As the SBDC’s governing body, the Board has responsibility for performing the functions set out in the Small Business Development Corporation Act 1983.
The SBDC Board has four strategic roles:
- setting the direction of the agency
- determination of standards
- coordination of planning, policies, and decision-making framework
- acting in an advisory capacity to the Minister, the government and other agencies.
Operational roles of the Board include:
- setting strategies
- focusing on client service and customer needs
- striving for organisational best practice and compliance with standards
- delegation of operational decision-making to officers within the SBDC.
Sharni Foulkes - chair
Sharni Foulkes was appointed Chair in June 2025. Mrs Foulkes is the Chief Executive Officer of the Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Inc) and has served in a voluntary capacity as Chair of Goldfields Women Building Business and as WA lead for Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA). She was a Founding Director of LoKal Hub and Dream Big Corporation in the Goldfields, where she also worked as a Business Adviser for the Kalgoorlie Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mrs Foulkes holds a Diploma of Business and Diploma of leadership and Management, as well as a Masters in Business Administration. She was recently a winner in the Business News 40under40 awards.
Danelle Cross
Danelle Cross was appointed to the Board in July 2019. Ms Cross is co-owner/director of a small business, Gourmet and More, a food wholesaler and distributor.
An experienced and respected leader in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and learning and development, Ms Cross is currently the Director of Entrepreneurship at Curtin University, where she leads the strategy, programs, pathways and community for local and global entrepreneurs. Prior to this, Ms Cross was the Director of Discovery at St Hilda's Anglican School, leading a whole-of-school approach to in-curriculum entrepreneurship.
Ms Cross holds a Bachelor of Commerce, double major in marketing and PR from Curtin University. She is a mentor and connector for a number of WA business founders, and is currently an Innovation Advisory Board member.
Gillian Nathan
Gillian Nathan was appointed to the Board in October 2021. Ms Nathan is the founder and owner of a tax and accounting practice, Simple Solutions Accounting Services.
Ms Nathan has extensive experience in taxation, financial and management reporting and works daily with small business owners. Prior to starting her own business, she gained experience in the public and private sector working across a range of accounting and tax practices.
Ms Nathan is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, with a Masters in Taxation and International Tax. She is a Tax Agent, a South African tax practitioner and a qualified secondary school teacher, registered to teach in Western Australia.
Ms Nathan is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee for Your Toolkit/Financial Toolbox, a not for profit organisation which aims to build the financial knowledge and skills of Western Australian women exposed to domestic violence and financial abuse. She also volunteers on several school and sporting committees.
Eliza Carbines
Eliza Carbines was appointed to the Board in October 2021. Ms Carbines is Karratha-based and is the founder and CEO of Tender Relief which offers tailored support, training and consulting services to businesses, primarily in regional Western Australia.
Prior to commencing her own business, Ms Carbines worked in various roles across both the State Government and private sectors. She is a strong advocate for entrepreneurism and economic diversity throughout regional Western Australia and has been a member of a number of not for profit boards, including currently serving on the Innovation Advisory Board.
Ms Carbines holds Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) Foundation and Practitioner Certification.
Lisa Smith
Lisa Smith was appointed to the Board in July 2023. Ms Smith has extensive experience in business development across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors and has run her own consultancy business with a primary focus on small business owners.
Ms Smith’s immediate past position was as interim Chief Executive Officer of the Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation. Prior to this she was the CEO of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Lisa holds a Graduate Certificate in Business and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a strong advocate for regional WA and is a member of several not-for-profit boards.
Lucy Hall
Lucy Hall was appointed to the Board in September 2023. Ms Hall has extensive experience in financial services, business development, marketing and the not-for-profit sector.
Ms Hall owns and operates a farming business with her partner and is involved in all aspects of this broadacre enterprise based in the Wheatbelt region.
Ms Hall is a recent past Chair of Rural Edge Australia, a not for profit organisation that designs and delivers custom training opportunities to support farming businesses become more innovative, competitive and profitable. She is a strong advocate for women in the agriculture sector.
Ms Hall is also a director of her own consulting business where she provides consulting services to a broad range of clients.
Amit Khullar
Amit Khullar was appointed to the Board in June 2025. Mr Khullar is the Director and Co-Founder of Wevolt Pty Ltd, an app for electric vehicle users to locate and manage chargers. Mr Khullar is a member of the Ministerial Multicultural Advisory Group and the Kids Research Institute Australia Multicultural Advisory Group, a committee member of the Federation of Indian Associations of Western Australia and serves as President of the Anti Online Abuse Society and the Indian Sports and Cultural Academy. His work experience has spanned business development and marketing consultancy roles.
Mr Khullar holds a Bachelor of Information Technology Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Australian Immigration Law and Practice.
Adam Grizich
Adam Grizich was appointed to the Board to commence on 1 July 2025. Mr Grizich is a successful owner of an independent butcher’s shop in Kwinana and co-founder of Nick’s Jerky, a social enterprise which raises funds to support mental health organisations. As a former franchise owner of multiple Lenard’s chicken franchises over more than a decade, and a new franchisee trainer, Mr Grizich has significant experience in franchise system prior to founding his own business.
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