Speakers

Meet our wonderful speakers! Get Your Ticket Today!

Robert Li

Robert is a solutions engineer at WP Engine. He’s a recovering startup founder where he’s build crowdfunding and real estate marketing platforms, and he is a huge advocate for automating absolutely everything. He fully subscribes to the mantra of “laziness breeds efficiency”

Samuel Levy

Sam is a backend PHP developer who takes joy in exploring bad ideas with ridiculous code, and emerging with an elegant solution. He has spent almost 15 years in the industry, learning how to push the limits of what can (or should) be done with code.

Paul Luxford

Hi there, I’m Paul.

I do three things.

  1. I build WordPress websites for people
  2. I teach people how to use WordPress and
  3. I manage and maintain WordPress websites.

I run Gold Coast Business Websites, a business dedicated to building successful WordPress websites, hosting, website training and WPGeni which is a website care service.

Rajendra Zore

Rajendra Zore (Raj for short) started his career in risk assessment and management. Though it may sound intimidating, it was a natural fit for him to start several companies. He is currently the CMO of RunCloud as well as CEO of two of his own companies. One client described Raj as “a self-made man who is achieving in the world on his own terms.” 

Raj believes every small business and blogger should have an easy yet secure web hosting. He talks about small business, security, hosting, and so much more. He enjoys the exchange of knowledge that speaking affords.

When he’s not working or helping communities like adminining WordPress Groups, you can find Raj spending time with his family, cooking, trying new sports, appearing on podcasts, and, of course, binge-watching various series on digital platforms.

You can find him on Twitter at @rajendrazore and online at rajendrazore.com.

Alex Bishop

Alex James Bishop is a Senior Web Developer at Frame Creative, with a love for Modern PHP and bringing ideas from the ‘outside world’ into WordPress. As a senior developer Alex works extensively within client organisations, and uses his 10 years of experience across the entire stack to bring a wholistic and human-centric approach to their digital strategy. A long-time member of the Australian WordPress community and veteran of many WordCamps, Alex organises the South Australian chapter of the WordPress meetup community.

Tremayne Pendragon

Hi, I’m Tremayne, I started a digital consultancy business (Debatable) in Brisbane, while I’m studying my bachelors of computer science at CSU.I have been programming since high school, and have had to learn how I can make a living out of doing something I enjoyed doing.

To know me I a nutshell, I like naming random objects, I’m a dog person, and I’m spaced over tabs. I don’t really like clutter and bad coffee.

Jo Minney

Jo is a nearly-full-stack WordPress developer based (for now) in Perth, Western Australia. She is passionate about UX, data-driven decision making, cats and travel – not necessarily in that order. 

With a fairly bizarre WordPress origin story, Jo originally chose WP because she really, really likes SQL databases and liked the idea of a well-supported, open-source CMS that was built on one. She is now confident in, and even teaches, all of the front end coding languages used in WordPress, but still avoids PHP like the plague!

Jo is a lead mentor for Web Girls Perth, a volunteer organisation making coding and web careers more accessible for women, and the meetup coordinator for the Perth WordPress meetup. She is also a consultant with the Australian Small Business Advisory Service Digital Solutions Program that provides accessible advice and training to Aussie small business owners. 

She is easily recognisable by her bright purple hair and dorky glasses 🙂

Mel Telecican

My name is Mel Telecican and I help people make sense of email marketing automation. I specialise in helping businesses implement high-quality marketing automations in a non-techy, straightforward way so they can get more customers and keep them.

As someone who started with very few skills in this space – I’ve learned quickly with the help of user-friendly solutions like Elementor.

Rob Stinson

Rob is one of the cofounders of Block Lab as well as a team member of X-Company, a 100% remote development company with over 300 employees across 30+ countries.

Toni Livesey

I built my first website back in 1996 using nothing more than Notepad and a couple of HTML tutorials.

By 1998 I was heavily involved in affiliate marketing and I was becoming interested in e-Commerce. In 2003 I moved to Queensland with my partner and started my own web design business in Hervey Bay.

Since then I’ve built a lot of websites for clients in all types of business. I’ve also built a lot of online shops for everything from large fishing tackles businesses that sell tens of thousands of dollars of products across the world to small localised businesses that sell disposable nappies.

My partner and I have also run our own online shops and that experience has given me a rare insight into what shopping cart software is the easiest to use and offers the most features.

In the early days I used shopping cart programs such as osCommerce and ZenCart because they offered more than WooCommerce did but in the last few years WooCommerce has become my shopping cart of choice.

Last year I was approached by a trainer here in Queensland to write WordPress and WooCommerce training manuals for several State Government sponsored courses that are being run for indigenous groups in north Queensland.

Writing those manuals has given me even more insight into WooCommerce and the things that you can do with it and, now, I can’t see any other shopping cart that comes close to what WooCommerce offers … even in its basic form.

