our team
Tracey Bridges
consultant
Jeremy Galbreath
consultant
administration officer
Mark Shenton
executive officer
Sharni Harfield
marketing and admin
Charli Mayfield
Richard Keeler
senior consultant
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executive officer
In my role as the Executive Officer at the Albany Business Centre, I bring a versatile skill set tailored to assist and empower solo entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses.
With a primary focus on leadership, sales, marketing, and digital platforms, my expertise is finely tuned to cater to the unique needs of those starting and running small enterprises without extensive teams.
I am committed to providing individualised guidance, mentoring, and strategic planning support, helping small business owners optimise their operations, streamline processes, and build strong relationships.
Utilising digital tools like Canva, I enhance visual communication strategies, and my proficiency in social media ensures a vibrant online presence tailored for solo entrepreneurs. Committed to continuous learning and skill development, I offer ongoing support to navigate the challenges of running a small business, fostering growth and success in the dynamic market landscape.
Dedicated to fostering a thriving business community in the Great Southern, I am passionate about supporting local enterprises, encouraging collaboration, and building a strong sense of community. Devoted to the idea that by buying local and helping each other, we can create a sustainable and interconnected network of businesses that uplift the entire community.
contact Mark: email
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admin
this is Sharni; in both personal and professional pursuits, Sharni embodies the principles of being swift and efficient without compromising the quality of her work. Despite her laser-focused work ethic, Sharni maintains an easy-going demeanour that makes collaboration a pleasure…
…but she can be distracted if you talk about cats!
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marketing and much more!
meet Charli, a singular force in the world of admin, driven by a relentless passion for efficiency and innovation. She excels at handling administrative duties with finesse, ensuring that everything runs like a well-oiled machine. Charli's knack for making life easy-breezy through the power of digital tools is truly remarkable. What truly sets her apart is her exceptional talent for enhancing our brand's digital presence, making it shine brilliantly in the vast online landscape. Charli is our secret weapon for ensuring our digital presence is as impressive as our operations
contact Charli: email
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senior consultant
so much more than a consultant Richard has been with us since 2012 and we have lost track how many businesses he has helped.
“I am a management consultant with experience in finance, management accounting and software development. I assist small businesses with compliance, building systems around people so they can concentrate on the work they do best. I help with research, financial modelling, strategic and project planning and implementation of change.”
contact Richard: email
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With a degree in marketing and the media, Tracey was well on her way to a career in food writing when she got poached by a tech start up in Perth for her community building and content creation mojo.
Since then she has pitched to angel investors, won some, lost some and failed hard (yet meaningfully). Tracey has listed a start-up on the ASX, run a regional business incubator (which you may be familiar with) and taken part in and designed some really top notch accelerator programs.
Having such diverse, hands on experience in big and small business both in Australia and overseas has built up valuable experience, connections and tools that she loves to share through business advisory and facilitation to business owners across the WA's Great Southern and her home town of Maun, Botswana.
Problem solving, journey mapping and chunking out the path of least resistance to the success that is specific to you and your business is one of her favourite aspects of working at the ABC.
Professional roles outside of the Albany Business Centre, she is part of the founding team for Botswana's first multi-vendor ecommerce platform with door to door delivery (with a small parallel pivot into fintech) AND she is the human behind HumanCentrix.
Outside of work, she can be found hanging out with Goose, her Great Dane while drinking tea in puddles of sunshine in her garden or planning her next travel adventure.
contact Tracey: email
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Jeremy isn't just a consultant—he's your entrepreneurial wingman, your confidant in the journey of building something remarkable.
After 20 years navigating the hustle and bustle of Perth, he traded it all for the serene landscapes of Albany in 2023, chasing greener pastures and the promise of a Great Southern lifestyle.
With nearly 40 years of professional experience and a resume boasting personal involvement in seven start-ups across Australia and the USA, Jeremy brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, alongside a burning passion to see individuals succeed in their business endeavours.
"I'm more than just a consultant," Jeremy insists with a twinkle in his eye. "I'm a cheerleader for your dreams and a problem-solver for your business woes."
