Who's Who

The Schmooze team is made up of a mix of enthusiastic volunteers and professionals who provide the vital expertise to make the network happen.  It’s their job to design and run the events, make everyone feel welcome and provide the enthusiasm and great ideas!

To contact any of the team please call 6243 3698 during business hours, or email us at info@schmooze.net.au and we'll direct your enquiry.

Phillip Jones, Founder & Director

Phillip founded Schmooze in 2003 to create a collaborative environment for colleagues and friends to develop their careers and businesses, and have a great time in the process. 

In addition to this company he also has consultancy firm which offers a mix of strategic advice focused on communications, inter-personal business relations and the development of social and professional networks.

He's also invited to speak regularly or present training on professional networks. In addition, with his extensive range of contacts he can also be engaged to facilitate professional introductions.

You can view his professional website here. In his spare time he loves to read philosophy, military history and the New Yorker magazine etc etc.   He often brings our mascot Harry the terrier along to meetings (he loves to help).

He also loves to add & subtract from his wine cellar and perfecting his martinis!

You can contact Phillip via email or call 6243 3698 during business hours.
 

Donna alexander, members relations manager

Donna is a marketing professional who is completing her Bachelor of Psychology and Business. She also works for growing IT firm, Connexxion as the Marketing Manager.

Her role at Schmooze is the new position of Members Relations Manager. Donna helps ensures members maximise the promotional opportunities for their businesses and professional development.

She also assists new and existing members to gain full benefit from the comprehensive range of services and events we offer.

So if you've a question about membership, thinking of joining, or want to know how to make the most of your membership, please get in touch with Donna to arrange a personal consultation via email: donna@schmooze.net.au

Susan Miller, Personal Assistant to Phillip Jones

Susan assist's Phillip with all the enquiries and events for Schmooze.She'll be the first point of contact usually for things like RSVPs for events, and general enquiries.

She also the PR & Marketing Coordinator for Servcorp Canberra and Barton locations. Servcorp offers the world’s finest serviced and virtual office solutions.

Our office IT solutions enable companies of any size to operate with the corporate presence, IT infrastructure and support of a multi-national organisation, without having the associated overheads normally required to do so.

Before starting with Servcorp I lived in London for 18 months working for a not-for-profit housing association. She also travelled through Europe and the USA before coming back to the Aussie sunshine.

Susan also serves on the SYPG Council.

Susan can be contacted on 6243 3698 during business hours. 

SYPG Council

The SYPG Council is made up of volunteers who serve for six months in return for professional development and mentoring.

Each member of the Council manages key stakeholder relationships and is responsible for staging on SYPG event during their service, together they develop and manage the SYPG and SYEG.

Casey Hamilton, Chair, SYPG Council & ACT Public Sector grads relations

 
Having recently graduated with degrees in psychology and linguistics, Casey completed a Summer Clerkship in the Attorney General's Department. SheI then took a position with the Australian Medical Council in the Accreditation of Specialist Medical Colleges team.

Casey is the leader of the SYPG and their spokesperson, you can find out more about her in our featured interview here.

You can read more about the SYPG here and the Council on this page.  To find out more about the SYPG please contact Casey via email.

Jennifer Ralph, Deputy Chair, SYPG Council &  NOT FOR PROFIT SECTOR RELATIONS

While completing of Bachelors’ of Communication- Advertising and Marketing at the University of Canberra she worked for Prime Television in the traffic department.

Jennifer has just recently returned from a year abroad in Chicago working for It’s Just Lunch- a dating service for busy professionals.

Jennifer has returned to Canberra to complete her Masters in Communication and works on the SYPG Council assisting Casey and all the team in developing its program and running their events.

Claire Shannon, SYPG Council: PRIVATE SECTOR RELATIONS

Claire Shannon graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Applied Economics and a Bachelor of Communication (Advertising and Marketing) in 2008. Currently she works for George Patterson Y&R Canberra in the account service team.

Claire enjoys working in a fast-paced, dynamic and challenging environment, within a team that crosses state borders. She also has a passion for travelling, particularly in Asia, and has recently returned from a trip in Thailand. She is looking forward to the year ahead working for the SPYG Council.

James Nikoladis,Schmooze Young Entrepreneurs Group coordinator

James graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor Degree in IT Information Systems. He also completed Certificate 3, 4 and a Diploma in IT Software Development at Canberra Institute of Technology.  James has been working within the IT industry since 2002. He began as a sole trader running his own IT support business and then moved on to become the Director of Compexpress - a company offering IT support and computer systems to small to medium businesses.

