CEQ launches leadership pilot to build Torres Strait retail managers
Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) has introduced a professional development pilot on Waibene (Thursday Island) to prepare local First Nations team members for senior management roles running IBIS and ABIS supermarkets across the Torres Strait.
The initiative focuses on training and mentoring local staff to take on full management of large-format stores, with the pilot centred on Waibene, the region’s largest community and retail hub. According to CEQ, the pilot targets supervisors, assistant managers and managers who have demonstrated strong potential and are ready to build advanced operational and leadership capability.
Key Points
- CEQ launches Waibene pilot to prepare local staff for senior roles
- Program targets supervisors, assistant managers and managers with potential
- Mentoring, systems training and hands-on practice embedded in current roles
- Aim is full management of IBIS and ABIS large-format supermarkets
- Early feedback described as extremely positive by CEQ CEO
- CEQ plans to refine pilot before expanding across store network
- Organisation operates 31 stores across Torres Strait and Cape York
CEQ, a not-for-profit remote store operator, said it was building the next generation of Torres Strait retail leaders through a structured Professional Development Program developed by Regional Manager Arthur Wright in collaboration with CEQ’s People and Workforce Culture team.
Program overview
The program is designed to strengthen local capability and create clear career pathways within communities served by CEQ. It builds skills for managing complex store operations while providing structured exposure to the systems, processes and decision-making required in senior roles.
Participants receive mentoring, systems training and hands-on experience across key retail management platforms, applying their learning in their current store roles throughout the pilot.
- Training and mentoring geared to senior retail management requirements
- Hands-on exposure to operational, financial and workforce management
- Embedded learning within participants’ existing store responsibilities
- Readiness focus on supervisors, assistant managers and managers
- Goal of enabling full management of IBIS and ABIS supermarkets
CEQ Chief Executive Officer Michael Dykes described the program as an investment in developing local leadership and supporting meaningful careers within communities.
“CEQ is committed to creating opportunities for local people to build meaningful careers within their communities,” Mr Dykes said.
“This pilot program recognises the talent we already have within our store teams and gives them the training, mentoring and experience they need to step into senior leadership roles.
“Our goal is to develop a pipeline of skilled local leaders who can confidently manage our stores and ensure these essential services continue to thrive.”
“CEQ is committed to creating opportunities for local people”
— Michael Dykes, Community Enterprise Queensland
Regional Manager Arthur Wright said the program was conceived after identifying strong potential among local team members already managing smaller stores.
He said the next step was to support those team members to gain broader operational experience required to manage the largest supermarkets, and that interest in joining the pilot has been strong, with the first group embracing the opportunity.
Training focus
Participants in the pilot are learning operational, financial and workforce management skills aligned to running large retail operations.
The program includes direct exposure to retail and human resource management systems, with an emphasis on translating training into performance within participants’ current roles.
The approach is designed to ensure learning is practical, immediately applicable and consistent with the demands of managing large-format supermarkets in remote and regional contexts. CEQ reports that the cohort is engaging strongly with the content and environment, reflecting the breadth of responsibilities involved in successful supermarket leadership.
Based on Waibene (Thursday Island), the Torres Strait’s largest community and retail hub, the pilot is positioned to mirror the scale and complexity of CEQ’s largest stores.
The location also facilitates access to the full range of management platforms and supervisory practices that underpin CEQ’s supermarket operations.
About Community Enterprise Queensland
CEQ is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for providing goods and essential services to the Torres Strait, Cape York Peninsula, Doomadgee and on Palm Island through its 31 stores.
The organisation manages the Islanders Board of Industry and Service (IBIS) and Aboriginal Business, Industry and Service (ABIS) stores, as well as other stores including Col Jones and Community Home and Hardware, and Mona’s Bazaar and Mitre 10 on Waibene.
