Our Members

Jason Garland is the Founder and Director of Secure Access I.T. Founded 22 years ago to provide specialist business technology services, Secure Access has grown to be one of the region’s leading specialist business technology providers supporting customers locally, nationally, and internationally from right here on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. Jason is a highly experienced technical consultant and programmer and holds a Masters in Cyber Security, Australian Computer Society certification, as well as numerous industry certifications and accreditations from Vendors Microsoft, Cisco, Apple, VMware and SonicWall. Jason has a proven record of designing and implementing technology systems, that increase efficiency, reduce operational risk, and drive revenue for his customers and has a knack for translating complex issues into simplified solutions.

AJ Mitakos is an alumni of Queensland University of Technology and has called the Sunshine Coast home for the past 5 years. He is a passionate real estate industry member with an underlying passion for technology. With rounded experience from CBRE, Lendlease and now Walker Corporation and predominantly focusing on the development and leasing of the Maroochydore City Centre, AJ has acquired a bold passion for the relations between real estate, technology and its inherently positive impacts on people, both socially and economically. Through his exposure to investment management, development management and urban design of major mixed use projects across Australia, he has forged a deep appreciation for “Place Making” through technology and how this interaction between people, property and technology creates incredible buildings that people and business can thrive in.

Simon is an experienced technology leader with significant experience in smart city technologies and strategies. Simon has over 30 years’ experience in the public sector and industry and served at senior executive level at the Queensland University of Technology and in his own startups. Simon has worked in the USA, Europe and South Africa as well as over 25 years in Australia. Currently Simon is co-founder and CEO of [ui!] the urban institute, a company specialising in data platforms for the high-velocity, high-volume urban data critical for development of digital triplets.

Ms. Angela Lisle, BLM(SEC) GradCertCInd, serves as the Director for Creative and Information Communication Technology (ICT) at TAFE Queensland East Coast Region. Regarded as a strategic and innovative leader, she has 20 years’ experience gained through her roles in the ICT and digital media sector. Ms. Lisle leads educational teams, specialising in a range of technologies, including building design, digital interactivity, photo-imaging, information technology and innovation. She is an award winning educational leader recognised for her drive to embed entrepreneurship and innovation into technology course offerings across Sunshine Coast High Schools. She is a member of Women in Technology and the Institute of Mangers and Leaders. She has completed her Bachelor of Learning Management majoring in Business and upon completion of her Graduate Certificate in Creative Industries she received the Dean’s Commendation from CQUniversity, for her research in virtual reality. She also holds qualifications in interactive digital media, marketing and communications. Angela plays a pivotal role in harnessing technology to deliver industry relevant advice to inform the growing ICT sector across the Sunshine Coast region.

Rania has over 15 years of experience in teaching at a tertiary level in Australia and New Zealand. She is passionate about what she teaches and is a strong believer in creating an environment in which students are excited to learn. She has experience managing and maintaining large volumes of data collected as well as the extraction and management of various external data sets from government linked data (including Medicare and Queensland Health data). Her specialist areas of knowledge include Database Systems (relational and non-relational), Programming and coding in SQL, PLSQL, SAS, NoSQL and Python. She has a diverse area of research with a focus on technology adoption and acceptance.

Rob has been in the I.T. industry for over 20 years.  From his early beginnings providing computer repairs and basic help to domestic customers; to small business support and consultancy for clients with complex Information Technology requirements. Rob fosters an outcomes driven mindset whist delivering well thought out, holistic solutions, tailored specifically to each client and situation. Rob is the Senior Partner and the Director of Absolute IT. He and the team at Absolute IT provide managed I.T. services and solutions to clients on the Sunshine Coast and beyond.