TEAM

Taka began his career at one of Japan's biggest multinationals with more than 27,000 employees and $13 billion in annual sales. Subsequently was given responsibility for all corporate/marketing strategies as project director in Japan, Frankfurt and London, before finishing his career in Japan as the highly regarded Director of a newly established business development division devising and implementing strategies that would create business growth in a stagnant industry. He then moved to Australia and established GSS in early 2006.

Taka has worked with many major global companies as well as on various government projects with numerous stakeholders, and successfully met targets and objectives. Since establishing GSS, he has worked with a variety of SMEs, developing and implementing creative strategies to build their business and overcome their challenges, and has provided assistance to Federal, State and local governments by acting as their Small Business Specialist/Lead Consultant.
As Founding Mentor and Adviser, he also provides mentoring and coaching services to the residents of iAccelerate (https://www.iaccelerate.com.au/iaccelerate-business-incubator/business-mentorship/) an IT incubator set up and run by University of Wollongong, Federal Government, NSW State Government and Wollongong City Council in 2012.

Main clients: 
Visa International Asia Pacific Ltd, Hyundai Motor Headquarters (Seoul), Qantas, Japan Airlines, NSW Department of State and Regional Development, NSW Department of Industry and Investment, Regional Development Australia, Wollongong City Council, Shellharbour City Council, Kiama Municipal Council, Rockhampton Regional Council, Livingstone Shire Council, Campbelltown City Council, Economic Gardening Illawarra, Economic Gardening Central Queensland, Economic Gardening Campbelltown, Biz Booster Illawarra/Shoalhaven, University of Wollongong, iAccelerate, Japanese Ministry of Land, Japanese Governments, Japanese Councils, over 200 Japanese SMEs and 750 Australian SMEs 

Joanna gained her experience through a variety of roles including as Marketing Officer at a Japanese company (Namco), PR and Trade Development Officer for the Japanese Government, Export Coordinator managing 5 Export Advisers across the state and Manager of a new program devised to help regional companies expand for the NSW State Government,  and finally Australian Consul in Sapporo, Japan, responsible for all Australians in Hokkaido, and Trade Commissioner for Austrade in Australia and Japan working with innumerable firms to expand their business overseas. She moved to Australia and established GSS in early 2006.

Joanna has successfully run innumerable marketing campaigns for Japanese and Australian companies as well as managing many high level projects. Since establishing GSS, she has worked with various SMEs, assisting them to improve and expand their business and has provided assistance to Federal, State and local governments by acting as their Small Business Specialist/Lead Consultant. 
As Founding Mentor and Adviser, she also provides mentoring and coaching services to the residents of iAccelerate (https://www.iaccelerate.com.au/iaccelerate-business-incubator/business-mentorship/) an IT incubator set up and run by University of Wollongong, Federal Government, NSW State Government and Wollongong City Council in 2012. She is also the Deputy Chair of Regional Development Australia Illawarra.

Main clients:
Arnotts, Greens Foods, Magic Millions, Qantas, Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), NSW Department of State and Regional Development, NSW Department of Industry and Investment, Regional Development Australia, Wollongong City Council, Shellharbour City Council, Kiama Municipal Council, Rockhampton Regional Council, Livingstone Shire Council, Economic Gardening Illawarra, Economic Gardening Central Queensland, Biz Booster Illawarra/Shoalhaven, University of Wollongong, Japanese Prefectural Governments, Japanese local governments (Councils), over 50 Japanese SMEs and 750 Australian SMEs

Ellie has a strong passion as a researcher in the business strategy and market development area and is highly skilled in locating and analysing the appropriate data to validate (or discredit) hypotheses.

Ellie gained her experience through Research Officer roles with the Global Challenges Program at the University of Wollongong, and the New South Wales State Emergency Service, in which she worked on large-scale, global, inter-disciplinary projects. Ellie has vast experience working with child, adolescent, adult, and older adult populations, and privileges the consumer perspective in her research. She has presented her research at various international conferences. Ellie also has four years experience in social media marketing, through her role with a local Illawarra business. 

Ellie was educated at the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, and graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology (first class honours), and Masters by Research before completing a Doctorate degree in 2018.