Gillian Mailman

Gillian Mailman is the Interim President of Commerce North West and a respected leader in regional economic development, First Nations business, and telecommunications infrastructure. She brings decades of experience across industry, business leadership and advocacy, with a strong focus on workforce development, digital inclusion and regional prosperity.

Gillian is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of MJB Solutions Pty Ltd, a First Nations-owned telecommunications and ICT consulting firm delivering planning, design, integration, testing and managed services for government, education and remote infrastructure projects. She is also the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Fibre Optics North Queensland, an Indigenous business established in 2001 that provides fibre optic, copper and wireless network installation and maintenance services across Far North and North West Queensland. Gillian is particularly proud of the long-term workforce she has developed, with senior staff having between 12 and 20 years’ service, reflecting her strong commitment to training, retention and capability building.

Her leadership extends to national and regional advisory roles, including membership on the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group (FNDIAG) Expert Panel, contributing to strategies that support Closing the Gap Target 17 through improved digital access and opportunity in remote communities. She has also served on the Northern Australia Indigenous Reference Group, advising Ministers on Indigenous economic development and regional priorities, and has held governance roles with organisations such as the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and Cairns Regional Council’s First Peoples Advisory Committee.

Gillian is a proud Bidjara woman and a trailblazer in Australian industry. She began her career as a trade-qualified Electrical Fitter Mechanic at Mount Isa Mines and is recognised as the first Aboriginal woman in Australia to become an electrician, and later the first Aboriginal woman to obtain an AUSTEL telecommunications cabling licence.

As a member of the Mount Isa Regional Jobs Committee, Gillian brings a rare combination of technical expertise, First Nations business leadership, regional advocacy and lived experience. Her focus is on delivering practical, measurable outcomes that build local capability, strengthen workforce participation and ensure the North West Queensland region grows with opportunity, equity and long-term sustainability.