James then joined Canopy IT in 2005 as Director and additionally fulfilled the operational roles of business administration, senior technician and finance manager. James now spends the majority of his time in the role of Executive Director and Relationship Manager at HRMWeb.

James is passionate about using the knowledge he has gained working with, and within, many businesses to mentor those involved in running their own businesses to ensure they conduct their day to day tasks in the most efficient manner.

He began working life doing the local paper round – an occupation he attributes to teaching him a good work ethic, the value of money and how to combine something you love (bike riding) with earning a living.  Read more about the SYEG here.

Lisa Murray, SYPG Council: Public Sector Young Professional Relations

After graduation Lisa worked for a chemical manufacturer in a sales and marketing capacity travelling throughout the island of Ireland gathering market intelligence and marketing a training DVD to Hotels and Restaurants.

She then worked for the Department of Health and Social Services for two years as a Public relations officer promoting and organising health related events, organising informational booklets and dvd's, and providing a variety of public relations services for a number of different health departments.

Campaigns included fostering and adoption awareness, building of a new hospital, promotion of a new midwifery led unit, Mental health awareness week etc. Lisa then moved to Boston, MA to manage the public relations and advertising department for Invest Northern Ireland's US headquarters. Her remit was to promote Northern Ireland as a business destination to the financial services, life sciences/ medical devices and Information technology sectors.

She also managed the stakeholder relations and liaised directly with the consulates and US administration on the many ministerial visits to the US.

Megan Cook, SYPG Council: CIT STUDENT AND FASHION SECTOR RELATIONS

In 2005 Megan completed a Bachelor of Design, Fashion Design at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Since then she has worked as a Recruitment Consultant, Studio Assistant and Fashion Stylist.

Megan has over 5 years experience in fashion styling, personal shopping, merchandising and assisting with event coordination.

She travelled to Sydney to be the Chief Stylist for a Westfield fashion launch and has also merchandised mannequin displays. She is currently working for Pink Inc boutique in Braddon where she assists with styling, creative visual merchandising and sales.

At present Megan is launching her own vintage collection at itrip iskip.

She believes that every day should be treated like a special occasion... Use the nice tea cups, wear the pretty dress and surround yourself with people and special pieces that bring your life joy.

Nidhi Joshi, MARKETING/PR INTERN

At any one time, Schmooze hosts an intern who work with us for a six week project as part of their degree.

Nidhi is an international student from Nigeria, currently completing my Bachelor of Commerce (International Business) and Bachelor of Advertising and Marketing Communication at University of Canberra.

At present, she is working with the Australia India Business Council and as a freelancer with Response Driven Marketing. She is actively involved in student groups on campus and has assisted with co-ordinating various events, both on and off campus, the most recent being India in the City for the National Multicultural Festival.

She was also recently chosen as an International Student Ambassador by the ACT Government to represent Canberra and its educational institutions.

She applied for an internship with Schmooze looking to learn from the skilled professionals that are involved with the organisation. Nidhi also hopes to be able to value-add to their network by increasing international student involvement and adding a new dimension to Schmooze.

STUART COOK, SYPG COUNCIL & ANU STUDENT RELATIONS

Stuart dedicates himself to assisting anyone who is in need of help. Intent on developing his charity work, Stuart is a member of both Rotary and Junior Chamber International. At Sydney District level he has contributed in these organisations to long-term strategy for membership growth and succession planning.

Currently Stuart is the Chief Executive Officer of the fast growing Mexican Fresh Mex Grill – Zambrero, experiencing success and expansion both in Canberra, Sydney and Adelaide.

His other role as a director of the Emagine Foundation, a foundation set up by Canberra’s own Dr Sam Prince, is to coordinate and manage projects and develop and maintain industry partners. Stuart has over the last 12 months worked on projects in Sri Lanka, Vietnam and here in Australia.

Stuart has a strong background in the management of projects and events and is looking forward to this new challenge of working with the amazing individuals already working with the SYPG Council.

TIFfany Hart, SYPG Council: CREATIVE AND CULTURAL SECTOR Relations

Tiffany is a multi skilled, diapason people person. Shs is currently advising and coordinating a UK fitness industry based music label called FP Music. She works as a Group Fitness Instructor, Dance Teacher and Massage Therapist out of many different health studios around Canberra.  Tiffany is also currently developing blue ocean strategies designing new creative business opportunities for a sunrise company in the Health and Wellbeing sector.

She is also studying full time in a Bachelor of Communications in Advertising and Marketing and a Bachelor of International Studies majoring Spanish at the University of Canberra.

She recently returned to Canberra from a two and a half year overseas adventure, working in the US, UK and France. and loves travel, cultural activities, jazz and meeting new people.