Helen Martin
Nhulunbuy
Summary
Helen is a highly experienced professional with 20 years of entrepreneurial success in founding and managing a sustainable tourism business Banubanu Beach Retreat, Bremer Island in North East Arnhem Land. Prior to business venture, Helen spent 17 years working with the Federal Government, primarily focused on remote Aboriginal communities in North West Australia and the Northern Territory. Strategic-thinking individual experienced in turning low-performing organizations into top revenue producers. Offering engaging and pleasant personality with expertise improving customer relationships. Organised and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
IBA Appointed Director
Ikara Wilpena Enterprises Pty Ltd
01.2021 - Current
- Serves as IBA appointed director
- Worked closely with organisation leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
- Monitored expenditures to mitigate risk of overages.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and effectively targeting new markets.
- Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.
Managing Director
Banubanu Beach Retreat
05.2005 - Current
- Founded and managed sustainable tourism business
- Designed and delivered client-defined systems and processes with tools and databases.
- Applied implementation process methodology to advance business objectives.
- Established and managed activities towards project milestones.
- Provided business process re-engineering recommendations to achieve successful account conversion.
- Participated in formal hand-off of projects and initiatives to other departments.
- Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
- Led development of comprehensive business plan to maximise profitability and company performance.
- Implemented process improvement to shape organisational culture, optimise procedures for higher efficiency and help company evolve and grow.
- Devised and implemented innovative and marketing campaigns to promote products and services.
- Prepared annual budgets with controls to prevent overages.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
Deputy Chair
National Indigenous Tourism Advisory Group
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Served as Deputy Chair
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Identified issues, analysed information and provided solutions to problems.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
Commissioner
Board of Commissioners, Tourism Northern Territory
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Served as Commissioner
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
- Assisted in organising and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
Chairperson
NT Aboriginal Tourism Advisory Council
01.2015 - 01.2021
- Served as Chairperson
- Provided recommendations on board of directors on group's effectiveness, actions, and future plans.
- Contributed to values, goals and strategic vision of Tourism NT.
- Developed innovative approaches to problem-solving, leveraging resources and driving results.
- Led Tourism NT in setting goals and strategies.
- Created succession plans to provide continuity of operations during leadership transitions.
- Represented Tourism NT at industry conferences and events.
- Established and maintained strong relationships with customers, vendors and strategic partners.
- Devised and presented business plans and forecasts to board of directors.
- Formulated and executed strategic initiatives to improve product offerings.
Director
Centre for Appropriate Technology
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Served as Director
- Worked closely with organisational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Evaluated company documentation to verify alignment with regulatory requirements.
- Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
- Leveraged professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen client relationships.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and effectively targeting new markets.
Executive Committee Member
East Arnhem Land Tourism Association
01.2008 - 01.2019
- Served as Committee Member
- Established clear and competitive goals, growth roadmaps, and strategic business plans.
- Developed strategy to combat increased competitive presence within territory.
- Cultivated long-term relationships through focused effort on customer's unique needs and finding best solutions.
- Established and maintained strong relationships with customers, vendors and strategic partners.
- Represented organisation at industry conferences and events.
- Created succession plans to provide continuity of operations during leadership transitions.
Executive Committee Member
Gove Women’s Crisis Accommodation
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Served as Committee Member
- Established clear and competitive goals, growth roadmaps, and strategic business plans.
- Managed financial, operational and human resources to optimise business performance.
- Monitored key business risks and established risk management procedures.
Business Consultant
Ambrose Business Solutions
01.2015 - 12.2015
- Provided business consulting services
- Evaluated situations and delivered targeted solutions using various tools and resources.
- Established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders for growth opportunities and successful partnerships.
- Developed complete business plans and operational strategies for new and existing business.
- Performed as consultant for startup business in areas of marketing, logistics, and training.
- Helped meet changing demands by recommending improvements to business systems or procedures.
- Created and managed project plans, timelines and budgets.
