Page 33 - Tropic Magazine Issue 11

CQUniversity & Gathar app
Age social entrepreneurship and creative complaining and more collaborations.
Jodie 33 region. There’s some perks to this There can be a trap of blaming the
But, we’ve still got a long way to go.
approaches to innovation in our
passion. It took me across America
‘establishment’ for what Cairns
Mlikota last year for a bunch of amazing doesn’t have. That’s not going to get
us anywhere.
conferences and to Paris for the
global startup weekend pitch
competition a few weeks back. I’m a We need to shift our mindset and say
what can I do and who can I partner up
Talent / Marketing communications Cairns local born and bred, with a big with to make (insert awesome idea
and the ability to make a mean extended family, it’s certainly a here) happen.
espresso martini blessing - but it did catch me out as a What are some of the unique
13-year-old trying to skip school…
Passion / Social impact through attributes and advantages you bring
innovation and entrepreneurship What and who inspires you in your to the work you do?
work and business? I like to think I’m creative and a glass
Tell us about your work and I feel really fortunate to work at a half full type, and I can apply this to
background campus surrounded by incredibly projects and challenges to navigate
I’ve worked in marketing, events and passionate educators and of course new solutions.
communications roles in Cairns and our students, many of whom have
Sydney for the past 12 years, with the overcome significant obstacles in life
last six at CQUniversity. It was just to get where they are today. You can’t
me and a paramedic science lecturer help but be inspired by their stories
when we first opened the study and drive. I’m also a big podcast fan, a
centre here almost 6 years ago. It’s walk to work with a juicy new episode
remarkable to look around at the on design thinking always puts me in
campus now and see our continued the right frame of mind for the day.
growth in the region, it fills me with Is the "Cairns establishment"
great pride knowing that I’ve been supportive of emerging
here since the start. I’m also entrepreneurs?
studying Social Innovation with I personally feel like this culture has
CQUni. This is where my passion and evolved over the last few years. There
volunteering efforts lie, in fostering seems to be more doing, less