The last three years have been some of the most poignant for Courtney Aspland, and while she’s experienced great personal and professional growth, it’s only the beginning.

Courtney Aspland is the manager for Marketing and Sales at TAFE Queensland East Coast, where she is responsible for the marketing and branding strategy for the entire region. Among Courtney’s achievements under her management position is increased enrolment numbers in the international market at the TAFE, with the largest cohort enrolled for the 2014/15 financial year. Courtney has most recently been recognised for her work, being named Young Business Woman of the Year for 2015.

Life changing milestone 1: Marrying my husband, 2013
I was ecstatic when my husband Brian surprised me late one Tuesday evening in June 2012 by proposing on the beachfront over ice cream. Growing up I’d never pictured a big, white wedding, but our day turned out to be the most perfect day I could have imagined and was the most special moment of my life. We celebrated with 100 of our closest family and friends and spent an incredible month in Japan on our honeymoon.

Life changing milestone 2: Launching the TAFE Queensland East Coast brand, 2014
I played a significant role in one of the greatest transitions the TAFE has seen. In May 2014, Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay TAFE amalgamated to become TAFE Queensland East Coast. Throughout this period I managed the workflow of several distinctive units to develop a range of creative solutions to communicate the new brand. This launch has proven extremely effective and with six campuses and over 16,000 enrolments annually, TAFE Queensland East Coast is recognised as the largest premier provider of vocational education in the region. The brand has also been nominated for a marketing excellence brand revitalisation award due to its success.

Life changing milestone 3: Buying my childhood home, 2015
At the beginning of the year my husband and I bought our first home, which also happens to be the house I grew up in. Being the fourth generation to own the home, we are excited to make it our own and create a new future in a place that holds so much meaning for us.

Life changing milestone 4: Starting study again, 2015
I could have never anticipated in the midst of such a busy year I would contemplate going back to university, but when my husband decided to study graphic design and encouraged me to consider fitting in a few subjects, I made the decision to continue my studies too. Earlier this year I began my Master of Business Administration. Balancing full time study with work is a challenge but the study supports my role as the youngest member of the TAFE Queensland East Coast Leadership Team, giving me the skills I need to help shape the future of the business and the educational landscape for our region.

Life changing milestone 5
 Winning Sunshine Coast Young Business Woman of the Year and AIM Sunshine Coast Young Manager of the Year, 2015
This year I had the honour of being named the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network Young Business Woman of the Year and the Australian Institute of Management Sunshine Coast Young Manager of the Year. Being acknowledged by my team members for such prestigious awards was hugely humbling and the process was such an amazing experience. The awards have given me the opportunity to meet so many inspirational people and in particular, an exceptionally talented group of young business women. I was so excited to be named a finalist in both of the awards, but to win the two titles within months of each other was just incredible.