Queensland

YCP Finalists: David Tharp (Tradelink), Chad San Giorgio (DHL), Ashleigh Mason (NCS), Talitha Bere (Tradelink), Edward Sklavos (Nexxa) and Damian Crowley (Choice Mercantile).

President’s report

At the first council meeting after this year’s AGM, I was re-elected as your Qld President. I am honoured to again be entrusted with the job of working with the council to provide opportunities for our members to connect, contribute and learn. I would like to first of all thank Peter Mills for his work as the President for the last 12 months. We have seen an increase in engagement from members in the events we have hosted and a sustained upward trajectory in membership. Peter will remain on council.

Stacey Woodward was also voted in as our Vice President. Stacey has proven to be an indispensable part of council and a passionate supporter of all things AICM. I look forward to working with her over the next year.

Sadly Mark Harley stepped down from his position on council. Given these are unpaid positions, I am always grateful for the time and effort put into helping Qld members with training and networking opportunities. Thanks again Mark and all the best.

Since the last update, we had our annual Qld YCP awards night at the Stamford Hotel. We heard from illion’s Dennis Balen, one of the judges, who gave insight into just how tough the judging was and how impressed the panel was by the participants. He provided guests a brief overview of the topics covered and what made each candidate stand out. It was a very impressive group of candidates and wanted to thank you all for putting yourselves out there and hope you gained something valuable in the experience.

A big thank you to all the judges for taking the time out to participate in this very formative experience for our young credit professionals.

With all that said, I would like to congratulate Ashleigh Mason on winning the Qld YCP award for 2019! You certainly impressed the judges and hope you will work your magic at the National Conference and make us all proud!

In addition to the awards night we had a year pin presentation with a 40 year pin presented to Warwick Ballantine-Jones. It’s really something to see that level of commitment to the AICM!

Our Women in Credit Luncheon was held at Moda events in Hamilton. The amazing food, guests and an engaging presentation by Sonia McDonald, made for an amazing event. We also got to hear about the hardships women are facing, the work charities are doing to help and how we can chip in. Needless to say it was a knockout success and Qld where we were able to raise a whopping $7k+ towards our charity. Amazing job everyone! This is a testament to the great work that our WINC committee are doing a big thank you and congrats to Julie McNamara, Zara Mends, Anna Taylor and Maria Schandl It’s not easy planning and organising quality events like this as it usually sits over and above one’s daily workload. Again without the support of Equifax, Results, NCI, this would never have gotten off the ground and we are thankful for the support.

Qld Director Julie McNamara (C) with new Division Partners TurksLegal representatives Sharon Richardson (L) and Melissa Jarvin (R).

Qld 2019 YCP Ashleigh Mason (National Collection Services) proudly displays her trophy with Dennis Balen (illion). Warwick Ballantyne-Jones regales the room with how much credit has changed since he started some 40+ years ago.

Proud membership length of service pin recipients: Elizabeth Morris (25 years), Angela McDonald (15), Alison Beythien (25), Warwick Ballantyne-Jones (40), Stacey Woodward (5) and Roger Masamvu (5).

We now set our sights on Conference and Pinnacles, we are looking forward to seeing you all as we wind down (or ramp up) for the end of the calendar year. As for the council, will be in the process of planning for the next year so if you have any suggestions for events or topics you would like to see covered, please let any of us on council know directly or through the head office team. I would also like to close off with a big thank you to all of our state and national partners for your continued support. – Roger Masamvu MICM CCE Qld Division President

Young Credit Professional Awards Dinner and meet our Qld Finalist

What a night! This year’s Young Credit Professional Award, sponsored by illion, was hosted by our very own councillor (and new Vice President) Stacey Woodward at Stamford Plaza Brisbane.

Huge congratulations to our six finalists, the journey so far is one of growth and excitement and it was incredible to see so much talent representing Queensland.

We were also able to present membership anniversary pins to six of our members with Warwick BallantyneJones celebrating 40 years with the AICM. A stellar achievement!

It was then we waited with baited breath for Dennis Balen of illion to crown this year’s winner – Ashleigh Mason of NCS.

Thank you to all that come along to support the award and our finalists: l Damian Crowley – Choice Mercantile l David Tharp – Tradelink l Ashleigh Mason – NCS l Talitha Bere – Tradelink l Edward Sklavos – Nexxa l Chad San Giorgio – DHL

Meet our Qld finalist

We spoke to Ashleigh to get to know her a little better, to delve into her YCP journey so far and how she has prepared for Nationals.

Tell us about your YCP journey from the very start all the way to 2019 National Conference?

I first applied for the YCP in 2016 then again in 2018, Ashleigh Mason I didn’t know a lot about the award or the process until I attended one of the AICM YNN Nights. On my first attempt I was a shy nervous 26 year old who had never completed a panel interview and didn’t know what to expect. My pre-interview prep was average and I fumbled and struggled with the questions asked, I knew then and there I had a lot of work to do if I wanted to win.

In 2019 I decided to apply again. I started prepping for my panel interview from September 2018. I tried remembering questions asked of me the year before, I was reading everything and anything relating to the credit industry. I attended AICM symposiums and events to increase my knowledge, I practice completing my interview with family, friends and mentors to make sure I gave the best I could give.

