. Jackie watched as families felt confused, frustrated, and helpless on how to engage and/or teach their children. As an educator, she also accepted that she could not possibly teach the same amount of content remotely that she could in a classroom. Many children are behind academically, and many parents still feel extremely concerned about their ability to catch up. That drove Jackie to create SGT: to assist students and their families to reach their full potential and grow not only in ability, but also in their personal confidence.
Margo is a creator, gardener, artist, yoga teacher, and wild nature being who lives in the forest with the birds and her partner. She loves the spaciousness of living in East Gippsland surrounded by nature where she can indulge my love of making things from tofu to kombucha, pottery to handmade soap.
After spending more than two decades practising, studying, and teaching yoga, Margot has recently shifted the focus of her work to coach and support women in their 40s and 50s through menopause by holding group workshops, hosting an online group coaching program, and offering private one-to-one coaching. She’s in the process of developing a CPD program for teachers in the yoga and fitness space to increase awareness around the impacts of menopause and how to support these women to adapt and flourish.
Bianca Bassett Disability Inclusion Consult
Bianca Bassett’s career began in the corporate sector in 2008 when she took a position in the Arts and Events sector in management, HR, marketing and project work. She continued working in corporate roles as an Executive Officer, in Senior HR roles, major projects and events for 15 years.
In 2016 Bianca lost her leg following an illness, and quickly realised there was so much education that was lacking in disability inclusion. She saw an opportunity to use my lived experience in a positive way to help others understand the value of being inclusive of people with disabilities.
Her love and passion for educating people to create a better understanding of people with disabilities and accessible inclusion has led her to develop her business to share her lived experience and passion, in the hope she can influence many along her journey.
All Abilities Motorcycle Tours
After spending 40+ years in the automotive industry, Ian decided to follow his passion for motorcycle touring and began developing All Ability Motorcycle Tours, which lets anyone experience the feeling of riding a motorcycle from the safety of a specialised sidecar built specifically to hold all types of wheelchairs. A long-time motorcycle enthusiast, Ian got the idea for his business at a motorcycle rally in the USA, where noticed a veteran who had built a sidecar for his Harley for a mate in a wheelchair. Since then, he began to see an ever-increasing number of people with disability attending and enjoying these events.
There are so many sights to see and activities to do in East Gippsland that most of us take for granted. With All Abilities Motorcycle Tours, Ian hopes to give people of all abilities the chance to access these beautiful sites and experience the joy he has while riding on the motorcycle.