And it has been an ongoing project that has now grown into something much bigger as I develop more online training courses for that trainer as well as developing my own online training for people who want to get the most out of WooCommerce and all that it has to offer.

I also spend time solving other peoples’ problems with WordPress, WooCommerce and social media because I love a challenge. So if you have a problem with WordPress or WooCommerce let’s talk.

In my spare time I’m a wife, mother and stepmother to 10 and grandmother to more kids than I can count on my fingers and toes.

And you can blame my partner for my nickname. He introduced me to one his daughters as the “crazy lady” and the name stuck. 

Rua Haszard Morris

I love crafting audio, code, and celebrating nice user experiences. 

I’ve worked as a software engineer all my life, and become passionate about web tech and open source along the way. What I love about WordPress, code, or other tech is when it opens up new possibilities, and provides a platform for experimentation. I work for Automattic on WooCommerce.com.

Georgia Mountford

Georgia spends her days helping people bring their business to life online. Her career has followed an exciting and varied path through tech (design & development) and communications (writing, digital media & marketing) ever since she graduated with degrees in Journalism and IT. Georgia’s love for websites started long before WordPress ‘was a thing’ and her favourite projects are those that demand a mix of technical and creative skills. An avid Potter fan, she firmly believes that she and her fellow “computer people” are basically modern-day wizards who make magic by turning someone’s vision into reality. 

Wil Brown

Dad / WordPress Consultant / Developer / Conference Speaker and Organiser. Living in Sydney.

Marthie Talu

Marthie Talu has been running her own graphic and web design business called The Communication Bar for the past 5 years.   She loves to assist small to medium size businesses with their marketing and public relations requirements allowing them to concentrate on their core business. This includes graphic design, printing, marketing solutions, brainstorming, communication strategies, press release writing and event coordination.  She has created and runs a couple of online and offline community groups for small businesses and South African migrants in Qld, Australia.  This year she started to teach small business owners the finer points of having a website, empowering them to make informed decisions when creating and upgrading their business website.

Nik Cree

I Had A Dream!
To create an online business that I could set up in a week powered by coffee working in a cafe, then retire as millions of people came and bought my stuff while I spent the rest of life lying on the beaches of the world lapping up the riches that come from being an online entrepreneur.

… then …

I Had A Nightmare!
 All those online courses and gurus didn’t tell me how much work there is and who wants to take their laptop to the beach anyway?! I’m still working from a damn cafe!

… and then …

I Woke Up!
 I discovered WordPress, learnt how to code in another cafe from 6am – 10am before heading into a corporate cage to sell timeshare plans by phone to unwilling buyers. Thank God I got my first client who actually paid me some money to look after their website so I could walk away from the 10am – 4pm grind and enter a more the more fulfilling 6am – 2am world being the master of my own destiny freelancing as a WordPress Developer (still can understand how I got paid for the awful websites I laboured over before I figured stuff out?!).

… but …

Fast Forward 11 Years!
 That inauspicious start has morphed into a successful (imposter syndrome go away!) Online Marketing Agency working with business to create websites that work … meaning they get leads and enquiries to turn into customers. Along the way, I discovered some pretty cool tools and apps that helped in my business and now work with clients as well.

… lurking nearby …

You’ll Find Me!
I run the “Business Owners Smashing It Online” Meetup in the Gold Coast and Brisbane, moderate a Facebook group by the same name and co-host the Gold Coast WordPress Meetup. And … I think I’m starting to have a life, not quite on the beaches of the world but I do have some money to spend, time to hang out with my partner and kids (only if they want me too, as they in their teens and 20’s).

… seek me out …

Let’s Meet!
 If you think we have something in common, or even if you feel sorry for me, find me and have a chat. WARNING: I do drink coffee which can present as mild hyperactivity and apparently I am pre-vegan (i.e. I don’t eat meat but consume large quantities of gourmet cheeses and chocolate)!

Stephen Rees-Carter

Stephen is a senior developer at Wordfence, where he tries to frustrate attackers by helping to secure WordPress sites. During his time cleaning infected websites, he gained an appreciation for clever malware, layered obfuscation, and Harry Potter passages. When he’s not writing code or looking at malware, he can be found practising lock-picking and studying for his ethical hacker certification.

Ryan Kienstra

Ryan is a developer at XWP and Block Lab, focusing on large plugins and enterprise sites. His team at XWP has been working on the AMP Plugin for WordPress. And at Block Lab, his team is building a UI for custom Gutenberg blocks. Ryan also has 7 of his own plugins on WordPress.org.

Gal Baras

WordPress-loving online marketing consultant working with small businesses in Brisbane. The talk is based on experience and experiments with many websites

Ingrid Moyle

Ingrid Moyle is the Chief Web Wizard at Heart Harmony Communications, a web design agency in north Brisbane. A self-confessed multipotentialite, Ingrid shamelessly blends her passions of psychology, web design and copywriting to get small business owners online without the overwhelm.