- Conducted regular reviews of operations and identified areas for improvement.
Committee Member
Gove Community Advisory Council
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Served as Tourism Committee Member
- Attended committee meetings to propose, discuss and advance the tourism community and investment ideas.
- Monitored key tourism risks for future planning of the region.
- Developed innovative tourism marketing strategies to help future tourism business expansion in the region.
Executive Committee Member
East Arnhem Chamber of Commerce
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Served as Committee Member
- Participated in monthly training on latest technology trends and products in industry.
- Established clear and competitive goals, growth roadmaps, and strategic business plans.
- Developed strategy to combat increased competitive presence within Arnhem Region.
- Cultivated long-term relationships through focused effort on businesses unique needs and finding best solutions.
- Collaborated with legal, accounting and other professional teams to review and maintain compliance with business regulations.
- Established and maintained strong relationships within local business community and strategic partners.
- Represented Chamber of Commerce at industry conferences and events.
Education
Foundations of Directorship Certificate -
Australian Institute of Company Directors
01.2018
Murra Program -
Melbourne Business School, Victoria
01.2017
Bachelor of Social Work -
Deakin University, Victoria
01.2008
Associate Degree Community Development -
Curtin University, Western Australia
01.2003
Skills
- Business Planning and Development
- Good Governance training for Aboriginal Businesses and Community Associations
- Aboriginal Tourism Development
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Mentoring Aboriginal Board Directors through own business experience
- Supporting Aboriginal Entrepreneurs in starting their own businesses
- Business Administration
- Operations Management
- Staff Development
- Financial Management
- Issues Resolution
Accomplishments
- Successfully established and negotiated a 25-year Land Use Agreement with NLC and Traditional Owners for a sustainable tourism business Banubanu Beach Retreat, Bremer Island in North East Arnhem Land.
- A finalist in the Entrepreneur Category of the Northern Territory's 2015 Telstra Women's Business Awards.
- Received the following prestigious Business Industry Awards: - 2011 Business of the Year Award from the East Arnhem Chamber of Commerce. - 2012 Business Growth Award from Tourism NT Brolga Awards. - 2013 Business of the Year Award for Environmental Sustainability from the East Arnhem Chamber of Commerce.
- Served as Chair of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Tourism Committee to Tourism NT.
- Appointed as Commissioner for Tourism NT Board, providing advisory support for all NT Aboriginal Tourism initiatives.
- Contributed to the development of the Northern Territory 2030 Aboriginal Tourism Strategy Plan through the NT Aboriginal Tourism Advisory Council.
- Acted as Deputy Chair of the National Indigenous Tourism Advisory Group.
- Currently serves as an IBA Appointed Director on the Ikara Wilpena Enterprises Pty Ltd.
References
Available upon request
Timeline
IBA Appointed Director
Ikara Wilpena Enterprises Pty Ltd
01.2021 - Current
Deputy Chair
National Indigenous Tourism Advisory Group
01.2021 - 01.2023
Commissioner
Board of Commissioners, Tourism Northern Territory
01.2017 - 01.2021
Director
Centre for Appropriate Technology
01.2016 - 01.2019
Chairperson
NT Aboriginal Tourism Advisory Council
01.2015 - 01.2021
Executive Committee Member
Gove Women’s Crisis Accommodation
01.2015 - 01.2017
Business Consultant
Ambrose Business Solutions
01.2015 - 12.2015
Committee Member
Gove Community Advisory Council
01.2014 - 01.2015
Executive Committee Member
East Arnhem Chamber of Commerce
01.2011 - 01.2014
Executive Committee Member
East Arnhem Land Tourism Association
01.2008 - 01.2019
Managing Director
Banubanu Beach Retreat
05.2005 - Current
Foundations of Directorship Certificate -
Australian Institute of Company Directors
Murra Program -
Melbourne Business School, Victoria
Bachelor of Social Work -
Deakin University, Victoria
Associate Degree Community Development -
Curtin University, Western Australia
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