Generation Innovation Ltd is an Australian Public Company and registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
GI is governed by an experienced Board of Directors, who volunteer their time to support the
delivery of the Challenge each year.
Shane Cunningham
Director and Treasurer
Shane teaches on the Sunshine Coast and is passionate about developing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the younger generation.
Prior to teaching, Shane spent twenty years working for and consulting to some of Australia’s largest and most complex commercial businesses on the strategic application of technology. During this time he was involved in a number of start-up and high-growth businesses, leading and managing all aspects of business development.
Shane also served in the Royal Australian Air Force. Over ten years he completed undergraduate, graduate and pilot qualifications; accumulated almost 2000 hours of military flying experience; and was exposed to the highest levels of strategic and operational planning whilst serving as the Aide-de-Camp to the Air Commander, Australia.
Shane has a Bachelor of Science from UNSW; a Graduate Diploma of Education; and is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, RAAF College and RAAF Pilots’ Course. He has also completed the AICD’s Governance for Not-for-Profit Directors program.
Tanya Cullen
Director
Tanya is a true local, having grown up in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and only moving away for teaching positions, she is happy to be settled back in the area with her family and enjoys the lifestyle that the Sunshine Coast has to offer.
Helping young people find meaning and purpose in their lives, and helping to set them up for their unknown futures drives Tanya as a Business and Legal Studies teacher. Tanya has years of experience as a former program coordinator of a school-based entrepreneurship program and is passionate about connecting young people to the real world. She believes that one of the greatest gifts we can give the next generations is to build their courage and confidence in solving problems and contributing to society in significant ways.
Generation Innovation completes the full circle for Tanya. It was local business owners in her community who mentored her as a teenager in a youth entrepreneurship program that gave her an incredible experience and one that helped shape her future. GI is Tanya’s opportunity to give back to her community and promote the important big ideas and innovative minds of the youth in our region.
Emma Greenhatch
Director and Company Secretary
Emma grew up in the Tamar Valley in Northern Tasmania before heading to the ‘Big Island’ to study Asian Studies and Economics at the University of Western Australia. Forever the adventurer, Emma’s early career included working on a seahorse farm in Ireland developing their global market, and coordinating a year-long program of activities to celebrate Dame Edna Everage’s 50th anniversary.
Emma’s nine years with the Victorian Government saw her lead the establishment of Victoria’s first representative group for the organic industry and create Australia’s largest inbound trade mission, resulting in $100 million in new food and beverage exports to Asia. Moving to the Sunshine Coast in 2015, Emma joined start-up not for profit the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN). Over seven years she evolved FAN into a nationally recognised organisation that is demonstrating how businesses and industries can be more competitive and sustainable when they collaborate. Under her leadership FAN was inducted into the Sunshine Coast Business Awards Hall of Fame in 2022, and in 2021 Emma won Sunshine Coast Outstanding Business Woman of the Year.
Emma now works for Pyrocal – an Australian engineering company at the forefront of carbon dioxide removal, transforming biomass and biosolids into biochar and carbon credits. She is deeply committed to leaving positive footprints and is delighted to be part of the Generation Innovation team and creating opportunities for our youth.
Lachie Smart
Director
Lachie Smart is a world record pilot, renowned Australian speaker on emerging talent development and the CEO of innovative MedTech company, Smartline Medical. In 2016, after 45,000km of hair raising adventure, Lachie became the youngest person to fly solo around the world at the age of 18 in pursuit of a world where being young isn’t a reason to lower your goalposts, but rather a reason to raise them.
He is committed to the idea that future leaders shouldn’t just be allowed to cultivate ideas but should be equipped to do so. He uses his experience in overcoming adversity during his world flight to guide and develop emerging talent and provides deep insights into the complex task of leadership for the Millennial Generation.
Lachie is a highly entertaining presenter who is uniquely experienced to educate emerging talent on exceptional strategies to high performance and leadership. Lachie has joined the GI team to help give young people a head start with capability and contacts to kick start their entrepreneurship journey.
Interested in joining the GI team?