With a background as an academic at Curtin University, where he rose to a top 2% global scientist ranking, Jeremy's expertise is unmatched. His students consistently rated him as one of the leading lecturers and curriculum developers, particularly in MBA and executive education programs focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, international business, strategy, and sustainability.
"When I see someone with a spark of an idea, I can't help but jump in with both feet," Jeremy admits with a grin. "Helping entrepreneurs bring their visions to life is what gets me out of bed in the morning." With Jeremy in your corner, you're not just getting a consultant—you're gaining a partner who's as invested in your success as you are.
contact Jeremy: email
our amazing trainers and facilitators
Stress Management and coping mechanisms
Sumer Addy
Martha Barnard-Rae
SEO and Copywriting
Nicola Edwards
Branding and Marketing
Jenny Feast
Photography for your business
Jessica Kinder
Xero, MYOB and all things bookkeeping
Anthony and Kamilla
Website, SEO and online marketing
Cyber Security
Dave Rowley
Mark Shenton
Increasing your business, Social Media, AI, Canva…plus more
Business Start-Up, Growth, Budgeting, Updates and more
Christine Grogan
Grants, Governance and Strategic Planning
Richard Keeler
Business Tax Planning
Erin Quartermaine
Excel, invoicing, and cost management
Ben Wrobel
our board
Christine Grogan
Jeremy Stewart
chair
deputy chair
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Chair
Christine has nearly four decades of experience in a diversity of state and local government positions in both the UK and WA.
She joined the Albany Business Centre board in 2017 and following terms as deputy chair in 2019 and 2020, she moved into the position of chair in 2021.
A self-employed consultant holding a Master of Business Administration, Christine is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Institute of Community Directors Australia.
Her areas of expertise include project management, corporate management, board governance, strategic planning, grants management and policy development.
A resident of Albany for 29 years, Christine is a passionate supporter of small business and the not-for-profit sector, believing they are the backbone of regional communities.
Christine joined the board as an opportunity to give back to the community in a voluntary capacity while continuing to gain informed insight on the health of the region’s economy and its communities.
Her membership of the board helps Christine to keep abreast of local and national business trends, and she enjoys working alongside the purposeful, dedicated and talented team of centre employees and board members.
In her consultancy position, Christine works with a diversity of other businesses and organisations and is a governance advisor for the Albany Community Foundation. contact Christine by email
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Deputy Chair
Jeremy, who joined the board of Albany Business Centre in 2010, holds the position of deputy chair.
He has worked in real estate since 2003 and became a director of Merrifield Real Estate in Albany in 2008.
He has more than 25 years’ experience on the boards and committees of not-for-profit, sporting and community organisations.
In line with his ethos of charity starting at home, Jeremy is a co-founder of the Albany Community Foundation, of which he is currently Vice Chairperson, and a director of Albany Finance.
A keen cricketer, Jeremy is also president of the Manypeaks Cricket Club, of which he has been awarded life membership.
For his dedication to supporting the Albany community, and particularly people in need, he was named Albany Citizen of the Year in 2021.
A graduate of Curtin Business School, Jeremy helps to guide young people to rewarding careers and lives through his mentoring of year 10 students at St Joseph’s College.
By serving on the board of the Albany Business Centre, Jeremy gains an insight into business from a perspective different to the one he deals with daily in real estate.
He is particularly interested in start-ups and the relations between small businesses and government departments, and enjoys being a part of a board with like-minded members.
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Treasurer
A certified practicing accounting and director of Albany firm Dew Dallimore since 2011, Ben Wrobel has also worked in public practice accounting for the past 23 years.
Albany-born Ben is passionate about the continued advancement and growth of the local business community, which is demonstrated by his commitment to the Albany Business Centre board, on which he has served as treasurer since joining more than a decade ago.
A keen cricketer for many years, he is a life member of Collingwood Park Cricket Club, where his years on the club board have included terms as president and treasurer.
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Secretary
Bev joined the Albany Business Centre board in 2015 and has served as secretary since 2018.
She has more than 20 years’ experience in small business operation in the UK and Australia, and 23 years in journalism, marketing and management in New Zealand and Albany.
In addition to self-employment, Bev has worked in the private sector and with the New Zealand and Western Australian governments, in positions with an emphasis on governance and processes.
