‘Maximum resonance with minimum effort’ is a central tenet of the Linklater approach to voice training, which this month’s guest speaker, actor and voice coach Christina Koch has practiced for the last eight years.  The concept is not a foreign one to business owners, who inevitably aim for maximum efficiency in all aspects of their practice.  Christina introduced the group to the ways that connection with an audience can encourage the alert relaxation which allows vibration, and therefore vocal resonance, to thrive. 
 
Christina Koch is a theatre practitioner (voice coach, actor, director, producer) of over fifteen years experience in Brisbane, working with the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Queensland Theatre Company and the Bell Shakespeare Company during that time. Over the last few months she has worked as a voice coach, notably delivering the ‘Shakespeare’s Playground: Resonance, Persuasion, Memory, Play’ workshop in Dorrigo and for the Armidale Chamber of Commerce, to excellent feedback and requests for extended return workshops.
 
Since 2002 Christina has trained locally in the Linklater approach to voice training with master teacher Rob Pensalfini, Artistic Director of the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, and internationally at Shakespeare and Company in Massachusetts, where she then returned as a guest participant in a workshop on Shakespeare’s Rhetoric.
 
Back in Australia, she applied this learning to her direction of a cast of senior legal practitioners, including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the former Attorney General, in a reading of Twelve Angry Men for the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble.
 
Christina was assistant director to John Bell AO on Bell Shakespeare and Queensland Theatre Company’s 2009 co-production of The Alchemist, and was scriptwriter and project coordinator for Kerry O’Brien’s Hypothetical at the 2009 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Novembers Breakfast attracted around 60 guests to hear Kim Serafini, our guest speaker,a highly intuitive and dynamic business woman – a life coach/mentor to a fortunate few, an author to others, a motivational speaker to some, and an exceptional consultant who helps to make her clients look & feel good!   She is the Founder of i am gr8ful, a company delivering inspiration and education to empower millions around the world. (see: www.iamgr8ful.com)  

 It focuses on sharing the latest and best from the field of positive psychology, personal development and change management via a collection of unique seminars, workshops, books and lifestyle products and services.

 Each are designed to enable us as individuals and businesses to thrive, by understanding and leveraging the strengths we have to be grateful for.   The work’s foundation is based on Ms Serafini’s extensive career in the United Kingdom and the United States of America as an international management consultant specialising in change management and communication in the world of corporate mergers, acquisitions and transformation.  

 It also stems from her entrepreneurship in creating Lithos Therapy, the world’s highest quality ‘stone massage’.   Lithos Therapy is now available in thousands of health spas and beauty salons all over our globe and is distributed through partnerships in the Middle East, India, Asia and Australia. It is also taught, under licence, in various educational partnerships throughout the world.

All of this is wrapped up in her journey of creating, publishing and marketing her own international bestselling gift book – i am gr8ful for life.   With a degree in Commerce from Australia’s Bond University and diplomas in training & development, sports therapy and physiological personal training, Kim combines her knowledge, talents and experiences in a down-to-earth way to inspire and empower her clients, mentees, readers, listeners, viewers and participants.  

 She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Facilitators, a member of both the International Positive Psychology Association and the Australian Institute of Management.  

 For more information, or to listen to Kim interview a few of the world’s luminaries from the field of physiological and psychological science please visit: http://www.iamgr8ful.com/interviews.html   Read the following two articles before the breakfast: Think BIG  and The Power of Appreciation   

Kim is based in Noosa so Ramada Hotel & Suites Ballina Byron werekind enough to sponsor her accommodation on the stunning Richmond River to make her stay in Ballina one to remember!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chamber hosted a huge Breakfast event, with close to 90 members and non-members in attendance. Keynote speaker Jason Urbanowicz entertained and informed with his insights into the power of the mind, whilst business assistance providers were in attendance to help provide relevant information to interested businesses.

A very informative and well attended Breakfast!

No Breakfast! Lunch Instead?

Instead of our Breakfast event, the annual CEO’S Forum Luncheon event was held. Scoll down to read more about this yearly event.

A big congratulations must go out to the Chambers new board members; Treudie Kaehler, Peter Carmont and Mark Ezzy. Peter is a returning member and as such will be able to continue his good work for another term. Treudie is a new board member, and many of you would know her from her business- Flowers in Paradise. Treudie is very supportive of the Ballina Chamber and we look forward to her contributions to the board. Mark Ezzy is from Pristine Publications, and is a great supporter of the Chamber. We welcome you all and look forward to the year ahead.

This months breakfast was highly informative, with Chris Ryan, the Economic Development Manager from the Greater City Taree Council making a presentation about bypass readiness. The breakfast was one of our most enjoyable and informative ones we have had yet!

The 2009/10 Ballina Chamber Board