What made you re-apply?

The YCP is an amazing achievement, I felt very fortunate to be chosen as a finalist but I wanted to push and challenge myself to achieve the award.

How have you prepared for Nationals and what is your thought process around choosing what to present to the judges?

Nationals is very hard to prepare for, choosing your topic seems like a great idea when you’re a finalist however there is so much to choose from. My thought process is to talk about what I am passionate about.

What has been your biggest challenge in your professional journey so far?

The transition from Credit Officer into Debt Collections Collector. NCS looks after a file from start to finish including litigation, getting my head around Civil litigation has been the biggest learning challenge for me but I love it.

How did you end up in your current role with NCS?

I had met Dale at a YNN event and we clicked he was a man with a fantastic vision that I wanted to be a part of. When he contacted me to see if I was interested in joining his team I jumped at the opportunity.

What is your ideal position and why?

My ideal position would be to progress into Management, I want to be a leader within an organisation. I would like to be able to coach and develop people, work together as a team to motivate and achieve goals, find out other opinions and see how we as a group can improve the business both every day and for the future.

Tell us something about yourself that others may be surprised to know about you?

I am a secret thrill seeker, I love doing high adrenaline sports and activities, I have been skydiving, rock climbing, abseiling off the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and I am going swimming with sharks at the end of October.

And finally, what would you say to other Young Credit Professionals who are thinking of applying next year?

If you want it go for it you won’t regret it, not only will it help you with your knowledge, confidence and selfesteem it will also open a lot of doors and get you networking with great people and businesses.

Good Luck Ash – We know you will do an amazing job representing us on home turf – GO Queensland!

Meet your Councillors

Some exciting changes to Council have recently taken place. Meet your new Vice President/Treasurer Stacey Woodward

Name: Stacey Woodward MICM

Qualifications: Diploma in Business Current Position: Credit Manager Employer: Provet Pty Ltd How long at that company: since 2017

Credit/professional background:

My credit career started with Boral Construction Materials in 2011 as a Credit Officer looking after the Qld/ Stacey Woodward NT Trade accounts, I then progressed into the Qld/NT Major accounts role in 2013. In 2014 I joined the Qld Major Mining team as a Credit Officer with Hastings Deering. I am now working for Australia’s leading veterinary distributor, Provet Pty Ltd as Credit Manager.

Why I volunteer on the AICM council/Goals as Councillor:

I love being part of something that I am passionate about and am always looking to learn new things. Achievements with AICM: Qld National finalist for the 2014 Young Credit Professional of the year award. I have been involved with the council ever since looking after the Media portfolio, preparing the Qld submissions for the AICM quarterly magazine, while also looking after the YCP portfolio.

Value I have gained through volunteering with

AICM: Networking with likeminded people and sharing their passion for credit. I love being able to give back by being on council My passions aside from Credit/work: Scuba diving and travelling the world – I usually plan trips that combine the two! Contact details: Feel free to connect with me via LinkedIn.

Alison Tregear (Iplex), Emma Purcival (Vinidex) and Sandra Jeckells (BICB). Pauline Lowe (BMI Group) receives a prize from WINC committee member Maria Schandl (Stoddarts).

Nicole Neal (Results Legal), Lisa Stribley (Deloitte Private), Alison Beythien (Iplex Pipelines), Megan Kelly (Business Depot), Alyson Tregear (Iplex Pipelines), Rebecca Ryan and Lisa Silver (both Results Legal).

WINC Event Qld WINC Friday 23rd August 2019 at Moda Events Portside

This was our BIGGEST event to date and also took the record for the most attendees nation-wide (214!). We are so humbled and grateful for the support the AICM community shows each and every year.

With the donation of people’s time and generosity of auction and raffle prizes (too many people to mention), we have also hit a fundraising record – final figure is still being confirmed but keep your eyes peeled.

Sonia McDonald ‘The Accidental Entrepreneur’ – CEO and Founder at Leadership HQ did not disappoint with an inspirational and emotional talk on how important it is to be kind to yourself, to be vulnerable and brave and lead authentically and from the heart ❤

Time to start planning the next one! Welcome to Conference – Gold Coast fun facts

Most of us can barely remember what happened yesterday. Or if we ate breakfast this morning. Or the last book we finished (picture books don’t count). So how are we meant to keep track of things that happened hundreds of years ago? It’s difficult, we know. Nearly impossible. That’s why we’re here to fill you in on local history. Don’t worry, it’s not just boring dates and facts (apologies for the traumatic grade 8 history class flashbacks).

