About | The Gold Coast Innovation Hub

ABOUT US

FOUNDED BY INNOVATORS FOR INNOVATORS

The Gold Coast Innovation Hub (GC Hub) is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2017 by industry groups and key Gold Coast innovators with the aim to drive commercial success and to foster innovation and digital business creation within the Gold Coast and broader Australian community.

The GC Hub runs programs, spaces, and events designed by innovators for innovators, where businesses can connect, collaborate, grow, raise investment and expand into global markets.

Since its formation, the GC Hub has provided assistance to a diverse range of businesses. The GC Hub has built a reputation for providing high quality, low cost support with strong commercial backing, and for being able to provide linkages to government, industry programs, and information services.

Our goal

to ensure that every business, every innovator, every partner, every investor, and every person that wants to support the Gold Coast innovation ecosystem finds that, as a member of the GC Hub, they will have greater access to support, greater access to skills and knowledge, greater access to funding, and greater access to the community – and therefore will have a greater chance of success than if they were doing it alone.

MEET OUR TEAM

A huge thank you to our amazing volunteer board of Directors and Advisors, as well as our wonderful team of staff for their support, vision, and leadership.

GC Hub Board of Directors

Sharon Hunneybell

Founder

Recognised by the Australian Financial Review as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence Sharon Hunneybell has a passion for technology, innovation, collaboration and is a champion for youth participation in startups and technology.

Sharon has held senior roles in a number of fast growing Australian firms including multi award winning software company, Opmantek. She has been an active startup community builder, co-creating and facilitating dozens of programs and initiatives to support digital business creation and growth.

Dennis Silvers

Chairperson

Dennis is an experienced senior executive who worked across several industries during
his career in both the private and government sectors. His previous roles have seen him
develop and implement programs to encourage innovation and facilitate R&D at many
different levels. Beyond his thorough understanding of R&D and its relevant
applications, Dennis also has a strong skill set in the business development field, having
successfully developed and implemented a number of strategies and frameworks that
have enabled businesses to move into new fields. Dennis has demonstrable success as
an innovative and forward-thinking executive.

Christine Lennon

Secretary

Christine is an International Best Selling author and Speaking Coach. She is a committed Leader, professional trainer, executive business strategist with diverse sales experience. Speaking is her power.

Allan Godbee

Treasurer

With a career spanning 30 years in the professional services industry, Allan has built an intimate knowledge and understanding of what small to medium size business owners and professionals require during various phases of their lifecycle.

Professionally Allan holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the The Institute of Managers and Leaders and a member of the Australian College of Pharmacy. Allan also sits on the boards of helicopter rescue organisation Lifeflight Australia Limited, along with Gold Coast private school All Saints Anglican School.

Board Advisors

Chris Marsh

Business Engagement Officer

Chris has 20 years’ experience in a variety of business development and management in corporate, government, community and not-for-profit sectors, I pride myself on providing empowered leadership and fostering a team goal-oriented approach to management. I have developed a consultative / relationship management approach to negotiation and business partnerships.

Brad Semmens

Head of Business Advisory – BridgePoint Group

Meet Brad, Head of Business Advisory at BridgePoint Group Accounting and Growth Advisory firm – a well-respected and trusted business services firm in Sydney. Brad is a divergent, driven and systems-thinking Business Advisor and Strategist, with a sharp focus on business strategy across all divisions, people, and performance. Brad is what is known as an ‘integrator,’ as he sits between being able to create and drive a vision, all the way through to nutting out processes and the detail. Whether you have a mindset, skill, or knowledge gap, need assistance with formulating the right business strategy, solving for resource allocation or dealing with execution roadblocks, Brad will confidently assist and guide you with passion, wisdom and structured thinking.

Brad believes that business owners should ‘look near before they look far,’ as it’s almost always a problem with one’s own level of ‘resourcefulness’ before it’s ever about ‘not having enough resources.’

As a successful founder and business owner of his supplement brand selling online and to retail Australia wide, equipped with an academic background in business management, and having 10+ years of hands-on leadership and management experience in construction, sales, education and professional services industries, Brad can render high-quality and potent support, regardless of where you are at with your business growth journey.

Brad has a deep passion for continuous growth and a sort after skillset in business psychology and strategic thinking, which can be applied to all areas of your business. You can be sure that Brad won’t just share his ‘opinion,’ he will give reference to insights and ways of thinking that you can hold onto forever.

Brad helps business owners to accurately articulate their challenges and problems and provides strategic and practical pathways to become more resourceful and solve challenges that stand in the way of experiencing greater levels of success. You will receive clarity and confidence in relation to your business strategy and strategic direction, mindset, operational excellence, people, and performance. Brad looks forward to speaking with you.

WE'RE ALSO PART OF SO MUCH MORE

Go Global World

The Gold Coast Innovation Hub are proud to be part of the Go Global World International collaboration – driving new opportunities for Gold Coast, Queensland and Australian startups to grow their business in other countries, build a strong global network, and participate in webinars and online events with successful founders and investors from Silicon Valley and beyond.

Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrerpreneurs

The Gold Coast Innovation Hub are proud to be the Australian representative for the Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs – creating international linkages and opportunities for under 35’s across Commonwealth countries.

Volunteering Queensland

The Gold Coast Innovation hub is a member of Volunteering Queensland and loves working with young innovators. To find out more and to view open roles click here.