Jim Reeves


Adult Educator · Cross-cultural Teacher · Community Carer · Far North Queensland

jimreeves@live.com 0423 900 475 Cow Bay, Far North Queensland

I grew up around the Indigenous communities. Those everyday connections shaped how I approach the work that matters here — patience, listening first, turning up consistently.

I've spent over a decade as an educator. Eight years teaching in Tianjin across primary school, adult professional English training and Pandaroo English — the small independent language school I founded to give students genuine autonomy in pursuing their own learning goals, as a deliberate alternative to the rote-memorisation models dominant at the time. Back in Brisbane I led a team of ESL teachers as Director of Studies at Alpha English, implementing the organisation's first online teaching program. Across all of it, the core skill has been the same: meeting adult learners where they are, adapting resources to individual styles, and building assessment into a relationship of trust rather than scrutiny.

I also hold a Blue Card, a current Driver's Licence, and the full set of industry tickets common to FNQ employment pathways — Construction White Card, High Risk Work Licence, working at heights, plant operation (excavator, roller, front-end loader), EWP 22m, Level 1 dogging, and traffic control. I've worked the jobs they apply to — useful context when helping adult learners map literacy, numeracy and language work onto the real pathways they're trying to enter.

The last two years as a full-time live-in carer in Mossman have kept me grounded in one-on-one relational work — the same patience and continuity good adult education asks for.

I'm looking for adult education work where meeting learners where they are, adapting to individual goals, and holding a culturally respectful classroom are the actual priorities — not afterthoughts. I'm happy to obtain a Training and Assessment qualification if one isn't already held on appointment, and to pass any required police or background checks.

Full-Time Live-In Carer · Private engagement

Mossman, Far North Queensland
  • Round-the-clock personal care, companionship and household coordination for a long-term client in the Mossman community.
  • Day-to-day management of medication, medical appointments, meal preparation, household logistics and family communication.
  • Reliability and continuity of presence are the defining aspects of the work — a direct parallel to the trust-based relational work at the core of community engagement.

Ferry Deckhand · Entrada, Daintree River

Daintree, Far North Queensland
  • Front-line deckhand on the Daintree River ferry crossing, the main link between the Daintree coast and the rest of FNQ.
  • Public contact, safety procedures, traffic direction during loading, cash handling, and working outdoors in tropical conditions.
  • Direct ground-level exposure to the regional transport and tourism economy that underpins FNQ employment.

Traffic Controller · Altus

Mossman, Far North Queensland
  • Certified Traffic Controller on road and utility projects across the Mossman and Daintree regions.
  • Operated inside worksite safety plans and traffic management plans with direct daily contact with tradespeople and the travelling public.

On-Site Project Supervisor · Rodrigues Construction Group

Brisbane & Townsville
  • Supervised two large-scale builds as the on-site lead across concurrent projects, reporting to owner/director Mark Rodrigues.
  • Townsville Transit Centre — extensive refurbishment of the former transit centre into a multi-purpose office, retail and food-outlet space. Unique challenges included engaging quality local trades after multiple previous failed attempts at the same site, and delivering through COVID-19 disruption.
  • West End luxury high-rise, Brisbane — completion of a partially-built high-rise apartment building that had sat idle for more than two years after the original building company declared bankruptcy.
  • Oversight and coordination of simultaneous projects across multiple teams; implementation of quality assurance and quality control practices; KPI review and team performance analysis; compliance with all relevant local and state laws.
  • The role was, at its core, about rebuilding relationships — with trades, with suppliers, and with the broader community — to turn difficult sites around.

Short-Term Advisory Assignment — UK · Blackwatch Marine & Greystones Lawyers

England
  • Short-term engagement to England to inspect and advise on the status and future viability of an Axminster woven-carpet factory.
  • On-site assessment, reporting, and strategic recommendations delivered to principals in Australia.

Venue Manager · Palace Supper Club

Brisbane
  • Venue Manager at Palace Supper Club, a prominent Brisbane hospitality venue.
  • Front-of-house and back-of-house team management, events, rostering, licensing compliance, and customer relations.
  • Recruited Hayden Pomona (previously chef at Jamesons — see Prior Hospitality) as Executive Chef.

Foreman — Boutique Hotel Refurbishment · Akakura Apartments

Myoko, Niigata, Japan
  • Led the complete refurbishment, upgrade and launch of a five-storey boutique hotel in the small ski-resort village of Myoko.
  • Managed an entirely non-English-speaking Japanese trades crew — only two other English speakers on site.
  • Understanding of and compliance with local laws, customs and building standards; material sourcing, availability and logistics were critical challenges.
  • A challenging but incredibly rewarding cross-cultural leadership experience.

Management Consultant · Blackwatch Marine & Greystones Lawyers

Gold Coast, Queensland
  • Working closely with and reporting directly to Andrew Johnson (owner and MD of both companies), responsible for implementing and actioning projects and strategies for clients across a diverse range of businesses and industries.
  • Primary focus areas: government compliance, disputes, negotiations and penalties, taxation.
  • Deep analytical work, stakeholder negotiation, and operational strategy — directly relevant to EMG's essential criteria around operational and business strategies.

