Maria Carkagis is a professional with over 20 years of experience in community and economic development, education, and tourism, both in the private and government sectors. She has worked in New South Wales and Queensland, and her professional skills range from product development to grass-roots community participation. With previous roles as Project Officer, Grants Officer, and Managing Director, Maria is a rare individual who excels when challenged and thinks outside the box. She has an uncanny ability to make projects happen, and she intuitively takes others on a journey of learning when working in groups. Her passion for helping others succeed is visible in all of her work, and she is known for straight talking and dreaming big.