Carly Woods, founder of Ethical Edge Solutions, is helping Gold Coast business owners use practical AI and automation to reduce repetitive admin and create more time outside work.

Her Automate to Dominate® Method focuses on three stages — Organise, Automate and Dominate — beginning with the everyday task causing the most friction.

Woods says the goal is not to overwhelm owners with technology, but to help them make one useful improvement and build from there.

She also shares the example of a local electrician who reported saving about a working day each week after connecting business systems and using AI more effectively.

Now a 2026 Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year finalist, Woods says her wider ambition is to help business owners create capacity to grow while still having time for family and life beyond work.

BLEACH Festival 2026 continues at HOTA until Sunday 11 October, with a busy final week of free live music, public art, dance, workshops and family events.

The Live Music Stage returns on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, while ongoing installations including BEACON can be explored throughout the week.

Ticketed dance works and hands-on activities expand the program across the closing weekend.

For locals looking for a flexible outing, many parts of the festival are free, making it easy to drop into the HOTA precinct and build a visit around the events that appeal most.

Varsity Lakes founder Thanat Theerabootwongkul wants adult children to discover more about their parents through one gentle question each week.

Inspired by his work as a personal carer in a nursing home dementia ward, he is building TaleOak, a free platform where families can save the stories and preferences they learn.

Parents do not need to manage the app: the adult child asks the question and keeps the answer.

Thanat is starting with Australian families and focusing on building a regular habit of conversation.

Voice recording and iOS and Android releases are planned.

Wolfpac founder Justin Summersgill shares how more than 20 years in hospitality shaped his approach to bringing people together.

He speaks candidly about business failure, commitments he is still addressing and rebuilding confidence through consistent work.

For Gold Coast business owners, his advice centres on knowing the numbers, asking for help early and building relationships before they are urgently needed.

Find a volunteer role that matches your interests, skills and availability.

Start with current local listings, check the tasks and commitment, and ask about training, supervision and practical arrangements before applying.

The 2026 Gold Coast 500 brings three days of Supercars racing to the streets of Surfers Paradise from Friday, October 23, to Sunday, October 25.

Friday’s practice sessions begin at 11:45 am and 1:50 pm, before qualifying at 4:05 pm helps set the grid for Saturday’s race.

Saturday features a Top Ten Shootout at 12:35 pm, followed by the first 85-lap race at 3:15 pm.

Sunday has its own qualifying sessions at 11:20 am and 11:40 am, a shootout at 12:05 pm and a second 85-lap race at 2:45 pm.

Support racing and the Sound Track entertainment precinct add to the beachside weekend, with Bag Raiders and Sneaky Sound System among the announced acts.

With crowds and road closures expected around Surfers Paradise and Main Beach, allow extra time to arrive, consider the G:link light rail and check the latest schedule before heading out.