RDA Gold Coast

16/10/2026

👩‍💼What a Morning Celebrating Women in Business!👩‍💼🎉

RDA Gold Coast was delighted to host a table at the 2026 Gold Coast Women in Business Awards, celebrating the outstanding achievements, leadership and dedication of women shaping the future of our region.

As an Award Supporter, RDA Gold Coast is proud to recognise the innovation, talent and contributions of women across our local business community. These awards shine a light on the remarkable women driving growth, inspiring change and creating opportunities across the Gold Coast.

Congratulations to our guests on their well-deserved recognition:
🌟Peta Fielding for being the 2026 Diamond Star Honour recipient.

🌟Professor Stefanie Feih, our very own RDA Gold Coast Committee Member, on winning the Innovation, Technology, Advanced Manufacturing & Research Award 2026 category.

🌟Lisa Marsh for being a finalist in the Innovation, Technology, Advanced Manufacturing & Research Award 2026 category.

🌟Leanne Cohens and Judy McLennan for being the Awardees of Merit.

A special thank you to Karen Phillips for organising this wonderful annual event and for her ongoing advocacy for women in business. We also extend our thanks to all our guests for joining us to celebrate the achievements and contributions of these remarkable women.

Here’s to continuing to champion women in business and celebrating the people making a difference across the Gold Coast! 👏💛

14/10/2026

🏆RDA Gold Coast Chair Recognised as a Local Hero🏆

RDA Gold Coast proudly congratulates our Chair, Nick Scott, on receiving the Local Hero Award at the McPherson Honours Awards on Friday, 9 October 2026.

The McPherson Honours recognises outstanding individuals, volunteers, businesses, educators, sporting clubs and community organisations who make the southern Gold Coast such a wonderful place to live.

Through his leadership at RDA Gold Coast and his ongoing commitment to community service, Nick embodies the importance of collaboration, volunteering and local leadership in strengthening our region.

👏We are proud to see Nick’s efforts recognised and congratulate him on this well-deserved honour.

30/09/2026

🛠️Fully Funded Leadership Training for Queensland Manufacturers🛠️

Australian Industry Group, in partnership with Manufacturing Skills Queensland, is offering fully funded leadership training for eligible Queensland manufacturing businesses and employees.

The Supervisor Effectiveness program is designed specifically to support supervisors, leading hands and frontline managers in the manufacturing sector to strengthen their leadership capabilities and improve team and operational performance.

This practical, one-day workshop covers:
🔹 Effective frontline leadership
🔹 Change management
🔹 Continuous improvement
🔹 Team performance
🔹 Operational excellence

Workshop Details
📅Tuesday, 10 November 2026
🕘9.00am – 4.30pm
📍Surf Club Burleigh Heads
🎟️Register: https://www.australianindustrygroup.com.au/store/events/manufacturing-skills-queensland---excellence-series---supervisor-effectiveness10/

This one-day, face-to-face program equips supervisors, leading hands, and frontline managers with the essential leadership, change management, and continuous improvement skills required to drive team performance and operational excellence.   The course is highly practical.

24/09/2026

If Amazon called tomorrow, would you say yes?

RDA Gold Coast CEO, Estella Rodighiero, will take the stage at NEDC26 in Hobart this October for one of the conference’s returning highlights, The Great Economic Development Debate.

The debate will explore a critical question for economic development and investment attraction: should regions actively recruit and incentivise major multinational investment, from headquarters and logistics hubs to major facilities and data centres?

Estella will be arguing the case against.

Expect thoughtful perspectives, competing priorities and a robust discussion exploring the opportunities, risks and trade-offs associated with investment decisions of this scale.

To attend the NEDC26, visit here➡️ https://www.edaconference.com.au/

23/09/2026

🚨𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘: 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗔𝗬!🗣️

There’s still time to help shape the future of RDA Gold Coast.
If you’ve worked with or engaged with us, we want to hear from you.

⏰ Survey closes Monday, 5 October at 4.00pm AEST
📝 10–15 minutes could make a difference.

Your feedback will help us understand what’s working, where we can improve, and how we can continue supporting the Gold Coast community, businesses and government.

👉 Complete the survey: https://artdconsultants.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a4eVZ2XH8PcvxpI?fbclid=IwY2xjawUgOZhwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTBmcVRGNkV5dGpaRFNFdjdzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeShVB_P_b7Rzz21J3X-h3MCANIVMX0kvQjGs6ZILIk8HSyo8RYqJDTIRjfpw_aem_HOc8If2NQw4cbL8eU618zg

📢 Don’t miss your chance to have your say. The deadline is fast approaching!

