Magnetic Island About Us

About Apex Camps

Vibrant and energetic volunteer service organisation focused on harnessing the ideas and intelligence of younger Australians.

Apex Australia is an authentic Australian icon – established in 1931 and going strong. Today there are Apex Clubs throughout Australia and in several countries abroad.

Apex Australia has helped more than 200,000 younger Australians make a difference to their community, learn valued skills and make great friends. The Apex story is one of fun, fellowship and friendship. Apex offers you the opportunity to give others a fair go, practical help and positive role models to reach their own potential. Its Apex, Its Australian!

Board Members

Mark Ballin

Chairman

Mark has a long and rich legacy with Apex, serving as President at a local, state, national and international level. He is a life member at both Ipswich and Biloela Apex Clubs and has proudly held every club position at a local level. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge to the Apex Camps board, having held the position of Director of Apex Camps for five years. He has also served as the Director of the Endeavour Foundation Ipswich branch and been a valued member of the Theodore Rotary Club and Theodore RSL.

Mark enjoyed a career in the Queensland Police Service and as a member of the International Police Association. He values time with his family and spends his leisure time camping and fishing.

Roy Woods

Vice Chairman

Roy is a Life Member of the Apex Club of Chinchilla, the Apex Foundation and Apex Camps. He has been involved in the Apex community for over thirty years, holding most of the board positions at Chinchilla, several positions on the Apex Southwest Queensland Board and serving as the District Governor on the Apex State Board in 2008/2009. Roy has a special interest in international community service work and has travelled to Apex clubs in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

Roy has years of extensive and varied experience in the building industry, beginning his career as a qualified carpenter before becoming a Registered Residential and Commercial Builder and running his own building company. He has also served as the President of the Motorbike Riders Association, coordinating the club’s charity blood donation runs and Christmas toy drives.

Roy is passionate about mentoring and encouraging new members and has continued to be involved in Apex community service work and projects to this day.

James Irving

Treasurer

James brings significant senior leadership, finance, commercial, compliance and logistics skills to the Board. He has over 40 years’ experience in global finance and commercial roles, having worked in Australia, Asia, Europe and the US, specialising in transport and logistics.

James holds a Bachelor of Business, is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has been an active Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Australia for over 40 years. He also has experience running his own consulting business, and serving other community organisations in the fields of tennis and badminton.

James is passionate about contributing to his local community and bringing the experiences of camps to young people, gaining confidence and leadership skills and learning other vital skills they may otherwise miss out on if not attending the Camp. James has served in the role of Treasurer for Apex Camps since May 2022.

Craig Sim

Board Director

Craig has been a highly valued Apex member for more than 17 years, serving at multiple clubs across Queensland including Maleny, Albany Creek and Mackay West. He has always had a passion for local community, having owned and operated his own small business for 15 years. Craig also sits on the board of the Rotary Club of Maleny and the Caloundra City 4WD Club. He enjoys being in the great outdoors, camping and exploring off-road tracks, as well as cheering on the Brisbane Broncos NRL team.

Danny Davidsom

Board Director

Danny has been an Apex Camps board member for over 12 years, as well as serving as CEO of Apex Camps for four years. He has an extensive history in community service, being involved in this sector for 22 years, including as a member of the Apex Maroochydore and Brisbane City clubs. Danny has built an impressive career as an experienced retail property manager. He values spending quality time with friends and family, enjoying movies and good food.

Luke Skele

Board Director

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Luke brings a range of leadership skills from experiences in sales, transport, logistics and community service to the Board. Professionally, Luke has a degree and has worked in Agricultural Science, as well as transport and logistics, holding multiple qualifications and managerial roles in this area.

Luke was awarded a life membership of the Association of Apex Clubs of Australia in 2025, being a member the Goondiwindi club since 2011and undertaking noteworthy roles in the club including helping establish the Goondiwindi Men's shed. He is also the Treasurer of the Goondiwindi Motorsport Association which run events each year within the Australian Offroad Racing Association series.

Luke is driven as a director by the opportunities Apex Camps can give the youth of today in reaching their full potential through positive support and the opportunity to become leaders in their communities. Luke has served in the role of Director of Apex Camps since October 2020.

