Ipswich’s most influential young entrepreneurs, athletes revealed

From entrepreneurs to athletes, which under 25 is having the biggest impact on the Ipswich community? VOTE ON OUR LIST

Ipswich’s Rising Stars

From professional athletes, small business owners and entrepreneurs to community advocates and big-hearted volunteers, Ipswich has plenty of talented and inspirational young people.

With a drive for success and a willingness to help others, these local young guns are making their mark on our region and beyond.

The Queensland Times has listed talented community members 25 or under who are using their influence and skills to succeed.

Find out who they are and then scroll to the bottom of the list to tell us who you believe is having the biggest influence on the region.

See the list in alphabetical order below:

Amanda McCallum.

Amanda McCallum, 22

Ms McCallum is a qualified dog behaviourist and started her business, Tricks N‘ Treats Training, two years ago.

It helps rehabilitate dogs with issues from separation anxiety to fear, aggression or simply getting too excited.

She also volunteers as an on-call behaviourist for DARE inc. Rescue group to help foster carers rehabilitate behaviour cases so dogs can go on to be adopted.

In 2018, Ms McCallum started as a volunteer with RSPCA Wacol where she realised her passion was helping tame naughty dogs.

She has big future plans for her full-time business and to help dogs which may be considered misunderstood.

“I hope to one day establish a centre for behaviour and training where we can study lesser known dog behaviour disorders like Canine Compulsive Disorder,” she said.

Anneke Simpson.

Anneke Simpson, 18

The talented teen is a MMA representative and coach at Cadoo Martial Arts in North Ipswich.

She has a love for helping others and this is evident through her love for coaching the young “cubs’’ at her club.

The St Mary’s alumni is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Southern Queensland.
Next year she hopes to join the Navy, through the Australian Defence Force Academy.

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Brock Compton.

Brock Compton, 17

The Ambrose Treacy College student recently had the chance to embrace his Indigenous heritage at the Repco supercars championship.

The hardworking North Booval resident has had his dreams come true after his artwork, ‘Spirit of the Driver,’ was chosen as Red Bull Ampol Racing’s 2023 Indigenous livery.

Brock is apart of the Clontarf Academy, which operates to improve the education, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men through academies in schools across Australia.

Brock juggles part time work, school studies and is completing his carpentry apprenticeship.

He hopes to one day own his own business.

Carly Grieve.

Carly Grieve, 18

The 2022 Ipswich Girls’ Grammar Head Girl has aspirations to inspire younger generations through her studies in primary education at The University of Queensland.

She has wanted to be a teacher since she was in primary school and loves helping her community.

Along with the other 2022 IGGS Head Girl, Eliza Carniel, she raised more than $3000 for the Cancer Council Queensland by cycling 161km along the Brisbane Valley rail trail to Yarraman last summer.

She is also a proud third-generation steward, volunteers her time to help at the Ipswich Show and the Ekka.

Ms Grieve was the IGGS 2022 Sportswoman of the Year and coaches tennis, badminton and touch football at her old school.

Charles Kimmorley.

Charles Kimmorley, 24

Charles Kimmorley is the number one realtor in the Ipswich and greater Ipswich region — and he’s only 24.

His rise in the real estate world is remarkable as well for someone who has only been in the field for a mere four years.

In the past 12 months, as a director and sole agent of his NGU franchise, he has sold more than $55 million dollars worth of Ipswich real estate.

Mr Kimmorley is a proud Ipswich local and attended Ipswich Boys Grammar school before completing his Bachelor in International Business at the Queensland University of Technology.

Through his undergraduate studies he completed an exchange to South America where he volunteered at local businesses.

For someone so young, Mr Kimmorley has achieved so much, but he attributes his success to the hard work of his parents.

“Watching their work ethic growing up and observing how they conducted their business has certainly steered me in the right direction,” he said.

“I was able to gain an understanding that to be successful in whatever path you choose, you need to work hard for it.”

His advice for other young realtors was to network with those already in the field and practice patience.

“Finding an agent/mentor in the area that you would like to work in and reaching out to see if you can follow along in their footsteps to learn the basics of the industry,” he said.

“Key things to remember is that becoming successful in this industry takes patience, consistency and passion.

“It‘s a marathon, not a sprint.”

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Sunshine Coast Lightning Shooter Charlie Bell.

Charlie Bell, 22

If you know anything about netball you would know to keep an eye out for Charlie Bell, the Sunshine Coast Lightning’s star young gun shooter.