The past may be in the past, but this is the stuff that made the Gold Coast the unique, vibrant city it is today. So strap in, and discover a whole new appreciation for our AICM Conference Host City. 1. The Aboriginal word for the Gold Coast is ‘Kurrungal’, due to the abundance of hardwood, used to make

Marriott Gold Coast grotto.

boomerangs. We’ve always been blessed with plentiful natural resources! 2. The Gold Coast wasn’t always a sparkling glamourtown, when Captain Cook sailed by in 1770 (he didn’t know what he was missing out on), the area was filled with vast stretches of beach, low lying coastal heath, and pockets of tropical rainforest. No wonder they called it paradise! 3. In 1840, a government surveyor charted the Gold

Coast, naming landmarks after prominent naval officers. Most of these names have since been changed to acknowledge our Indigenous heritage. The River

Barrow became Nerang River, while the River Perry became Tallebudgera Creek. Definitely an upgrade! 4. By 1850, the wood formerly used for boomerangs was floated down the river to meet ocean-bound ships, as timber became the Gold Coast’s primary industry.

If you look closely, you can still spot a few lumberjacks roaming around! 5. Not long after, sugar took over as the main industry, which naturally lead to a thriving rum industry. We’ve always been partial a drink or two! 6. In 1887, Southport was the Gold Coast’s most populated suburb, with slightly over 1000 people.

If there were only 1000 people out in Southport these days, you’d wonder what was wrong! 7. The Gold Coast’s tourism industry really took off in 1889, thanks to the first railway line from Brisbane to

Southport. People flocked here to relax and soak in the sun, and it seems like many of them never left! 8. In 1923, James Cavill built the famous Surfers Paradise

Hotel. He purchased the land for $800, and later sold it for $370,000. Not a bad profit. We’ve always been a top destination for entrepreneurs! 9. Surfers Paradise was officially named in 1933 (that one must have been a no-brainer!), but began to take its modern shape in the 1950s with several major highrise developments, including the Q1. In this case, size mattered! 10. Schoolies became a local tradition in the 1970s, as school-leavers gathered around The Broadbeach

Hotel to celebrate their final exams. We all know how things have unfolded since then… 11. Meter Maids have been a part of Surfers Paradise since 1965. Dressed in gold lame bikinis and tiaras

Meter Maids have strolled the streets of Surfers

Paradise feeding expired parking meters, and are now an international celebration of Surfers Paradise.

Despite six decades of constant change in Surfers

Paradise the Meter maids not only remain relevant, but have established themselves as a tourist favourite and expectation. They now even can deliver you food on the beach! We are so proud to host our fellow credit professionals at the wonderful Gold Coast for the 2019 AICM National Conference. . #LoveThisCity #GoldCoastLife #GCHistory

State Sponsor Spotlight TurksLegal

We have the pleasure of welcoming a new Qld State Sponsor in 2019 – TurksLegal. We caught up with Melissa Jarvin to dive into our new partnership!

Tell us a bit about Turks Legal, your team and what your firm is passionate about?

TurksLegal is a specialist commercial law firm offering practical, innovative and costeffective solutions in the areas of recoveries, insolvency and transactions.

With 34 Partners and over 180 professional staff in our offices in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne and Brisbane, TurksLegal is passionate about delivering leading expertise and superior client care.

Melissa Jarvin

Why did you choose to partner with the AICM?

TurksLegal is proud to be the Divisional Partner of the Australian Institute of Credit Management Australia in NSW, VIC and Qld. Like AICM, we too are an organisation focussed on supporting credit professionals to do their jobs better and achieve better outcomes for their businesses.

We enjoy working alongside AICM to deliver forwardthinking and progressive initiatives to achieve this.

What do you believe are the biggest issues facing our industry today?

The insolvency of debtors is always a big one. It can be pretty difficult for a credit manager to identify, especially in volatile industries such as the building and construction industry, whether a debtor is, in fact, insolvent. Which brings me to what I think is another big issue in the credit industry; unfair preference claims by liquidators.

They appear to becoming more and more prevalent. Fortunately there are a lot of available defences to unfair preference claims which make it easier for creditors to resolve these claims before proceedings are commenced by the liquidator.

What do you believe are the biggest issues facing our industry in the future?

I still think the insolvency of debtors and unfair preference claims will remain some of the most paramount issues in the industry in the future.

However, as to insolvency, one would hope that down the track, innovation and technology relating to credit reporting (including the sharing of trade payment data) will continue to advance to enable credit managers to more easily identify insolvency indicators of debtors at an earlier stage.

How would you describe the AICM and its members in 3 words?

Passionate, innovative and energetic.

What event are you most looking forward to?

I am really looking forward to the AICM National Conference. I hear it is a lot of fun (and very educational of course!). On a personal note – the event I am most looking forward to is my wedding in Mexico coming up in January! Mexico is my happy place.

What’s been the highlight event of the year?

The highlight of the year has been the Queensland AICM WINC Luncheon. It was a fun and inspiring afternoon! The keynote speaker, Sonia McDonald’s speech on leadership was remarkable, the venue (Moda Events, Portside) was amazing and I even won a bottle of bubbly – bonus!

The Australian Institute of Credit Management welcomes our Partners for 2019.

National Partners

Trusted Insights. Responsible Decisions.

Divisional Partners

Official Division Supporting Sponsors

Our National and Divisional Partners support and work with the AICM to promote the Institute’s activities, represent the Credit Industry and develop the careers of all Credit Professionals. As these organisations support your Institute and your Industry please consider them when you require assistance.