Coordinating Committee

Barbara Smith - Patron and New Member Coordinator

Originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, Barbara migrated to Sydney with her family. She married Ted in 1960 and later established Global Marketing Pty Ltd and Advanced Composites Pty Ltd, the latter becoming the leading Australian supplier of specialty materials and equipment for aerospace and defence.

Barbara has always been involved with community and charity organisations: The Engadine Auxiliary for The Northcott Society (formerly The N.S.W. Crippled Children Association) since 1965, Brownie Guides and Ranger Guides. Since 1988 Barbara has been involved in all key roles of Inner Wheel Australia forming and chartering the Inner Wheel Club of Southern Highlands.

Although now retired from a working environment, she and her husband developed ‘Yelverton Truffles’, a productive Truffiere producing French Black Perigord Truffles and hosted popular Truffle Hunts and tastings for groups in the Southern Highlands. In 2014 they grew the largest truffle in the Southern Hemisphere weighing 1.172grams which highlighted the Southern Highlands as a food & wine destination.

She has been an active member of the Business Women’s Network since 1996.

Barbara is our official hostess, Patron and New Member Coordinator. She hosts the guest speaker at our breakfasts and makes everyone feel welcome to all our events. She welcomes new members to the club and arranges Member Certificates & name badges.

Barbara Smith, Business Women's Network Southern Highlands

Lisa Lewis - Events Coordinator

Lisa is our Events Coordinator. She arranges all the venues and the details for the events, compiles and provides the information for advertising events and looks after guest speakers. She also manages our Instagram account.

Lisa is a local business owner. She own and runs two businesses in Bowral – a hairdressing business and a bridal service. She is the mother of 4 grown up children.

More about Lisa coming soon.

BWNSH, Lisa Lewis, Events Coordinator

Deborah Palmer - Treasurer

Deb is our Treasurer and manages all our finances. She is the one who will contact you about payments and any other financial matters.

Deb’s story coming soon.

Business Women's Network Southern Highlands

Lynda Kelly - Communications Coordinator

Lynda manages the website, e-mail correspondence and our Facebook page.

Born in Melbourne, Lynda grew up on the beautiful Northern Beaches of Sydney.

Lynda has worked in local, state and federal government for over 40 years and in the cultural sector for 35 years. Currently, Lynda is Managing Director of LyndaKellyNetworks, a consultancy specialising in strategic planning, audience and market research, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, collections management, membership and learning/education, curatorial and exhibition development across the culture and tourism industries, as well as government and the private sector.

Lynda is a well-recognised and sought out consultant and speaker on research, trends, visitor experience, education and digital engagement, as well as a passionate blogger and social media tragic!

Lynda has a PhD in learning from UTS, a diploma of Employee Relations from Western Sydney University and a psychology degree from Macquarie University.

Lynda moved to the Southern Highlands in 2016 and lives on a small property in Avoca, Abbeydore, with her partner, Maurice (aka ‘The Farmer’), Molly the springer spaniel, 5 chooks and two ducks.

Lynda Kelly, Business Women's Network Southern Highlands

Kirstine McKay - International Women's Day Coordinator

Kirstine is responsible for coordinating our annual International Women’s Day Lunches.

Kirstine is responsible for coordinating our annual International Women’s Day Lunches.
Kirstine is deeply passionate about sustainable living and climate action. She is an award-winning journalist, writer, and presenter, with over 12 years’ experience as a television reporter and producer for Channel Nine, working on the Sunday Program and A Current Affair. She has worked in publishing in London, has a background in acting, and runs gardening and sustainability workshops at her property Life At Greenlaw  – inspiring and educating the community to live lightly on the planet. Kirstine has co-foundered a number of environmental community NFPs, including Regen Action Wingecarribee of which she is Chair. 

Kirstine McKay - International Womens Day Coordinator