Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has appointed Cathie Reid AM as the city’s 2026-27 Women in Business Ambassador.

The appointment builds on the Lord Mayor’s ongoing commitment to back local businesses, support female entrepreneurs and help create more jobs across Brisbane.

Women account for 36 per cent of people managing their own business in Brisbane, highlighting the opportunity to support even more women to succeed.

To help realise that opportunity, Brisbane Economic Development Agency’s (BEDA) Women in Business program provides local women with practical advice, mentoring and connections to help turn their business ambitions into reality.

As Women in Business Ambassador, Cathie will share her experience with Brisbane women through events, workshops and professional development opportunities at the Brisbane Business Hub.

Cathie brings more than two decades of experience across healthcare, technology and cybersecurity. She co-founded Epic Pharmacy Group as well as Icon Group, which grew into Australia’s largest dedicated cancer care provider before her exit in 2022. Cathie also founded other successful businesses, including APHS Packaging and Epic Digital.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said supporting more women to succeed in business was good news for local families, jobs and Brisbane’s economy.

“When local businesses succeed, our whole city benefits through more jobs, more opportunities and a stronger local economy,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Brisbane is home to some incredibly talented and ambitious women who have great business ideas, but sometimes the hardest part is knowing how to take that next step.

“That’s why we’re backing programs that give women practical support, valuable connections and the chance to learn from people who’ve been there and done it.

“Cathie is a fantastic Brisbane success story who knows what it takes to turn a great idea into a thriving business and now she’s helping the next generation do the same.

“Whether you’re starting your first business or looking to take an existing one to the next level, we want more Brisbane women to have the confidence and support to succeed.”
Cathie Reid AM said she was excited to support Brisbane’s next generation of business leaders.

“Building a business is one of the most rewarding and challenging things you can do, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from people who were willing to share their experience and open doors for me,” Ms Reid said.

“There’s no blueprint for building a business. You learn through experience, by making mistakes, backing yourself and learning from others along the way.

“One of the greatest strengths of Brisbane's business community is its willingness to share knowledge and support one another, and I'm looking forward to contributing to the Women in Business program and supporting more women to take the next step in their business journey.”

Throughout her career, Cathie has remained committed to leadership development and community impact. She is Co-Founder of the SpArc Foundation, which supports initiatives across health, education, community empowerment and social justice, and is a Member of the Order of Australia.

The appointment comes as BEDA expands its Women in Business offering with a new Founder to CEO program, designed to support women founders as they transition from founder-operator to CEO.

Focusing on leadership, decision-making, delegation and organisational capability, Founder to CEO helps participants make the leadership shifts needed to support growth while building the structures and ways of working that enable the business to scale.

BEDA’s Women in Business program is open to Brisbane’s broader business community. For more information about the program and all Brisbane Business Hub programs and resources, visit businesshub.brisbane.qld.au

To find out more about Cathie Reid AM, visit businesshub.brisbane.qld.au/business-leaders/cathie-reid.