The talented goaler lived in Ipswich at a young age before moving to Brisbane to keep up with her late father David Bell’s work.

Her connection to the Ipswich netball community is immense as she was a founding member for the Ipswich Jets netball team, playing in the Hart Sapphire Series.

Although her spare time is limited she still makes an effort to give back to young netballers through coaching.

Bell is currently studying a Bachelor of Education at The University of Queensland.

She dreams of one day playing for the Australian Diamonds.

Chloe Nielson.

Chloe Nielson, 22

A women’s fitness advocate, owner and CEO of EVOLV Fitness Personal Training, Chloe Neilson has a passion for fitness and also helps inspire clients in group settings at Body Fit Training (BFT) in Ipswich.

Her business empowers like-minded women to ‘EVOLV’ through education, empowerment, and expansive health, fitness and mindset coaching.

She is consistently curating new ideas on how to grow her small business while working at BFT.

“My purpose is to give you the tools and education to help you live a healthy, maintainable lifestyle and EVOLV into the best version of you,” Ms Neilson said.

“I truly believe this is achievable through progressive strength training, fuelling your body with nutrient-dense foods, participating in healthy mindset practices and finetuning healthy lifestyle habits.”

You can keep up with Ms Neilson on Instagram.

Danika Connell.

Danika Connell, 18

Danika Connell combines her love for music and her first nations heritage to inspire those around her.

The Bremer State High Year 12 student is arts captain and has pursued every musical opportunity presented to her.

She has participated in the Instrumental Music program and her outstanding results secured her a spot in the Music Extension program during her final year.

Ms Connell constantly pushes herself outside her comfort zone, eagerly exploring new aspects of music performance, composition, and musicology.

She has recorded the national anthem in an Indigenous language for school assemblies and competed in the Battle of the Bands with her band Spire.

Ms Connell takes immense pride in her cultural heritage as a First Nations Woman, actively participating in the Indigenous Dance troupe and delivering performances at school events.

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Geraldine Lomas-Bonner.

Geraldine Lomas-Bonner, 16

An exceptional First Nations individual who proudly represents her heritage through rugby league, she had the privilege of performing at Suncorp Stadium with 150 other First Nations students during the NRL Indigenous Round.

She is one of Bremer State High’s rugby league academy captains and is very respected among the community.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Geraldine actively engages in various cultural activities.

Her involvement in programs like the Beyond the Broncos program demonstrates her commitment to embracing her Indigenous culture and fostering connections within the community.

Harmony-tree Hansen.

Harmony-tree Hansen, 18

Harmony-tree Hansen, a former Bremer State High School captain, graduated in 2022 as an exceptional student with a commitment to sustainability and making a difference.

She is dedicated to creating change and helping tackle environmental challenges.

She studies a dual degree in engineering and environmental sciences at Griffith University.

“I hope to grow and apply my skills, knowledge and passion to tackle environmental issues to contribute to a greener and more equitable future,” she said.

Isabella Parisi.

Isabella Parisi, 23

Isabella Parisi is a horse fanatic.

The 23-year-old has a condition called Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome (22q 11 deletion), but has not let that hold her back from chasing her dreams.

Ms Parisi has a special bond with horses and has been riding since she was seven.

Her passion for horses and dressage has resulted in her selection at the World Special Olympics.

She trains very hard each week by riding her four horses and attends weekly coaching lessons with her coach Gary Lung.

Ms Parisi is a state and national horse riding gold medalist.

To help fund her expedition to the World Special Olympics she started her small business Bella-Cavallo.

Izak Jamieson.

Izak Jamieson, 19

Izak jamieson is an eSafety Commissioner Youth Council Member, an opportunity given to only 24 young people across Australia.

A former The Springfield Anglican College College Captain, he provides valuable insight to inform policy and program design around online safety for youth.

He meets with representatives from Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat and the federal government to discuss their role in providing safe platforms for young Australians.

He also currently coaches the TSAC Titans eSports team.

Mr Jamieson is the 2023 recipient of the Jordan Electorate (Ipswich and Logan) Young Person of the Year Queensland Day Award for his community service.

He is studying Business, majoring in marketing at the Queensland University of Technology.

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Jacinta Markcrow.

Jacinta Markcrow, 25

Ms Markcrow runs two freelance businesses — a wedding photographer and cafe photographer and a graphic design company.

The 25-year-old loves getting the perfect unposed shot and believes this creates the best memories.