Part Owner / Director · Alpha Hot Water Systems & Hey Presto Instant Hot Water

Brisbane
  • Co-owned and directed two small hot-water business ventures operating in Brisbane.
  • Hands-on experience with business registration, operations, supplier relationships, day-to-day management, and the practical realities of regional small-business ownership.

Founder / English Teacher · Pandaroo English

Tianjin, China
  • After nearly a decade living and teaching in China, opened a small independent English Language Training school to give students genuine autonomy in pursuing their language goals — a direct contrast to the rote-learning and memorisation models dominant in Chinese ESL at the time.
  • Intensive one-to-one courses; specialised company training in English culture and custom; early English introduction and awareness programs for young learners; preparation of Chinese students for overseas study.
  • End-to-end responsibility: curriculum design, teacher recruitment, facilities, marketing, and student outcomes.

English Teacher · Wall Street English

Tianjin, China
  • Teaching position at one of the most respected private English Language Training centres in China and globally — equally regarded for its training, resources and teaching environment.
  • Comprehensive syllabus from beginner to advanced.
  • Employee of the Month for consecutive months.
  • Responsible for planning and conducting school excursions.
  • Attended numerous workshops and training seminars.
  • Consistently successful demo-class presentations.

English Teacher · Nankai Xiang Yu Primary School

Tianjin, China
  • Extensive lesson planning and course outlines for students ranging from Grade One to Grade Six.
  • Specialised preparation for English examinations.
  • Daily interaction and co-operation with Chinese English teachers — the first and longest immersion in cross-cultural education delivery.
03 Extended & Concurrent Work History 4 roles

Parallel and concurrent roles — some overlapping with the main timeline above — retained here for completeness.

  • 2013 – present Management Consultant (multiple short-term contracts) · Greystones Lawyers · Gold Coast, Queensland

    Ongoing advisory relationship with Andrew Johnson (MD) across a decade. Contact: andrew.johnson@greystoneslaw.com.au.

  • 2011 – 2013 Venue Manager (including fit-out) · AJO Bar & Restaurant · Tianjin, China

    Concurrent with Pandaroo English. Contact: Joe Hsu (part-owner), Operations Manager, Cooperate Well Enterprise Co. Ltd.

  • 2009 – 2011 Bar Manager · Truemans Bar · Tianjin, China

    Concurrent with Wall Street English role. Contact: Gloria Li (owner), now Small Business Specialist, ANZ Australia.

  • 2002 – 2010 Import & Export Manager · National Discount Sales (family business) · Tianjin, China

    Operations spanning the early years in China through the teaching period.

04 Notable Prior Hospitality 4 venues

Hospitality appointments pre-2002 — the foundation of a long front-of-house career.

  • Duty Manager · Fihelly's Arms Hotel · Brisbane

    Now known as the Grand Central, situated behind Central Station Brisbane — a busy old-school pub.

  • Duty Manager · Assistant Liquor Barn Manager · Gap Tavern · The Gap, Queensland

    Owned by the Quinn family before sale to ALH; the largest liquor barn in Queensland at the time, with an outstanding wine selection and team.

  • Barman · Assistant Cellarman · Duty Manager · Assistant F&B Manager · Queensland Irish Association · Brisbane

    Began as a temporary function-waiter shift and was hired that night; progressed to Assistant F&B Manager within 18 months.

  • Waiter · Shift Supervisor · Jamesons Restaurant · Brisbane

    One of Brisbane's best restaurants of its era under Jamie Brotherson. Worked alongside chefs Antony Scholtemeyer and Hayden Pomona — the single biggest influence on his hospitality career.

  • Blue Card — Working with Children Approval (QLD)
  • Certificate II in Hospitality · COTAH, Brisbane
  • Construction White Card
  • High Risk Work Licence
  • Working Safely at Heights
  • Personnel & Materials Hoist
  • Excavator, Roller & Front-End Loader
  • Elevated Work Platform (EWP 22m)
  • Level 1 Dogman
  • Traffic Controller
  • Responsible Service of Alcohol (QLD)
  • Current Driver's Licence (Class C)
  • Adult & youth English-language teaching
  • Curriculum and program design for mixed-ability groups
  • Adaptive teaching for individual learning styles & goals
  • Assessment, progress tracking & record-keeping
  • Cross-cultural classroom facilitation
  • One-on-one mentoring and pastoral support
  • Team leadership (Director of Studies experience)
  • Small-business operations — founded & ran own language school
  • Stakeholder engagement (community, trades, government)
  • Conversational Mandarin Chinese
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
  • Mark Rodrigues
    Owner / Director · Rodrigues Development Group
    +61 411 599 923
  • Andrew Johnson
    Managing Director · Greystones Lawyers
    +61 401 921 201 · andrew.johnson@greystoneslaw.com.au
  • Michael Nguyen
    Operations and Compliance Manager · RSL Queensland
    +61 423 465 607
  • Daniel King
    Owner · Kingy's Catering
    +61 415 977 586
  • Felicity Rounsefell
    Solicitor & Migration Agent

Written references available on request.