When not hardwired to her computer, she quests for the perfect coffee while chasing virtual reality creatures across the backstreets of Brisbane.

Korryn Haines

Korryn Haines is an admin ninja with over 11 years’ experience working with a range of business owners. As the founder of Brisbane based business, Encore Admin Consulting, she provides virtual assistant and admin consulting services to micro and small businesses. When she’s not ninjaing business processes into shape, you’ll find Korryn sipping from a big pot tea after smashing out a BodyPump class, then hanging out with her young kids, hubby and lovable Cocker Spaniel.

Since starting Encore Admin Consulting in 2016, Korryn’s been recognised by a number of business awards including 2019 Australian Small Business Champion in Business Services (Finalist), 2019 Top 100 Anthill Cool Company Awards (Savvy Service Provider – Highly Commended), 2018 Business With Babies All-Star (Winner), 2018 Motivating Mum Best Web Presence (Nominee), and 2017 Motivating Mum Best Web Presence (Finalist).

Now offering more than simply Virtual Assistant services, Korryn’s knowledge of processes and ability to whip businesses into shape has seen her becoming a sought after admin consultant. Working with small businesses, Korryn audits processes and systems to help you gain clarity on what’s working, what’s not, and how to make your business run more efficiently. 

Katie Tilden

I run a consultancy, Two Sprouts Communications, specialising in content and communications. I’m a strategic thinker with a passion for communications. 

I’ve worked in media and government communications for 17 years. As a result I have a unique set of skills. I have tertiary qualifications in journalism and politics and extensive experience as a journalist, media advisor and communications and engagement expert. 

I work with government, education institutions and small to medium businesses and organisations. 

I’m a mum to two incredible little girls who keep me super busy. I like to bake, read, exercise and spend time with my favourite people including my husband and partner in crime. 

A quote that sums me up: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou.

Kate Toon

Kate Toon is a writing entrepreneur, as well as a popular coach, speaker, author and podcaster. Her digital education businesses The Recipe for SEO Success and The Clever Copywriting School have helped more than 8000 small business owners grapple the Google beast and write better content.

Nominated as SEMRush SEO Personality of the Year and AusPod’s Business Podcast of Year, 2 years running, Kate runs Australia’s only dedicated copywriting conference COPYCON. She presents at events around the world and runs several hugely successful Facebook groups.

Author of the Amazon Best Seller Confessions of a Misfit Entrepreneur: How to succeed in business despite yourself, Kate lives on the Central Coast of Sydney City, where she loves wandering on the beach with her son and her CFO (Chief Furry Office-dog) Pomplemousse.

Tony Cosentino

I have been a WordPress developer since 2008 building for the SMB space as a freelancer based in Sydney. I’ve always been better at finding reliable plugins and themes than writing php or javascript code so please forgive me for that up front. I went to my first WordCamp in New Zealand in 2011 followed by WC Melbourne in the same month and was totally hooked. 

I loved the WordPress community that I met that week-end and continued to attend and speak at the odd WordCamp and WordPress Meetup since then. 

My latest passion is doing website health checks to give any WordPress website a thorough checkup for the owner or even a developer for a 2nd set of eyes sanity check. 

With the rise of voice gadgets and podcast uptake I have also turned my mind to podcasting and producing podcasts for some of my WordPress clients as an add-on offering, or maybe its an excuse to geek out about more gadgets, only time will tell.

I continue to love building and supporting WordPress websites, doing health checks for website owners and developers, providing long term support and podcast editing and production.

Phillip Johnson

Phillip is the Head of Client Web Development at Bolster. He has been working in web development for 10 years and now specialises on music, festival and event websites. Most recently he has moved back to Brisbane to start up a Bolster Brisbane team.

Jen Jeavons

Jen Jeavons is Managing Director of Pixel Palace, a serial entrepreneur and award-winning singer/songwriter – so probably not the best person to challenge at a drunken karaoke night. Jen founded Pixel Palace (a digital design agency in Brisbane specialising in custom WordPress and Strategic Marketing) in 2009 and today works as the company’s managing & creative director. With a successful creative career path spanning the music industry, fashion, web & digital design and budding coffee empire, her colourful lifepath has given her valuable insights that she’s passionate about sharing.  

Cameron Jones

Cameron Jones is the founder of the premium plugin store Mongoose Marketplace, best known for the Mongoose Page Plugin used by more than 30,000 WordPress websites. He lives on the Gold Coast, plays for AFL and cricket clubs and takes care of a very hungry teenager.

Luke Carbis

Luke Carbis is a self-deputised open-source emissary and plenipotentiary for WordPress proletariat affairs. He works closely with WordPress based startups (like Block Lab) to fast-track their growth and inspire beautifully written code.