Members Only
Committee - 2021-22
President & Founder - Mindy
Email:president@pnta.com.au
Mindy completed her original Nail Technician training in 1992 at Launceston School of Beauty Therapy, in Tasmania. Of course, back then, there was no Registered Training Organisations or Nationally Recognised Training.
She competed in her first competition in Melbourne in 1993 – Tip & Overlay – Gel section and to my complete surprise, came third.
Mindy then decided to compete each year in both Melbourne & Sydney, placing in each Tip & Overlay – acrylic and gel competition until 1996. She was then approached by the APFA (Australian Professional Fingernail Association) to see if she would like to become a Trainee Judge. Mindy judged alongside qualified Competition Judges to learn and perfect my skills, eventually gaining my Competition Judge status in 1998.
Whilst with the APFA, she held numerous positions from Judging Coordinator, Vice President and held the position of President for 4 years from 2006-2010.
Mindy has been an Educator at TAFE Tasmania and NSW Institute of TAFE in Albury, as well as a number of private RTO's throughout Australia.
Many would recognise Mindy from her numerous years as Head Floor Judge at the International Beauty Expo,
Floor Judge at Nailympia Australia and best highlight so far - judging at Nailympia London 2019
Thank you, as Professional Nail Technicians in joining our Association.
Happy Nailing
Vice President - Trish
Email: vicepresident@pnta.com.au
Hi,
I’m Trish McLean and I am the co-owner and director of emendee pty ltd.
emendee was founded as a company with its sole purpose to improve the working conditions of each and every
nail technician in our industry through product specific development and education.
I have been lucky enough to have been involved in many of the ‘ground rule’ changing decisions that have
occurred in our industry over the last two and bit decades. This includes, government education to remove MMA
from our industry, assisting in writing both the Guidelines for South Australia Beauty industry with SA Beauty, and Guidelines for NSW technicians with NSW Health, to bring together the wealth of studies about the effects of
chemicals on Nail Technicians and how to combat the growing issues in the industry, (this research study has
already been submitted to government), and developing products to assist nail technicians in their daily work.
During the covid-19 outbreak I also submitted to state governments the design for re-opening plans for salons
both commercial and home based.
I educate throughout Australia and New Zealand, ‘Workplace Health and Safety specific to the nail industry’. This
covers environmental, ergonomic and financial workplace health and safety and is a recognised certificated
course. This is done free to all TAFE’s, training schools and private groups to ensure understanding of how to stay in our industry longer and keep our health.
I am also the proud recipient of the inaugural ‘Midge Duggan Lifetime Achievement Award’ for the ‘background
work’ done in support of the Nail Industry as a whole.
To have our industry regulated with a living document of guidelines and procedures recognised by government
and enforced is my desire.
Secretary & State Representative QLD - Fiona
Email - secretary@pnta.com.au
Bio & photo coming soon
Treasurer and State Representative WA/NT - Teresa
Email: treasurer@pnta.com.au
My ‘nail journey’ began around 2013. I have always been creative and wanted to combine my love of art and fashion. I had painted artwork on my own natural nails for years, and once I chose to wear enhancements, I decided to get qualified.
Having had some excellent training from Leita at the Australian Nail Academy, I set up a little home salon which went really well and quickly grew. At this time I also became interested in the nail competition scene. This was a great opportunity to meet some fantastic people from all levels of the industry, from fellow competitors to judges and distributors, not to mention the chance to travel worldwide at the same time. This was something I really enjoyed and managed to earn first place in my category each time I entered, finally achieving Overall Champion and Australia’s Nail Competition Champion in 2017.
Following my competition success I looked at other areas of the nail industry and had the exciting privilege to be invited to assist with London and Paris fashion weeks, alongside Marian Newman. This was another fantastic opportunity which introduced me to an amazing side of this fabulous industry.
Whilst all this was happening, I took my business and together with my husband, Ian, opened a salon here in Perth and now have an amazing team of professional nail technicians, all creating fabulous beautiful nails.
My most recent accomplishments are qualifying to be a CND®Education Ambassador and being asked to join the nail competition judging team here in Australia.