17/09/2026

🗣️Have your say and help shape the future of RDA Gold Coast🗣️

Have you worked with or engaged with RDA Gold Coast? We want to hear from you.

Link➡️ https://artdconsultants.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a4eVZ2XH8PcvxpI

The 2026 RDA Stakeholder Survey closes this coming Monday, 21 September 2026 4.00pm AEST, and we would be grateful if you could take 10 to 15 minutes to share your feedback. ⏰

Your feedback will help us understand what is working well, where we can strengthen our engagement and how we can continue supporting the Gold Coast community, businesses and government. 🤝📝

Your insights will also contribute to the Department of Infrastructure’s understanding of how the RDA program can continue to improve its management and delivery across Australia.

👏If you have already completed the survey, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.

If you haven’t yet participated, we warmly encourage you to have your say before the survey closes.

10/09/2026

🗣️HAVE YOUR SAY - The RDA Stakeholder Survey is closing soon!🗣️

If you haven’t completed it yet, now is the time to make your voice heard.

Your feedback will help shape how RDAs engage with business, community and government stakeholders across the national network.

⏰ DEADLINE: Monday, 21 September, 4.00pm AEST
📝 10–15 minutes could make a difference
👉 Complete the survey now: https://artdconsultants.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a4eVZ2XH8PcvxpI

Don’t miss your chance to have your voice!

10/09/2026

💼From Workforce to Prosperity: RDA Gold Coast at NEDC26💼

We’re pleased to share that RDA Gold Coast CEO, Estella Rodighiero, will be a moderator at the upcoming Economic Development Australia’s National Economic Development Conference, taking place 13–15 October 2026 in Hobart.

This year’s theme, Place to Prosperity: Innovation, Transition and Investment Attraction, will explore how regions can position themselves to prosper through economic transition — from leveraging innovation and attracting investment to building resilient, inclusive and future-ready local economies.

Estella will moderate the session Workforce as Economic Infrastructure, exploring the critical role workforce capability plays in regional economic prosperity.

The session will explore the risks behind economic success, SME succession, workforce systems for investment readiness, and the people powering economies beyond the traditional 9-to-5.

Estella is looking forward to contributing to the conversation and connecting with economic development leaders and practitioners from across Australia who are working to strengthen places, people and economies.

Conference registration here➡️ https://www.edaconference.com.au/

07/09/2026

🌏 Free investment readiness program opens for Gold Coast businesses🌏

Trade and Investment Queensland's Investment Ready Queensland program, commencing in early September 2026, will provide practical guidance for businesses exploring investment opportunities from domestic or international sources.

The free program is open to Queensland businesses of all sizes and is designed to help participants build the capability to navigate the investment journey with clarity and confidence.

Across three practical sessions, participants will gain valuable insights into what investors look for, how investment transactions work and what it takes to build credibility and confidence when seeking capital. ✍️💰

Module Date Details:
Module 1: Wednesday 9 September, 9.00am – 1.00pm
Module 2: Wednesday 30 September, 9.00am – 1.00pm
Module 3: Wednesday 21 October, 9.00am – 1.00pm

Register for the first three Investment Ready Queensland modules➡️ https://www.tiq.qld.gov.au/exporter-academy/investment-ready-queensland-program

See the full suite of Queensland Exporter Academy courses here➡️ https://www.tiq.qld.gov.au/exporter-academy/resource-hub

03/09/2026

💡From Milestones to Transformation💡

This Flashback Friday, we're revisiting Chapter 4 of RDA Gold Coast's special four-part Sustainability Spotlight Eco-Series.

Check out the last chapter here➡️ https://sustainablegoldcoast.org.au/sustainability-spotlight-neumann-steel/chapter-4

In the final episode of our Sustainability Spotlight series, RDA Gold Coast CEO Estella Rodighiero speaks with Filipe Santoni, Neumann Steel’s Environment & Sustainability Specialist, for a powerful wrap-up.

From major milestones to industry impact, discover how Neumann Steel is setting the benchmark and proving that environmental responsibility isn’t just achievable – its transformative.

👏 Special thanks to Dan Bowers from Bowerbird Media Group for creating the reel!