Our Committee & Staff

Chair of the Gold Coast RJC Robyn Keenan is a workforce development and planning specialist and is a proud advocate of the power of quality education and the opportunities it provides.

Robyn has over 20 years’ experience in the tourism industry with the past 20 years working in workforce development and planning, notably working on the Red Centre Employment Plan, Norfolk Island Workforce Plan, managing the Tourism and Hospitality Skills Council in Queensland and is currently employed as National RTO Manager for ACE Community Colleges.

Robyn participates in many committees and boards and was chosen by the Minister for Education and Training in 2010 to assist with the setup of the Queensland Skills Commission, Skills Queensland. Not limited to education and workforce planning she is also talented at quoting lines from 'The Castle' better than most.

Estella Rodighiero brings more than 20 years’ experience as an economic development facilitator and business professional to her role as Director of Regional Development for RDA Gold Coast. A strategic thinker and expert negotiator, she has high-level expertise in building collaborative relationships between government, community and business stakeholders, developing and executing international trade missions, strategic planning and policy development, project management, analysis and regional marketing.

She has designed, implemented, and achieved multi-million-dollar project and growth outcomes for the South East Queensland region, and Senior Economic Development Officer for the City of Gold Coast under the Trade 2018 program for the Commonwealth Games. Estella developed inbound and outbound trade missions, hosted international business leaders and government delegations, and showcased Queensland industries and investment opportunities with events and forums.

As Director of Regional Development Australia Gold Coast, she is leading transformative initiatives in Additive Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, Biomed and the Space and Marine industries. 

Estella is an Executive Member of the City Heart Taskforce, a board member of LifeFlight Australia Ltd and the Artificial Intelligence Action Plan Program Committee.

Estella has been recognised with awards such as the ANZRSAI Practitioner Award for Excellence in Regional Development, and the National Award for Excellence - AusIndustry Innovation Award (Economic Development Australia).

Professor Evelin Tiralongo is the founding Director of Griffith’s Clinical Trial Unit. Under her leadership, the Unit has become a self-sustaining, globally recognised clinical trial site that fosters academic-clinician collaborations, industry partnerships and workforce development. She is passionate about expanding healthcare options for the Gold Coast community through clinical trials.

Evelin is a German-trained pharmacist with dual Australian and German registrations and postgraduate degrees in pharmacognosy and biochemistry. She has over 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical and clinical research in Australia and Germany and has also worked in pharmacy practice in both countries. Previously, she co-established Griffith’s Pharmacy programs, developed accredited Integrative Medicine courses for health professionals, and conducted clinical and pharmaceutical research - generating substantial income, over 60 peer-reviewed articles, several book chapters, and a patent.

Evelin is an alumnus of the Bridge Program and completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Foundations of Directorship Program. She served as a member on the Gold Coast Health District Community Council, on NHMRC research committees, and between 2017 to 2025 as a member of the TGA’s Advisory Committee on Complementary Medicines, including six years as Chair.

For the past five years, Rebecca Hysell has proudly served as the Industry Engagement Manager for Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) in the Gold Coast region. Having lived and raised my family on the Gold Coast for over 20 years, she is deeply committed to supporting the growth, capability, and future of our local workforce.

Rebecca has spent most of her career in the education and training sector, working in roles ranging from early childhood education to business development for major RTOs. Throughout this journey, she has developed a strong passion for supporting new entrants into the building and construction industry, helping individuals pursue their career aspirations and assisting businesses to strengthen their workforce capability.

Rebecca's work is driven by a collaborative approach — partnering with industry, employers, and stakeholders to identify skills gaps and develop practical solutions. She enjoys working closely with businesses to understand their workforce needs and to design development plans that maximise the potential of their teams. Building strong, face-to-face relationships is central to her role, and she prides herslef on being a trusted point of contact within the industry.

Rebecca is excited to contribute to the Gold Coast Regional Jobs Committee, where she can continue supporting initiatives that enhance local skills, opportunities, and job pathways.

Through CSQ, Rebecca helps businesses grow their workforce, access funded training, plan for future needs, and navigate the training sector. She is also passionate about inspiring the next generation, and CSQ is actively delivering engagement activities in secondary schools across Queensland to encourage future tradies to explore rewarding careers in construction.

Bio coming soon!

Dr Samantha Kilmartin is a passionate and experienced career development professional with a background in strategic HRM, career coaching and research.  Her PhD focussed on graduate career success and she is well regarded in her field for employability research. 

Sam has spent her career focusing on helping people grow and succeed, whether through one-on-one career advice, teaching, coaching, or running training and development programs. Sam has lead the Kickstart Program for Experience Gold Coast for the last four years. 