Now retired from full-time employment, she still operates a small copywriting business.
Bev is an advocate for small business and the rewards, opportunities and autonomy operators enjoy, while understanding the challenges they face.
She joined the board to share her skills and support the valuable service the centre provides to small businesses throughout the region, and is rewarded by the centre’s strong performance and its part in helping to strengthen commercial sectors in regional communities.
treasurer
secretary
Ben Wrobel
Bev Baxter
Alison Steer
David Rowley
board member
board member
board member
Doug Grant
Lee Sounness
board member
Mark Forrest
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Board Member
As a small business owner, Alison Steer brings valuable professional and personal experience to the Albany Business Centre board.
Alison is a full-time optometrist running an independent practice employing seven staff.
Having lived in the Albany region for many years, she has a wealth of local knowledge, developed through her extensive business and social networks.
She has served on the board for more than 15 years, during which time she has held the positions of chair and secretary.
Alison takes pride in the progressive operation of the centre as well as its influence on the prosperity of small businesses and the local economy.
Demonstrating her commitment to community support, she is an ongoing sponsor of numerous local charities and sporting groups.
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Board Member
David and his family emigrated from the UK in 2006 and upon arrival, immediately started using the services of Albany Business Centre. He was invited to join the board in 2009 and has remained an active member since then.
David is a director of two businesses in the Great Southern, one specialising in IT service, the other a telecommunications business. While in the UK, he worked as a software developer and ICT consultant for several high-profile companies.
He enjoys working in the regions and travels across the Great Southern to many of the regional centres. Having worked in large corporations, he found he enjoys more the interaction with small business where the passion to excel runs higher and where a thriving business community benefits all.
When not in the office, David loves being outdoors, camping and watching waves from the beach. He also developed a passion for aviation and began flying lessons in 2019, gaining his licence in 2020.
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Board Member
With more than 35 years’ experience in business management, Doug brings his expertise to the board of the Albany Business Centre to support the environment where small business can find help for sustained growth and success.
Doug, a warehouse manager, has served on the board twice since 2015.
Having leadership and management experience with the Albany Woollen Mills and Bunnings, Doug also holds an Advanced Diploma of Retail Management.
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Board Member
Lee Sounness brings seven years of experience as a former small business owner to the Albany Business Centre board.
Currently Director of Regional Development with the Great Southern Development Commission, he also served for five years as Director Corporate and Community Services with the Shire of Denmark.
Lee holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Project Management and a Bachelor of Business.
He took the opportunity to join the board in 2023 to make a socially responsible contribution to the community and impact the centre’s strategic direction.
With values of integrity, honesty and fairness to benefit the direction of the centre, Lee expects to gain personal rewards of leadership development and better decision making from his service on the board.
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Board Member
Mark is Export Market Development Manager for the Great Southern Wines Producers Association and Business Development Manager for Outdoors Great Southern.
He holds a Bachelor of Business from Curtin University, majoring in marketing.
Mark has worked extensively in the retail sector including senior business development management and state management positions with Coles Online/Wesfarmers, Myer, David Jones and Goldmark Jewellers.
More recently, he has occupied senior executive and management consulting roles in the not-for-profit sector, for community service organisations and disability enterprises including Westcare, Ability Centre, Wesley Mission and Ronald McDonald House.
He has also worked in training delivery and course development for the Australian Institute of Management, the WA Chamber of Commerce and Monash University.
board member
about us
The Albany Enterprise Group Incorporated (AEG) is a not-for-profit organisation which provides guidance and assistance to individuals wanting to start a small business, and support to those with an established small business.
The AEG trades under the name Albany Business Centre and provides business advisory services across the Great Southern region which comprises the following 11 local government authorities:
City of Albany
Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup
Shire of Cranbrook
Shire of Denmark
Shire of Gnowangerup
Shire of Jerramungup
Shire of Katanning
Shire of Kojonup
Shire of Kent
Shire of Plantagenet
Shire of Woodanilling
The AEG is overseen by a board of management comprising local individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to improve small business within the community. They oversee the strategic direction of the AEG and ensure compliance with legal obligations. The CEO reports directly to the board; other staff report to the CEO.
The chair of the AEG Board can be contacted via email