Our Team
Paul
Paul is our Founder and Director who was born in Sydney. He has been a Cairns local since 1984. Paul became a quadriplegic through a swimming injury in 1988. He was also the Founding Director of the first advocacy incorporation in Cairns for people with disabilities. Paul has worked in government, real estate and ran a self-sufficient sanctuary on the tablelands – having four of six of Queensland’s missing frogs brought back from extinction. He also sings and recently went to Sydney and became a sitdown comedian.
Dylan
Maree
Maree has worked in the Health sector since 1993 in both Tasmania and Queensland. She is very down-to-earth and has been with us since July 2015. Maree loves exploring and has travelled all over the globe, predominantly Germany and Thailand.
Leila
Leila was born in Australia and moved to Cairns at just seven years old. A Chef by trade, Leila’s culinary flare and has seen her working in a celebrity restaurant in London before returning to Australia with a new vision: to make a difference in an industry she felt needed change. Leila has a great sense of humour and spends her free time getting creative with arts and crafts.
Sam
Nathan
Phillip
Chiho
April
Born and bred in North Queensland, April is Paul’s niece and our current CEO. April has a knack for numbers and will soon finish her studies to become a fully-fledged Accountant, with goals of making her way into Forensic Accounting in future. She is well-organised, a great cook, and enjoys spending her time with her friends and family. April has been with us since early 2013.
Luke
Born and raised in Innisfail, Luke travelled around Queensland before moving back to our beautiful part of the world to pursue new opportunities. With us since January 2018, he has broad technical expertise and especially has a knack for building and fixing computers. Luke is known for his laid-back attitude and his love for animals.
Anthony
Carmen
Carmen was born in Atherton Tablelands and has lived in the Cairns area her whole life, making her a ridgy-didg local! She enjoys meeting new people, having a laugh and spending her free time with her son and two dogs. Carmen has a compassionate, patient and tolerant nature – traits she has developed through becoming a mother and her experience travelling. She loves her job and is always keen for a chat.
Rosie
Erica
Born in Los Angeles, Erica moved to the beautiful Cairns after spending some time as a Scuba Instructor in Perth. Formerly a preschool teacher, she has a kind and tolerant temperament which shines through in her work at Independence World. Erica loves sushi and spending her time outdoors.
Milena
Summer
Emma
Emma was born in FNQ and was a carer for Paul over 25 years ago. After spending the last 20 years in Melbourne focusing on her career in HR Organisational Development, she has now returned to her tropical homelands and has been the proud Manager at Independence World since March 2021. Emma is passionate about working with heart-lead businesses, creating a thriving team culture and an exceptional Client experience. She is a foodie and a green thumb, loves swimming and practicing Qi Gong.
Katie
Katie grew up in Cairns and has worked with Paul since she was 17. Saying that she always wanted to be a nurse and if she got a job with Paul, she would study to become one. Paul wrote a letter to the TAFE and Katie received a $6,500 Grant to study to become an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse. She Graduated and helped Paul to start his company. Katie went on to study at the JCU and is now a Registered Nurse and is now studying her Masters. She has worked with Paul since 2006.
Adam
Yuko
Born in Miyazaki, South East Japan, Yuko discovered Cairns whilst travelling in 1998 and has lived here ever since. Yuko enjoys all things fitness, spending time with her children and has plans to travel more with her family in future. She loves Japanese television and music (especially Kat-Tun!)
Vanessa
Originally from Sydney, Vanessa moved to Cairns two years ago. Vanessa is very easy-going and friendly, with a passion for the outdoors and spending time with her three children. After doing some travelling, she came out of her shell and was inspired to swap her career in Finance for something she finds much more rewarding.
Kayla
Nicholas