Through these experiences and the contacts I made, I joined the PNTA, who are striving to regulate the industry and promote quality and professionalism, something many of us are very passionate about. I always felt I wanted to do more, and quickly joined the team, as Treasurer. This is an amazing industry full of wonderful, committed and passionate people, one which I am proud to be part of, and I want to help keep it that way!
Public Officer and State Representative NSW/ACT - Cherie
Email: enquiries@pnta.com.au
Cherie Pollard is a Nail Professional, studio owner and industry educator. She has also been a member of Global Team CND™ for the past twenty one years.
Cherie owns a successful studio, which exclusively stocks CND™. Her work can be seen in the pages of magazines and on international runways. She is regularly quoted on the pages of trade magazines as an industry expert and is in demand for beauty shoots, advertising campaigns and fashion designers’ Look Books.
With more than 29 years industry experience, Cherie’s achievements are numerous. Highlights include becoming the only Australian member of Global Team CND™ representing Pacific Nail and Beauty; guiding students to achieve their goals as Nail Professionals as a Certificate III in Nail Technology trainer.
Cherie resides in Sydney AUSTRALIA with her husband John and their ten year old son Jack.
She is proud to represent the PNTA as the NSW representative.
State Representatives
NSW/ACT -Lynda
Email: state_rep-nsw2@pnta.com.au
Lynda confessors she is a chronic nail biter and is embarrassed about her bitten to the quick nails. When she started working in admin in the late 80s her very first pay was spent on a ‘full set of acrylics’ and her decades long love affair with 'nice nails' began.
Lynda commenced her brilliant career commencing as an EA/PA for various public service managers/departments, as she was great with computers was head-hunted to become an ICT trainer/helpdesker then she found her niche in records and information management and became a specialist contractor. No matter what role she undertook, Lynda was known for being well presented and her lovely long nails!
With a sincere appreciation for the work of nail techs, Lynda made her tree change, she also made a mid-life career change - from filing records to filing nails – by completing her cert iii nail technology before buying an established salon in a small country town.
As a nail client she’s had far too many bad experiences with NSS nail techs which is why she joined PNTA, to lobby for a regulated beauty industry and to educate the consumer that there are qualified and professional alternatives to the NSS ‘nail bars’ and ‘self-taught’ home salons.
TAS - Kylie
Email: state_rep-tas@pnta.com.au
Kylie Clare has been a nail technician for 27 years and has spent her career working with top professional nail brands and educating at TasTAFE for the past 23 years
Along with her passionate and energetic personality, Kylie is extremely knowledgeable in all areas of the nail industry. She takes pride in every aspect of education and mentoring others.
In 2012, Kylie was appointed the role of Education Service Manager for Switch Funky Australasia where she heads up education and technical support for Australia and New Zealand across many brands.
Kylie is a Famous Names Educator and Artistic Nail Design Global Principle Educator and has won many awards while attending Artistic educator training in the USA
Kylie proudly represents the PNTA as the state rep for Tasmania
VIC - Anh
Email: state_rep-vic@pnta.com.au
Anh is a notable Education Manager for Le Beauty, proudly a Hands-on trainer, Anh provides beauty services in the disciplines of lash extensions, Lash lifting & brow henna and tinting, nail enhancements, tanning and waxing.
Anh is a master and certified trainer for a number of brands including Gelish, Elleebana, Caronlab and Bondi Sands.
Along the way, Anh has earned accolades and awards in many industries, Best Nail Art CND 2014, 1st Place Beginners 2D – 3D Volume - Australian & New Zealand Lash 2016 Championships, 3rd place Classic – Australian & New Zealand Lash 2016 Championships, 1st place best Dip Nail, Gelish Harmony Internationals Vietnam 2019. Mentor and speaker at Lash Vision Leaders 2018, Professional Beauty Advancing Education Industry Round Table #9 in 2019, finalist in the ABIA Awards for educator of the year 2019, judge for Melbourne International Eyelash Competition 2020.
“What is a driving force for me is bringing into the industry more qualified passionate and skilled therapists/technicians.”
