Special Guests

The Honourable Lance McCallum MP

Minister for Training and Skills Development and
Minister for Employment and Small Business 

A born and bred Queenslander, the Honourable Lance McCallum was elected to the Queensland Parliament in March 2020, representing the Ipswich-based seat of Bundamba.

In December 2023, Mr McCallum became the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development after previously serving Queenslanders as the Assistant Minister for Energy.

Small business is a critical contributor to Queensland’s nation leading, post-pandemic economic recovery with more than 448,000 family-owned enterprises creating jobs for almost half of the State’s private sector workforce.

Mr McCallum is a strong believer in a fair go and is passionate about the value of workforce education, skills and training in supporting small businesses in Queensland to thrive.

The Miles Government’s record investment in vocational education and training - including free TAFE - recognises when small businesses prosper, they provide good, secure jobs for Queenslanders which strengthens the social and economic wellbeing of the entire State.

Minister McCallum is a proud member of the Gubbi Gubbi Nation, a McKinnon Scholar and holds a Master of Sustainability and Climate Policy.

James Tobin

Engaging television personality and Entertainment Reporter James Tobin is part of the Seven Network’s Sunrise team and is seen on weekends roving around the country dishing up the weather. He also appears regularly on Sunrise and The Morning Show with entertainment reports, interviews and weather.
 

James has also embarked on a corporate relationship with Sabre Pacific Travel - the world's biggest travel IT provider, filming monthly internal web videos and hosting corporate events. James can be seen on the Movie Network hosting star bios on the Star Pics channel and movie juice on MovieOne. James also hosts Event TV and red carpet premiers for Event Cinema’s. Previously James hosted a Saturday evening travel series No Leave No Life.
 

James started his media career in 1999, when he joined ARN as a music researcher, then moved on to Austereo’s 2DAY FM. He jumped across into television to join Foxtel’s Nickelodeon Channel, hosting their Saturday morning show sn:tv and specials, including Head to Head. He became a popular children’s television personality and appeared on a number of other shows, including Sarvo and the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
James joined the Seven Network in 2000 hosting the weekly music program Eclipse Music TV and children's game show Go Go Stop. Early 2008 James joined the networks top rating breakfast show to take on the role as Sunrise's Entertainment reporter. Audiences have loved James’ interviews with such diverse stars as Hugh Jackman, Michelle Monaghan, Robert Downey Jnr, Kelly Clarkson, Dannii Minogue, Jack Black and The Foo Fighters. James has also established an acting career, appearing in Network 7’s medical drama All Saints and the Australian feature film Lovely Scary Wolves.
 

He proved a to be a crowd favourite and had a ball on the Seven Network’s Dancing with The Stars – which he believes proved that he is better at interviewing entertainers than perhaps dancing around as one!

ACPA

The Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts has been responsible for training and mentoring some of Australia’s most highly acclaimed First Nation performing artists over the past 20 years. Students such as Young Australian of the year, Denzel Baker (aka Baker Boy), stage & screen actor Jeremy Ambrum (Secret Daughter, Cleverman and The Leftovers), and 2019 Australian Dance Award winner Tyrel Dulvarie (Bangarra and Australasian Dance Collective) have all completed studies with ACPA before going on to worldwide success.

ACPA is not only a highly regarded performing arts educator but also a creator of many memorable events and performances. A long-term partnership with QPAC saw critical success with productions such as “The Wiz”, “Eclipse” and “Awakening”.

ACPA is the go-to First Nations entertainment service contractor in Southeast Queensland and beyond. ACPA has had the pleasure of providing world class entertainment for clients such as The Department of Premier and Cabinet, Queensland Treasury, Trade and Investment Queensland and Department of Employment, Small Business and Training to name a just a few. With the 2032 Olympics on the horizon, ACPA continues to consolidate itself as the premier entertainment services and training provider for First Nations artists.

Hype

Hype is a four-piece band made up of some of Brisbane's finest musicians.

Hailing all the way from Brisbane's southside, the band delivers an electric mix of Top 40, R'n'B, reggae, Motown, country and many more genres.

Paradiso Strings is a professional Brisbane-based string quartet.

They perform in state-level orchestras across Australia and have been active in the Australian music scene for decades. All their players are well-versed in performing in a wide range of genres from classical to pop to jazz to soundtracks. They are currently involved in the Candlelight Concert Series being held across the Sunshine, Brisbane, Gold Coast & Toowoomba.

TFA

All Legends, All Classic Rock Hits

Australia's largest supergroup, The Filthy Animals, is a rotational lineup from a pool of over 35 of Australia's finest musicians from Aussie pub rock royalty bands .... fronted by legends of rock, sport and TV.  

Whatever the lineup, the band continues to delight audiences and gather followers wherever they perform with their infectious joy to be playing some of the best classic rock songs of all time with other musicians they respect and admire while keeping the audience smiling and dancing all night long!

Come and join 

Mark Furze (Home & Away/Underbelly) on vocals
Kerry Jacobsen (Dragon/Mondo Rock) on drums
Brett Williams (Choirboys) on guitar 
Glen Muirhead (Eurogliders) on keyboards
Lee Novak (Savage Garden) on bass