Queensland Leaders

What Queensland Leaders does

Queensland Leaders is a curated peer-group business development community serving ambitious privately-owned companies. Founded in 2006 by James Paulsen, the company operates four structured programs: Executive Leaders (up to 25 established companies per year), Future Leaders (up to 15 earlier-stage ventures), Regional Connect (regional businesses), and Alumni Series (indefinite post-program engagement). Membership is capped at approximately 40 new companies annually and is delivered through monthly in-person events (Knowledge Workshops, 'Ask the Expert' Sessions, Facilitated Forums, Connect Events) supported by proprietary digital tools including the Leaders Resource Centre, Leaders App, and Ask the Expert platform. Members commit one afternoon per month for ten months with no homework, assessments, or commercial sales pressure.

The company generates revenue primarily through annual membership subscriptions, with pricing determined via a quote-based expression-of-interest and vetting process rather than public disclosure. Distribution is direct and invitation-based: prospective members apply through the website, are vetted for fit, and are admitted into the curated community. Marketing relies heavily on member referrals, content series (Alumni Spotlight, Expert Outlook), LinkedIn presence, and the in-person event calendar. The business is privately held by Queensland Leaders Pty Ltd with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company.

Queensland Leaders operates as part of a broader International Leaders network extending the model across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, allowing members to attend events in each market. An Advisory Board of 12 senior figures — including a former Queensland Premier, ASX-listed chairs, and recognized Australian CEOs — provides strategic guidance. The organization is founder-owned, leanly staffed (1–10 employees), and emphasizes high-impact peer engagement over scale, having supported more than 1,000 companies over two decades.

Name

Queensland Leaders

Legal name

Queensland Leaders Pty Ltd

Website

https://queenslandleaders.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Queensland Leaders is a curated peer-group membership community, founded in 2006, serving ambitious privately-owned companies in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK through structured programs, expert workshops, and a proprietary digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Peer Groups / Business Leadership Membership Programs

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive Leadership Summits (C-Suite, Board, Strategy Offsites) (THAHAMAA)

Keywords

• Executive peer groups
• Business leadership community
• Private company membership
• Peer learning programs
• Business owner networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Queensland

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for participation in the Executive Leaders, Future Leaders, Regional Connect, and Alumni Series programs. Membership is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Queensland Leaders operates a curated, invitation-based peer-group membership community exclusively for ambitious privately-owned companies. It delivers four structured annual programs — Executive Leaders (established companies), Future Leaders (earlier-stage ventures), Regional Connect (regional businesses) and Alumni Series (ongoing graduate involvement) — through monthly in-person workshops, expert sessions, facilitated forums and connect events, supported by proprietary online tools (Leaders Resource Centre, Leaders App, Ask the Expert platform). The program is capped at approximately 40 member companies per year and runs one afternoon per month for ten months with no homework, assessments, or reporting.

Product overview

Queensland Leaders is a curated peer-group business development community for ambitious privately-owned companies, operating since 2006. The offering consists of four structured programs (Executive Leaders for established companies, Future Leaders for earlier-stage ventures, Regional Connect for regional businesses, and Alumni Series for ongoing graduate involvement) delivered through monthly in-person events including Knowledge Workshops, 'Ask the Expert' Sessions, Facilitated Forums and Connect Events. The program is supported by a proprietary digital platform comprising the Leaders Resource Centre (web-based member portal with presentations, videos, and expert Q&A), the Leaders App (mobile access), and the Ask the Expert platform connecting Members with Industry Experts. The program is limited to 40 companies per year and serves as a platform for high-impact peer engagement without sales or commercial pressure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Executive Leaders: A program for more established companies focused on driving personal, professional and business growth.
• Future Leaders
• Regional Connect
• Alumni Series
• International Leaders

Products and services

• Executive Leaders Annual structured peer-group membership program for more established privately-owned companies (up to 25 per year) to drive personal, professional and business growth through monthly in-person Knowledge Workshops, Ask the Expert sessions, Facilitated Forums and Connect Events, followed by ongoing involvement as part of the Alumni community.
• Future Leaders Annual structured peer-group membership program for earlier-stage privately-owned ventures (up to 15 companies per year) to build capability and accelerate business development, with the same monthly time commitment and Alumni continuation as Executive Leaders.
• Regional Connect Annual membership program for regional Queensland-based privately-owned companies, providing structured initiatives and events to connect regional businesses and pursue regional growth opportunities.
• Alumni Series Ongoing membership offering for graduates of the Executive Leaders, Future Leaders and Regional Connect programs, ensuring continuous personal and professional development and networking opportunities for past participants.
• Leaders Resource Centre

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $10 million raised by one member for national and international growth
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Advisory Board MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006The Advisory Board supports the strategic direction of Queensland Leaders and inspires members with valuable insights and connections. Board includes Maree Adshead, Vivienne Anthon, Sallyanne Atkinson AO, Peter Birtles, Robert Borbidge AO, Stephen Copplin, Teresa Dyson, John Mactaggart, Marc Meili, James Paulsen, Marty Rowen, and Ian Runge.
• International LeaderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Leaders is an affiliated network extending the Queensland Leaders model across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Members can attend International Leaders Series events across these regions, enabling network expansion and exploration of international opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vistage Worldwide: The world's largest CEO peer advisory organization, serving SME CEOs and key executives in monthly peer groups facilitated by experienced chairs. Closely comparable to Queensland Leaders in curated membership, monthly cadence, and outcome orientation, but with global scale.
• Strategic Coach: Coaching and peer-group program for entrepreneurs and founders, built around structured workshops and a proprietary thinking-tools framework. Comparable in serving ambitious private-business owners with curated, recurring peer engagement and structured frameworks.
• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): Premier global peer network for chief executives, offering forum-based peer groups, learning, and events. Comparable to Queensland Leaders in target audience (decision-makers of privately-owned businesses) and curated membership model, with significantly broader geographic reach.
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): Global membership community for founders and owners of businesses exceeding $1M in revenue, offering peer learning, forums, and events. Directly comparable to Queensland Leaders' Executive Leaders cohort in serving ambitious private-company owners with structured peer engagement.
• TEC (The Executive Connection / Vistage Australia): Australian peer advisory for SME CEOs and business owners, originally TEC and now part of Vistage. Directly comparable to Queensland Leaders in geography, target member (Australian private-company decision-makers), and monthly facilitated group format — the closest domestic competitor.
• Tiger 21: Peer membership organization for high-net-worth investors and business owners, structured around monthly group meetings, expert speakers, and portfolio review. Comparable in curated, capacity-limited peer-group design serving owners of substantial privately-held enterprises.
• The Alternative Board (TAB): International peer advisory board franchise serving SME owners and CEOs through monthly facilitated board meetings. Closely comparable to Queensland Leaders in membership structure, format, and SME/owner-operator target customer.

Broad incumbents

• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Global program providing business education, mentoring, and peer networks for growth-oriented small business owners. Comparable to Queensland Leaders in targeting ambitious private-company owners with growth potential, though delivered as a cohort-based tuition program rather than an ongoing curated community.
• Australian Institute of Management (AIM): Australia's longest-established management training and leadership development provider offering courses, certifications, and member services. Comparable to Queensland Leaders in leadership-development focus for Australian businesses, but as a broad incumbent offering formal training rather than curated peer groups.

Regional players

• CEO Institute: Australian peer-group community for CEOs and business owners with structured forums and leadership development. Comparable to Queensland Leaders in target member and peer-group format, with overlapping but geographically distinct Australian membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/Queensland-leaders
• Xx.com/qldleaders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Queensland Leaders