Ross Tilly

Principal Trade and Investment Officer, Sunshine Coast (TradeStart Advisor)

Ross Tilly has an agricultural upbringing and studied Business and Marketing at the University of Southern Queensland. Prior to joining Trade and Investment Queensland he managed his own manufacturing business for 5 years, including exporting products to several markets and investigated a joint venture operation in central China. Ross is also a past graduate of AICD Company Directors program and AsiaLink Business – Asia Leaders program in 2016.

After selling his business, Ross returned to the family earth-moving equipment business in Toowoomba. Since then, he has held a range of regional management roles in human services and government including State Development, Enterprise Connect and joined Trade and Investment Queensland in 2011.

Based on the Sunshine Coast as both a Tradestart Adviser (Austrade) and Trade and Investment’s Principal Trade and Investment Officer for the region, Ross is actively involved in promoting Sunshine Coast’s exporting offerings which include processed foods, education services, clean-tech technology and agribusiness services. Ross also supports investment attraction, with the Sunshine Coast well positioned to attract investment around health, tourism and construction industries.

Ross Tilly
Principal Trade and Investment Officer
(TradeStart Advisor)
Mob: +61 403 580 016
Email: ross.tilly@tiq.qld.gov.au

Lisa Worthington

Principal Trade Officer, Sunshine Coast
(TradeStart Advisor)

Lisa Worthington joined Trade and Investment Queensland in September 2021 as part of the TradeStart Advisor program. She is based within the Sunshine Coast office as a Food and Agribusiness specialist and is available to work with clients in Darling Downs South West, Wide Bay Burnett, Sunshine Coast and surrounding areas.

Lisa was raised on a sheep, wheat, and cattle farm in western New South Wales, and it was during that time her passion for agriculture began. She gained a BSC, in wool and pastoral science, from the University of New South Wales and then spent 25 years working in the wool trading, processing, and exporting sector.

Lisa held senior positions within the world’s leading wool and agribusinesses and has previously lived in Melbourne, Sydney, and Fremantle. After moving to Queensland in 2011, Lisa continued her involvement in the wool industry through a consulting role and then become involved with the macadamia industry, firstly as CEO of Suncoast Gold Macadamias in Gympie, and then as a project consultant to Macadamias Australia in Bundaberg.

Through these roles, Lisa has travelled extensively managing sales, manufacturing, and customer connections across the world, as well as operating at a farm level.

Lisa brings a strong commercial background and extensive hands-on export experience in a range of products to her role at Trade and Investment Queensland, and this enables her to assist Queensland businesses develop and grow their export markets. She is passionate about developing sustainable opportunities for the agriculture industry within Queensland, through export.

Lisa Worthington
Principal Trade Officer (TradeStart Advisor)
Mob: +61 460 013 110
Email: lisa.worthington@tiq.qld.gov.au

Kelly Lambert

Senior Trade and Investment Officer, Sunshine Coast

Kelly provides advice and support to export-ready businesses in the Sunshine Coast region. Kelly also worked in Brisbane for several years, including on major investment-attraction projects.

Kelly’s early career included more than a decade in various roles for other Queensland Government agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water; the Department of State Development; and the Office of the Deputy Treasurer. She combines an in-depth knowledge of business needs with strong professional networks in government and the private sector.

Kelly Lambert
Senior Trade and Investment Officer
Mob: +61 457 767 935
Email: kelly.lambert@tiq.qld.gov.au