SA - Julie
Email: state_rep-sa@pnta.com.au
Julie qualified as a beauty therapist in 2004 and worked in that field for numerous years. She went back and completed her Nail training in 2013, after a year in the industry took over the mantle of distributor for Nail Perfect products and became an educator that same year. Julie completed her international training with Dorota Palicka in 2018.
Whilst staying busy with her distribution business that crosses both nails and beauty, she also maintains her beauty salon to keep her skills maintained.
Julie’s qualifications range from Diploma in beauty therapy and Marketing, Certificate 2 in Nail Technology and also certificates in IPL hair removal and Dermapen skin needling. Always looking for ways to improve her skill base, extra training is always on the cards. Social Media marketing is also her passion and something she is focusing on in the ever changing world of social media
SA - Kirsty
Email: state_rep-sa2@pnta.com.au
In the past 20 years Kirsty has accumulated a vast amount of knowledge, skills, accolades and accomplishments. Training under some of the most elite nail artists worldwide including Catherine Wong, Trang Nguyen, Gina Silvestro, Viv Simmonds and many more.
Kirsty has used her talent to win multiple awards and now spends her time sharing this with fellow artists and students. Kirsty's work has been published in trade magazines over the years and has produced some award winning posters.
Kirsty has been running a very successful beauty business for 18 years and lecturing at Tafe SA for the past 8 years in all aspects of beauty and nails. She has completed her certificate IV in Training and Assessment and was the head coordinator and judge at the South Australian Nail Awards.
Kirsty continues to up skill at any opportunity so that she can share her passion for this industry and nails with everyone she comes into contact with.
NZ - Melissa
Email: state_rep-nz@pnta.com.au
Mel Harrop aka Miss Bliss started doing nails simply to do her own and soon after established herself a successful professional nail career which has led her down many paths.
Mel quickly became Canterbury’s newest nail addiction, booking out months in advance.
To follow Mel was quickly sought after to become an educator and has successfully trained upcoming nail technicians over the last 8 years. Mel is a passionate educator who takes pride in seeing her students succeed with quality education and ongoing support. With this growth Miss Bliss has expanded to 5 Internationally Qualified Educators from September 2019 covering six regions throughout New Zealand.
Mel has featured many times on TV2 with shows such as ‘WHAT NOW’ and ‘The 4.30 Show’. Also having the honour to do local celebs, NZ sports personalities and international icon ‘The BOSS, Bruce Springsteen’ for his Christchurch show.
Miss Bliss expanded into distribution for Artistic Nail Design, Famous Names, Salt of the Earth from the USA in 2016 becoming New Zealand’s leading distributor for the brands and most recently Glitter Gloss from the UK.
Mel’s reputation is known for helping others and operating her business with kindness something she believes strongly in.
Mel is very proud to be representing New Zealand for such a wonderful organisation.
Health and Safety Advisor- Ian
Email: healthandsafety@pnta.com.au
If you walk into a restaurant, sit down and order a meal, you will expect that the meal is prepared in a hygienic kitchen area, by an individual who has been appropriately trained in their craft and with good quality fresh ingredients. This is of course extremely reasonable to do so. Moreover if you visit a ‘fine’ dining establishment you would expect a better quality and standard and therefore it is reasonable to suggest you would be happy to pay a little more for the service and the product you receive. In Australia, the food industry is quite rightly heavily regulated with standards and has its own regulator backed by the Federal Government.
Why am I going on about this? Well why should the Nail Industry be any different in this aspect? I am not in a position to answer that question is this short introduction, however I am sure that as a dedicated member of this association you will understand what I mean.
Having spent nearly twenty years in emergency services a change of career led me into the Health and Safety industry, where I have been for the last seven years. I have worked off shore in the commercial diving world, and in hard rock mining dealing with safety in both underground and surface operations.
Together with my wife Teresa, who is an accomplished and passionate nail technician, I own a nail and beauty salon in Perth, WA, where the health of both our staff and customers is paramount.
I am extremely proud to be part of this committee and to be working alongside professionals who really want to make a difference. I believe that the standards which have been created in many other industries and regulated accordingly should be echoed in our own fabulous industry.
I look forward to being a part of what this association can collectively achieve in Australia and New Zealand.