“I believe photography has the power to amplify voices and tell stories,” she said.

“Whether it’s a couple’s love story or a winding journey to self-love and acceptance … I am here for it all.

“I’m here to celebrate love in every form, for all genders and orientations.”

Ms Markcrow loves capturing the beauty behind someone’s perceived imperfections.

“I’m here to unwrite false truths and remind women they are works of art, even when the world may try to convince us otherwise.”

Jackson Weir-White.

Jackson Weir-White, 25

Mr Weir-White is an amateur Mixed Martial Arts and boxer and manages Cadoo Martial Arts in Ipswich.

A former rugby league player, he represented the Queensland Indigenous team and was under a junior contract to the North QLD Cowboys NRL side before injuries ended his footy dream.

At age 20 he began a fighting career and is currently an amateur MMA athlete.

He is ranked 40th out of 102 active MMA Australian and New Zealand Middleweights.

Not only is he an impressive fighter himself, Weir-White has helped his club succeed.

Cadoo Martial Arts placed first at this year’s Ipswich Open jujitsu Competition and three aspiring MMA fighters debuted under his wing.

He coaches all age groups from four-years-old through to adult classes.

One day he hopes to own his own MMA club to help inspire the next generation.

Mr Weir-White said he loved selling out crowds for his fights.

“I pride myself on being an entertaining athlete and someone that everyone wants to come and see,” he said.

“Show up to training consistently, listen to your coaches and trust the process – most importantly believe in yourself.

“I think my inspiration comes from how hard people in my family have worked to create opportunities for themselves and their children.

“Seeing the everyday battles that my family and the community has to face on a day-to-day basis really inspires me to show up and put my best effort forward day in and day out.”

Joshua Poole. Picture: Jessica Baker

Joshua Poole, 23

A successful small business owner at Haigslea, he has been a favourite with Ipswich residents since 2017 who frequent his coffee van.

He opened Coffee by Josh after completing a hospitality course in high school.

He has since built a loyal following of more than 20,000 Facebook fans, with many regular customers.

Mr Poole has an intellectual impairment and finds working at the coffee shop allows him to socialise comfortably.

He hoped to inspire other young hopefuls to never give up their dreams and reminded them to continuously work hard.

“Just try your hardest to chase your dreams,” he said.

You can keep up with Mr Poole on Facebook and test out his coffee shop between 7am and 11am Wednesday, 8am and 11am Thursday, 7am and 11am Friday, or 8am and 12pm Saturday.

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Lacey Kennedy.

Lacey Kennedy, 16

The St Mary’s College cricketer played in the under 23s Brisbane Premier League competition and over summer made her first grade debut for the Ipswich Hornets at just 16 years of age.

“My two biggest achievements to date are having the privilege to not only make my first-grade debut, but to continuously have the opportunity to play every week in first grade,” she said.

“My second biggest achievement is representing Southern Blaze three times, with my last and most recent state champs being my most successful.”

Kennedy is completing a her level one cricketing coaching course and helps at the Girls Hub at Bundamba Strollers Cricket Club.

Her cricketing journey started at 10 when she was inspired by her older brother.

“My brother has impacted my game and how I perform each week,’’ she said.

“He’s done this by throwing thousands of balls to me in the nets over the past four years.

“ If it wasn’t for him, I most certainly wouldn’t be where I am today – and definitely wouldn’t be playing.”

Maynah Borja-Erece.

Maynah Borja-Erece, 21

The budding author hopes that through her writing she can share the untold stories of humanity.

The 21-year-old is an exceptional advocate for multicultural Australia and with her bother Jozef co-authored Three Worlds, a historical fiction novel that takes the reader through human nature, across three generations.

The siblings were finalists in the 2023 7 NEWS Young Achiever Awards Queensland in the Multicultural Australia Spirit of Resilience category for their work organising The Grand Autumn Festival in Springfield, celebrating the diverse community within Ipswich.

Ms Borja-Erece is also an artist, choreographer and university scholar and leans into her training from the Royal Academy of Dance to pursue and facilitate her many other responsibilities.

In 2019, the young novelist was a speaker at the 2019 World Conference of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children at Vanderbilt University in the US.

She completed a dual degree in arts and science with first class honours at the University of Southern Queensland, where she was the recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship.

Paulina Schuuman.

Paulina Schuuman, 18

With 43,010 monthly Spotify listeners, Paulina is on track to becoming the next big thing in music.

