Greater Careers Connect
Online Careers Forum
May 2026
Mentorship Program Delivery
June/July – August 2026
ABOUT
Greater Careers Connect program bridges the gap between study and work by connecting students with regional employers at the start of their qualification, giving early exposure to real career opportunities and practical insight into workplace opportunities and career pathways.
Greater Careers Connect — led by the Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) and funded through the Queensland Government’s Growing Workforce Participation Fund — will be delivered between April and July 2026. The program connects students across Queensland with employers in the Greater Whitsunday Region’s priority and emerging industries, including health, digital technologies, renewable energy, biomanufacturing, and advanced agriculture.
The initiative aims to support first-year students through real-world mentoring and direct industry exposure— helping them make informed career choices, stay motivated, and build stronger career readiness.
Beyond Study
Get your career hacks download – a great resource for students looking to the future.
- Find out what employers want you to know
- Why start now
- Links to watch the event video
About our Mentors
Jason Sharam
RENEWABLE ENERGY I TRADES I BUSINESS Careers don’t always follow a straight line. Electrician, entrepreneur and big believer in the “electrification of everything”, Jason’s 35+ year career has taken him through trades, mining renewable energy and business ownership. He brings honest lessons from both success and setbacks and plenty of insight into where the energy industry is heading. ASK JASON ABOUT Renewable energy * Starting a business * Career detours * Learning from setback
Georgia Lavers
FUTURE INDUSTRIES | SUSTAINABILITY | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Working on what’s next for Greater Whitsunday. Georgia is a Project Coordinator at Greater Whitsunday Alliance, working across decarbonisation, biomanufacturing and future industry opportunities. With experience in sustainability, consulting and workforce development, Georgia connects big ideas with practical projects that can strengthen the region’s future. ASK GEORGIA ABOUT Future industries • Sustainability • Regional opportunities • Tomorrow’s workforce
Hsu Win
COMPUTER SCIENCE | AI | EDUCATION Bridging the gap between study and industry. Hsu is an Associate Lecturer in Computer Science at CQUniversity with experience across education, vocational training and IT. Her interests include software engineering, AI and work-ready skills, with a strong focus on helping students turn technical knowledge into real career opportunities. ASK HSU ABOUT AI • Software careers • Work-ready skills • Moving from university into industry
Jessica Turchet
BIOSECURITY I AGRICULTURE I ENVIRONMENT Where science meets the real world Jessica is a Senior Biosecurity Officer in Mackay, working across agriculture, environmental management and chemical use risks. With experience in environmental science and auditing and stakeholder engagement, Jessica offers a practical look at careers combining science, agriculture and protecting our environment. ASK JESSICA ABOUT Biosecurity * Environmental science * Agriculture * Turning science into impact.
Harry Parker
ENGINEERING | ROBOTICS | AUTOMATION Turn problem-solving into a career. Harry is a Mechatronics Engineer who works across robotics, automation, mechanical design and data. Work experience during university helped launch his career in mining automation before new opportunities led him into manufacturing and robotics in Mackay. ASK HARRY ABOUT Engineering • Robotics • Automation • Work experience • Turning university into industry
Shae Dwyer
EARLY CHILDHOOD I EDUCATION I LEADERSHIP A career where you can see the difference you make. With 18 years in early childhood education, Shae has worked across teaching, inclusion, mentoring and leadership, and helped establish three family owned services Shae is passionate about developing great educators and creating meaningful outcomes for children and families. ASK SHAE ABOUT Early childhood careers • Inclusion • Leadership • Making a difference through your work
Jodie Eekelschot
HR | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | CONSTRUCTION Wondering what employers actually look for? Ask Jodie. Jodie has built a people-focused career across mining, construction and local government. Working across recruitment, training and workforce development, she is passionate about helping young people recognise the experience they already have, build confidence and find their way into industry. ASK JODIE ABOUT CVs • Internships • Interviews • Approaching employers • Getting your foot in the door
Matt West
AQUACULTURE | SCIENCE | SUSTAINABLE FOOD Think aquaculture is just about prawns? Think again. Matt has spent more than 25 years combining science, technology, sustainability and food production as General Manager of Australian Prawn Farms. He is passionate about innovation and the growing role aquaculture can play in sustainably feeding the future. ASK MATT ABOUT Aquaculture • Sustainable food • Science careers • Innovation • Unexpected career pathways
Cezanne Hamilton
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | SUSTAINABILITY | CONSULTING Sometimes the career toolkit even includes snake handling. Cezanne is an Environmental Scientist with experience across aquatic ecology, water quality, environmental education and consulting. Originally from New Zealand, her varied career demonstrates how trying different roles can build transferable skills and lead to unexpected opportunities. ASK CEZANNE ABOUT Environmental careers • Consulting • Transferable skills • Unexpected opportunities
Natasha Mallise
SUSTAINABILITY I ESG I ENVIRONMENT One skill set Plenty of industries. Natasha is ESC Lead at Mackay Sugar, working where sustainability, business and industry transformation meet. Hear environmental career has crossed government, mining, energy and agriculture, showing how transferable skills can create opportunities across very different industries. ASK NATASHA ABOUT Sustainability careers • ESG • Changing industries • Future environmental skills
Kirra Tully
INNOVATION I AI I FUTURE INDUSTRIES Curious about where technology is taking us next? Kirra works where technology, business and big ideas meet. Kirra leads programs that support startups, small businesses, and industry to embrace digital transformation and future industries while building stronger regional connections. A 2024 Women in Tech finalist, she is passionate about ensuring regional communities have access to the opportunities and technologies shaping Australia’s future and is committed to creating practical, lasting impact through partnerships and innovation. ASK KIRRA ABOUT AI • Innovation • Entrepreneurship • Future careers • Digital transformation
Jillian D’Urso
COMMUNITIES | CORPORATE AFFAIRS | SOCIAL IMPACT Changing direction can be part of moving forward. Jillian’s career has taken her from Mackay to remote Queensland, around Australia and internationally, crossing government, mining, research and industry. Having changed career direction herself, Jillian hope is that, by being curious, and sharing my own lessons that I can help you think bigger and bolder in what you would like to achieve – and help identify what steps assist. ASK JILLIAN ABOUT Career changes • Working internationally • Building confidence • Trying something new
Partnerships