Tara Spotswood

Board Director

Tara brings extensive leadership, management, operations, governance, community service, fundraising and events expertise to the Board. She has played a vital role in revitalising existing Apex clubs and establishing new ones, driving membership growth and community engagement across Australia. She has served multiple terms on the Apex Australia Board including National President, Vice President, Treasurer and Regional Communicator Coordinator.

Tara is widely recognised for her collaborative leadership and ability to balance Apex traditions with modern challenges. She has successfully run fundraising, community events and service projects benefiting a variety of local initiatives - leading effectively at club, state, and national levels.

Tara’s professional experience also spans across hospitality and operations management. This includes managing a team of 40 cross bar, restaurant, and retail liquor operations, overseeing a full-service restaurant operating 7 days-a-week, and delivering Meals on Wheels three days weekly for the local community. Tara has served in the role of Director of Apex Camps since October 2025.

Tessa Biddles

Board Director

Tessa brings extensive marketing, public relations and fundraising experience to the Board. She has more than 15 years of experience across all facets of marketing including: marketing strategy, brand marketing, campaigns, sponsorships, partnerships, fundraising, events, and media liaison.

Tessa has worked across different commercial sectors, including finance, insurance and commercial property, membership, as well as not-for-profit organisations, including those focusing on youth mental health. She excels at the partnership and story-telling part of marketing, bringing focus to the “why” of different campaigns, reaching new audiences, and achieving targets in a meaningful way. Her professional qualifications include BA Arts and BA Commerce from The University of Melbourne.

Tessa is passionate about supporting young people in building their self-esteem and life skills, especially across sporting, social and creative problems solving skills, and is proud to support and promote Apex Camps in this capacity. Tessa has served in the role of Director of Apex Camps since March 2025.

Jim Hughes

Patron

Jim is a past National President of Apex Australia and has served as Chairman of the Apex Foundation of Australia. He has subsequently been appointed Life Governor of Apex Australia, Life Member of the Apex Foundation Australia and is currently the Patron of Apex Camps.

Jim has extensive experience as the director of ten successful companies, including both commercial organisations and non-for-profit community entities throughout Australia. He has served as the President of the Insurance Institute of Queensland and the Insurance Council of Queensland. He was the inaugural director of successful insurance company, Youi Holdings Pty Ltd and all other companies within the Youi Insurance Group, before retiring from the company in 2020. He is currently a director of the Ambooriny Burru Foundation and Kred Enterprises in Western Australia, focusing on the wellbeing of Aboriginal Australians.

Jim has operated a number of sophisticated medical and community trusts where he had specific responsibility for the Children’s Cancer Research Trust and the Diabetes Research Trust. He is the immediate past National Chairman of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and has been appointed as a Life Member. In 2012, he was recognised for his community and business contribution across Australia and was awarded the ‘Member of the Order of Australia AM’ for services to the insurance industry, the Apex Clubs of Australia, the advancement of men’s health and support for the arts.

Keith Fullerton

CEO

Keith serves as the Chief Executive Officer, successfully driving strategy, guiding operational performance, and directing staff and day-to-day operations for Apex Camps across both Sunshine Coast and Magnetic Island sites.

Keith brings extensive leadership, finance, facilities management and people management expertise to the role. He excels at creating vibrant and cohesive teams that support operations and provide an exceptional camps’ experience for children and teens. He plays a vital role in supporting the Board, delivering the strategic plan, and ensuring that both camp sites are run professionally and are financially healthy. This includes successfully managing the completion of a range of infrastructure projects to raise the value and scope of the camps delivered.

Keith also works closely with national, state, and local governments and other local organisations to strengthen connections and local communities. Keith has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Apex Camps since October 2022.

Our History

1983

Started from humble beginnings in 1983 when a group of civic minded Apexians from the local area wanted to provide the opportunity to engage the local community in the camp experience.

In 2013 we took over a lease on a former Queensland Government Active Recreation Centre on Magnetic Island (Apex Camps Magnetic Island), offering guests a unique island adventure off the coast of Townsville.

2013

2017-2018

In 2017, Apex Camps Sunshine Coast began running a School Holiday Drop-Off Program for kids aged 5-17, along with outdoor adventure Birthday Parties. In 2018, the camp also began running Corporate and Group Activities for group outdoor experiences and team building events.

2021

Apex Australia has helped more than 200,000 younger Australians make a difference to their community, learn valued skills and make great friends. Its Apex, Its Australian!