2017

Founder of Bunbunarik Children’s Hub

• Secured $1.8 million from the government to develop a 76 placement childcare centre, with further donations from businesses and organisations. Managed team of volunteers who contributed over 12,000 hours of voluntary service. Also set up and managed the Heathcote Community Children's Services Association and won the Bendigo Business Excellence Award

2015

Founder of O'Keefe Challenge

• Fundraising race for Heathcote Dementia Alliance.

2014

Founder of Heathcote Dementia Alliance

• Volunteer organisation aimed at improving dementia services in rural Australia. So far a quarter of a million dollars in funding has been secured.

Founder of Heathcote Community Games

• All-inclusive games hosted by local clubs and organisations. Became a model for international programs.

Founder of Heathcote Community Capacity Builders

• Identified community leaders, developed training materials and facilitated communication between groups.

2012-2013

Crisis Management and Training and Author

• Following Black Saturday fires, contracted by Murrundindi council to undertake business recovery in Marysville and Triangle, building up leadership teams to help empower the community.

• Contracted by the State Government to prepare crisis management and training for rural businesses to deal with fire, flood, and drought.

• Co-authored free book, 'Are U Ready: Surviving Small Business Disaster' to support rural business, and was awarded the Victorian and National Resilience Australia Award (Private Sector).

• Co-authored 'Restore Your Business Community' a manual for local government practitioners working in business recovery, and was again awarded the Victorian and National Resilience Australia Award (Private Sector).

2006

Author of Business Manual

• Wrote 'Facing a Life Threatening Illness' a manual for businesses facing a life-threatening illness.

2002-2006

Partnership with Royal Melbourne Hospital

• Shortly following a stem cell transplant for cancer treatment, re-wrote the transplant education guide in partnership with the Royal Melbourne Hospital and ran education sessions and support groups.

• Wrote 'Shadows and Light - Journeying Through Cancer' about her journey, and the book was launched by the hospital, with profit donated back to the Bone Marrow Donor Institute.

• Wrote 'Celebrating Life' for the Bone Marrow Donor Institute's 20th Anniversary.

2001

Awarded Centenary Medal

• For outstanding services to the Victorian Small Business Community.

1996-2002

Business Owner

• Owner of Southern Skies Enterprises P/L and was the first private operator to manage the economic development unit for a rural shire. Completely self-funded an paid staff through sourcing funds from various locations. Provided economic and business services to other small rural shires and councils, and also went into joint venter with Westpac to continue banking operations in rural Victoria.

1997

Founding Member of Australasian Institute of Business and Enterprise Facilitators

• Founded due to the recommendations of the Industry Task Force on Leadership and Management Skills to accredit small businesses advisors.

1996

First Female Member of Small Business Mentoring Service

• Volunteered to provide free advice and training to small business operators in rural Victoria, now an emeritus member.

1994

Enterprise Facilitator of Heathcote Community House

• Contracted by a local community organisation and secured $200,000 in funding to build community space.

2000s

Founding Member of University of the 3rd Age

• Provided learning programs for people who have retired.

Early 90s

First Female Economic Developer in Victoria

• One of the first 5 people to become an accredited economic developer.

1993

Founder of Community Craft Cooperative

• A social enterprise that assists local community artisans to display and sell their handcrafted wares.

1990

Move to Heathcote