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 Director, Member Experience at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, overseeing the membership, content and marketing, and event teams.
Prior to this, Ms Faulkes was 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.
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. Ms Nathan is a tax agent, a South African tax practitioner and a qualified secondary school teacher, registered to teach in Western Australia.
Ms Nathan is an employer-director of the Government Employees Superannuation Board and a board member (Treasurer) and Chair of the Finance and Audit Risk Committee of YourToolkit.com, 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 the Tender Relief, comprising a consultancy specialising in tendering and procurement across Australia, and an AI tender response Saas company.
Prior to commencing her own business, Ms Carbines worked across State Government and the private sector. A recognised authority on tendering, Ms Carbines is a strong advocate for economic diversity and small business in regional Western Australia and has advised state governments across Australia on procurement reform.
Ms Carbines also sits on the Innovation Advisory Board within the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification.
Lisa Smith
Lisa Smith joined the Board in July 2023, bringing extensive expertise in business development across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. She has successfully operated her own consultancy, supporting small business owners with strategic growth and operational resilience.
Ms Smith's current role is within local government, where she leads strategic advocacy and drives economic development. Her work is instrumental in cultivating a thriving and sustainable local economy and unlocking meaningful economic opportunities and outcomes.
Previously, Ms Smith served as Chief Executive Officer of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry, championing regional enterprise and business innovation. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Business (Curtin University) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Passionate about regional Western Australia, Ms Smith actively contributes to several not-for-profit boards and initiatives focused on economic advancement.
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 board member for the Child and Adolescent Health Services, 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 in 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 owner of multiple 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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