Beyond her professional work, Sam is dedicated to giving back. She provides outreach career support and is actively involved with the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA) and the National Association of Graduate Career Advisory Services (NAGCAS), where she has been a key member of the management committee and executive board. Her mission is to ensure everyone has access to accurate, contemporary career advice and the opportunity to pursue their career goals.

When she’s not helping others achieve their career goals, Sam loves skiing, spending time with family and friends, and she also adores dogs.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Jodi Brackenbury is an experienced professional in the Employment and Training sector and is currently the Job Coordinator for the Local Jobs Program on the Gold Coast. She provides regional leadership across workforce development, employment services, and skills pathways, building strong industry partnerships and delivering place-based initiatives that respond to local labour market needs. Jodi brings a collaborative, evidence-informed approach to her work, with a strong focus on practical outcomes aligned to government policy and community priorities.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Dr Thomas Wechselberger has been the Project Manager responsible for Maritime Industry Development in the Queensland Government since December 2006. He was responsible for the Queensland Government Marine Action Plan 2008, the Queensland Superyacht Strategy 2008-2013 and the most recent Queensland Government Superyacht Strategy 2018-28.

Thomas is also the lead for the Queensland Government support for ASMEX since its inception in 2011 and runs the Queensland Government’s International Business Lounge at the Sanctuary Cove International Boatshow. He also organises and is the lead for the Queensland Government stand at the Defence Maritime Pacific Exhibition in Sydney which provides assistance for Queensland maritime companies to attend this important maritime defence Tradeshow. Furthermore, he assists and advises other Government stakeholders in regard to maritime manufacturing, marinas, planning, skills and exports.

He has also been assisting and funding TAFE, Trade Industry College, and industry bodies to develop and implement maritime skills and training packages across the state to address the shortage of workers in the maritime industry.

Maria Hobbs brings over 25 years of experience in marketing, business management, and workforce development across the marine industry and related sectors. She holds advanced qualifications in marketing and maritime management and has worked internationally in marine, private aviation, luxury real estate, and financial services. Currently, Maria serves as Project Officer for Marine Jobs at the Boating Industry Association, leading initiatives that connect industry, education, and government to build a skilled workforce for Australia’s marine and maritime sectors. Her expertise in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement will support the Gold Coast Regional Jobs Committee in driving marine industry growth.

Former refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, now based in Brisbane for over 20 years, Snjezana Nikic is driven to foster inclusion and facilitate genuine, meaningful opportunities for migrants and refugees.

Snjezana holds a Bachelor of Social Science and a Master of Business from Queensland University of Technology, as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Policy Analysis from Griffith University. Snjezana began her professional journey in the community sector where she developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by multicultural communities. In 2012, she joined the Queensland Government, furthering her commitment to driving positive and impactful change.

Currently serving as Principal Program Officer in Multicultural Affairs Queensland within the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and Multiculturalism, Snjezana focuses on advocating for and improving workforce outcomes for migrants and refugees.
Snjezana is committed to working collaboratively with community, industry, and government stakeholders to tackle the underutilisation of migrant and refugee skills, helping to address workforce shortages and close skills gaps. Her efforts contribute to building a more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming Queensland.

Tishan Glasby is an Assistant Director in the Inclusive Employment Delivery Branch, bringing more than 15 years of experience across a range of employment and social service roles within Services Australia and the Department of Social Services. With a strong background in service delivery and program operations, Tishan is committed to supporting inclusive employment outcomes and strengthening pathways for vulnerable Australians.

Jo Cochran, MBA, is an experienced leader in economic development, specialising in regional industry growth, investment attraction, precinct development and strategic policy implementation. As Manager Economic Development at the Queensland Government’s Department of State Development, SEQ South regional office, Jo focuses on delivering initiatives that foster industry growth, grow major projects supply chains, business capability and knowledge. Jo is passionate about opportunities that foster collaborative partnerships and support regional job creation and economic prosperity.

Shane Thomson has recently commenced as Project Manager for the Gold Coast RJC, bringing extensive experience in workforce development, vocational education and industry engagement.

Shane joins the RJC following a successful career with the Queensland Government, where he worked closely with employers, training providers and community organisations across the Gold Coast, Logan, Redlands and Scenic Rim. His background spans skills development, apprentice and trainee support, and collaborating with businesses and industry to address real workforce challenges.

In his new role, Shane will coordinate the delivery of RJC initiatives, support business and industry with access to workforce programs, resources and events, strengthen partnerships across industry and education, and ensure the Committee’s work is firmly aligned with local labour market needs.