What’s Happening
More than 100 local professionals gathered at the Wellington Point Farmhouse on Friday, 6 March for the Redland Women in Business International Women’s Day Luncheon, hosted by the Redland Chamber of Commerce.
Sponsored by Nurse Next Door Brisbane, the event brought together business owners, professionals and community leaders from across Redlands Coast to celebrate International Women’s Day while hearing from keynote speaker Brad Truman, Co-Founder and Lead Facilitator of leadership development company Optimal Advantage.
Drawing on more than two decades of frontline experience in policing, Mr Truman shared lessons on leadership and resilience in high-pressure environments and how individuals can move from simply surviving their day to genuinely thriving in their roles.
A Story of Resilience
Mr Truman’s keynote centred on the idea that resilience is less about avoiding pressure and more about how quickly people can recover when life inevitably pushes them under.
“To me, resilience is like a rubber duck,” he told the audience. “At some point we all get pushed underwater. That’s life. The art of resilience is how quickly you resurface.”
The message was grounded in his own experience. After more than 20 years in policing, including roles as a detective, firearms instructor and tactical trainer, Mr Truman suffered a serious medical episode while driving home from a long shift, resulting in a crash that left him with multiple spinal fractures.
While his physical recovery progressed relatively quickly, the psychological recovery proved more complex.
Over time, he began experimenting with small but consistent habits designed to rebuild what he describes as self-leadership: routines that helped restore clarity, energy and focus during demanding periods.
Leadership Under Pressure
During the talk, Mr Truman reflected on the intensity of frontline leadership.
While supervising detectives in Ipswich, he described periods where teams responded to multiple serious incidents within a single shift – experiences that reinforced the importance of mental preparation before stress arrives.
One of the concepts he shared was the idea of building a “psychological shield” each morning through simple routines that help strengthen resilience before the day begins.
“It doesn’t stop the stresses from coming,” he said. “But it changes you; it prepares you to face them.”
Connecting the Local Business Community
The luncheon also provided an opportunity for attendees to connect with other professionals from across the Redlands Coast business community.
Events organised through Redland Chamber of Commerce’s Redland Women in Business regularly bring together local business owners, leaders and professionals to share ideas, expand networks and support one another in their professional journeys.
For many in the room, the combination of networking and practical leadership insights offered a chance to step away from day-to-day pressures and reflect on the bigger picture of leadership, resilience and community.
By the Numbers
- 1 keynote speaker: Brad Truman, Co-Founder of Optimal Advantage
• 1 presenting sponsor: Nurse Next Door Brisbane
• 4 local businesses donated prizes for the event
• 100+ local businesswomen and professionals attended the luncheon
Why It Matters
Gatherings like the Redland Women in Business luncheon create space for meaningful conversations about leadership, wellbeing and resilience – while also strengthening the networks that support Redlands Coast’s growing business community.
What To Look For Next
The Redland Chamber of Commerce continues to host regular Redland Women in Business events throughout the year, providing opportunities for local professionals to connect, learn and support one another.
Upcoming events and programs can be found via the Chamber’s website:
https://redlandscoastchamber.org.au
