Proud Gold Coaster Karen Phillips wants Comm Games urgency, more pride and Disney-like happiness

A GOLD Coast mover and shaker is calling on the city to adopt a Disney-like approach to visitors.

PR Guru Karen Phillips at her Chevron Island stomping ground: ‘We must embrace change’ Picture: Glenn Hampson

Speaker, journalist, author, activist, business owner - Karen Phillips is a woman of many hats, worn well. She believes people are the Coast’s best asset and that their motivation and pride are vital as we approach 2018.

Bulletin chief reporter Kathleen Skene picks the brains of this week’s Think Tank candidate.

What do you love about the Gold Coast?

“The most amazing part of our city is certainly our biggest talent and that’s our people. Living in Surfers, I love being able to walk three minutes and I’m on the cleanest, most pristine, beautiful stretch of coastline in the world, I believe.

“Then in 30 minutes on a Saturday night I can be out looking at glow-worms — and I don’t need to be part of a tour to do that. When you look at what our city offers — the beach culture, the lifestyle, but more importantly its beating heart and that’s its people. We are resilient — in our city there is always hope of a better day and of better times ahead.”

PR Guru Karen Phillips at her Chevron Island stomping ground: ‘We must embrace change’ Picture: Glenn Hampson

What do you think could be done better on the Coast?

“We must embrace change and that comes from not just council, state government and our larger organisations. It’s actually up to all of us as individuals, as families, as small business operators, as corporations, to actually believe in the strength and beauty of our city and to focus on what we can do, as opposed to what everyone else should do.

“We do have a deadline, this is the best deadline any city could be given, to host something of such international magnitude (as the 2018 Commonwealth Games).

It’s about activating now — I think we can be a little bit slow. It’s not about waiting for the Games, it’s about taking ownership now and creating our own individual business, corporation, government drivers.

“We all have a lot of work to do between now and then.”

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In your travels, what have you seen being done elsewhere that you think can work here?

“My wish list for what works so well is the happiest place on earth and that’s Disneyland.

“Disneyland never stops — staff are not allowed to chew gum, they’re not allowed to lean against a pole, they’re not allowed to be seen eating or drinking on the job. They are customer focused, and they are always guest focused. When we look at our city, how do we welcome people, how do we showcase our home, what pride do we have in where we live?

“If someone looks lost, they don’t know where they’re going, they speak another language, how welcoming are we? I think the key strategy at Disneyland is for guests to feel comfortable.

“That goes for neighbours caring for neighbours, the service of small cafes — and it’s not just in our tourism areas.”

If money, time, laws and approvals were no issue, what is one big project you’d undertake today?

“If there’s one thing we could do it would be to have a city slogan: “A great place to visit, and the best place to learn, work and live.”

“Sometimes we need something as simple as a reason to be proud. That really sums up how I feel about our city, that’s the reason I’m here. Over the years of working in my industry in Australia and globally, I’m continually asked ‘why do you still live on the Gold Coast?’.

This is my city, I am proud to live here. People in southern states have their holiday house here but are then quick to throw a disparaging comment at the first opportunity. I’m proud to be here. If we all just stood up a little taller and shouted that across the rooftops.

“And if you’re not happy with the way the city is moving, vote the politicians out, vote the councillors out, if you’re not happy, organise a meeting — but don’t sit there as the complaining voice ...”

What are the conversations Gold Coast movers and shakers should be having?

“How do we form a united front? I think that’s a key conversation. The conversation should be positive and they should be strategy-driven as opposed to complaining festivals and finger-pointing. Positivity takes us forward.”