LAST WORD – Angie Bell MP, Federal Member for Moncrieff

WORDS: Karen Phillips PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

A STRONG and proud advocate for the people of the central Gold Coast, Angie was sworn in as the Member for Moncrieff in 2019.

In her maiden speech at Parliament House, she outlined her passion for equality of opportunity, reward for effort and the Gold Coast as the home of the entrepreneurial spirit. Angie has lived by those beliefs through one of the most challenging times in our city’s 63-year history.

Since being elected, Angie has dedicated herself to serve the needs of small business, tourism, education and construction.  In response to Covid-19, she convened the City Heart Taskforce and in August 2020, chaired the inaugural Reimagine Gold Coast Jobs, Skills and Industry forum that brought together city leaders from politics, business and industry to work together for future Gold Coast jobs. Now in its second year, the cross-industry forum, led by Angie, is committed to reignite, reimagine and develop targeted outcomes with a key focus on jobs, skills, industry and talent for the Gold Coast future economy.

Before entering Parliament, Angie spent more than 20 years working in senior roles within national business and retail sectors. She owned her own consultancy firm and sales agency, held the positions of national business development manager, state sales manager and retail manager, and has worked in all Australian states and territories.

With qualifications and extensive experience in business, marketing and retail management, she was awarded an academic achievement from Griffith University Business School. In 2014, Angie authored the acclaimed business book Retail Rebranded-27 Secrets of Market Leaders, which is used as part of the marketing curriculum at Griffith University Gold Coast and the Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Denmark.

Angie’s commitment to business and training has been evidenced by the number of Australian and international industry conferences she has presented to and hundreds of businesses she has assisted to reinvent their models.

Having developed educational programs for both employers and employees, Angie has trained hundreds of enterprises and worked directly with industry bodies including a partnership with the National Retail Association.

After studying music at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide, Angie performed across Australia and overseas on saxophone and voice. Playing sax is still one of her favourite pursuits.

As the Federal Member for Moncrieff, Angie has continued her commitment to education, training, retail and small business as well as tourism, manufacturing and construction by convening and chairing an extensive number of industry forums and roundtables.

When she’s not in Canberra, her great love for the city’s lifestyle, and her background as a Surf Lifesaver at Mermaid Beach, finds her taking an early ocean swim, paddleboard, bike ride or beach walk before heading to her office at Chevron Island.

“That’s what makes the Coast so unique. You can grab a coffee at Nobby’s, whale watch on your walk and view a world-class exhibition at HOTA Gallery all in the same day,” Angie says.

“We really are the city that has it all and we have so much to be proud of. Even with the challenges ahead of us, if we continue to work as a united force, our determination and resilience will get us through.

“As the home of both small business, and the entrepreneurial spirit, our city has a very bright future as we look towards the 2032 Olympic Games.

“I feel very privileged to be advocating for the heart of the Gold Coast. There is certainly no place I would rather be.”