Her most people Spotify song MINDGAMES – (JYRYMY REMIX) has over two million streams and is a certified techno-pop bop.

Schuuman started playing guitar and singing at a young age, following in her Dad’s musical footsteps.

She has been in the studio creating music since 2019, three months after a workshop at Ipswich’s studio 188 with I Heart Songwriting Club.

The Ipswich Girls Grammar 2022 graduate was born in Hamburg, Germany and got the chance to record her EP in Lisbon, Portugal.

Schuuman is not currently signed to a record label but says she has the best manager in the world her mum, Nicole.

“We always say she’s like my Kris Jenner 2.0,” she said.

“We are not billionaires yet.”

Her musical influences include Tracy Chapman, Raye and Amy Winehouse.

Next year, she will pursue a Bachelor of Music at the Queensland University of Technology.

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Savannah La Rain.

Savannah La Rain, 18

The stars are shining bright for Savannah La Rain, an up-and-coming young actor.

Rain graduated from high school in 2022 through distance education.

She is slowly on her way to mastering dancing, singing and acting.

While the media industry was shutting down during the 2019 Covid pandemic, Rain’s acting career was taking off with several roles for major studios like Netflix, Disney and Universal.

You can catch the young actor in her lead roles in Bhodi in Surviving Summer, Ash Ash in Ocean Boy/Bosch & Rockit and in her upcoming role as JJ in an unrealised Universal feature film.

Rain is a hardworking teenager averaging a 70-hour work week during production months.

She fell in love with the busy lifestyle at eight years old after being cast in her first short film in Ipswich.

Although her sport career has taken a step back she was cast on Disney Plus’ BIG SHOT as Kate alongside John Stamos from her past basketball Ipswich representative experience.

Sinalofa Mulitalo.

Sinalofa Mulitalo, 13

The current junior girls basketball captain at Bremer State High, she also represents the U14 Ipswich Force and contributes to the triumphant CISSSA and Metro winning girls 2023 basketball team.

Sinalofa‘s dedication to her sport extends beyond her own achievements. She referees and coaches basketball each week, offering support to all Bremer State High teams.

Recognised as a promising young athlete, she is a valued member of the high-performance academy.

The 13-year-old’s unwavering commitment and hard work make her an inspiring role model.

Vana Hobson.

Vana Hobson, 16

Vana Hobson is an athletic force to be reckoned with.

She is one of the girls rugby league captains at Bremer State High and exudes leadership qualities helping drive her team to success.

The 16-year-old is known throughout her school for her athleticism and studious work ethic as a Bremer high-performance Academy athlete.

Vana has her sights set for the National Rugby League Women’s competition, something which she knows will require a relentless determination.

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William Hartley.

William Hartley, 18

Bundamba State Secondary College 2022 School Captain William Hartley is a proud advocate for Ipswich’s youth.

Last year, he was elected as the youth member for Ipswich, and worked hard to develop the Housing Affordability and Accessibility Youth Bill in 2022.

At 15 years old, Mr Hartley founded the Bundamba Post newspaper, with a vision of inspiring students by promoting the stories of remarkable and accomplished individuals.

He has met and spoken with several Queensland leaders to discuss Ipswich’s youth, most notably, Mayor of Ipswich Teresa Harding, Shayne Neumann MP, Scott Morrison MP, and David Hurley Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

After leaving high school, Hartley was invited to write for Ipswich News Today, as a Youth Affairs Writer and said he enjoys learning as much as possible from his interviewees.

Ipswich, QAS and Queensland under-21 hockey representative Zac Profke. Picture: David Lems

Zac Profke, 21

Zac Profke is a proud Ipswich local with a passion for all things hockey.

He will represent Australia at the Hockey 5’s World Cup Qualifiers at the Gold Coast this July, and represents Queensland in several indoor and outdoor tournament's across the nation.

As an elite level athlete, Profke does not get much down time but when he does he is helping out at his local club volunteering his valuable time.

To represent Queensland and Australia at his upcoming competitions Profke needs to raise $3,500.

“As you can imagine it is quite costly and all self funded,” said Profke in his GoFundMe post.

“I would love to attend both and continue my hockey journey at an elite level.

“Any donations that are received will be greatly appreciated will mean the world to me.”

You can donate to help Profke achieve his dreams through his GoFundMe.

Vote for your most influential Ipswich young gun under 25-years-old here:

Originally published as Ipswich’s most influential young entrepreneurs, athletes revealed