LYFT Advisory
Peer advisory board · Brisbane · Gold Coast · Online

LYFTforum

A peer advisory board for founders and CEOs. Your sounding board. Your competitive advantage.

Building a business can be one of the most rewarding journeys you'll ever take—but it can also be one of the loneliest. The bigger your business becomes, the fewer people you can have honest conversations with.

LYFTforum brings together carefully selected founders in confidential, professionally facilitated advisory boards in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast and online — where members openly discuss real business challenges, challenge each other's thinking and leave with practical strategies they can implement immediately.

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What it is

A trusted community of ambitious founders.

This isn't networking. It isn't a mastermind. And it certainly isn't another breakfast event. It's a trusted community of ambitious founders committed to building better businesses—and becoming better leaders.

Every forum is personally facilitated by Vanessa Garrard, combining the collective wisdom of experienced founders with more than 25 years of commercial experience building, acquiring, scaling and advising businesses.

What happens at every forum?

Honest conversations that lead to better outcomes.

Every month, members bring the biggest challenge they're facing. Together, we work through opportunities, obstacles and strategic decisions in a confidential environment where honest conversations lead to better outcomes.

Every discussion is practical, relevant and driven by the needs of the members in the room.

Topics often include:

  • Leadership and people
  • Business growth
  • Cash flow and profitability
  • Strategy and execution
  • Sales and marketing
  • Acquisitions and expansion
  • Capital raising
  • Succession planning
  • Exit readiness
  • Founder mindset
  • Tough leadership decisions
Why founders join

Better decisions. Better accountability. Better businesses.

  • Better decisions

    Gain perspectives from experienced founders who have faced similar challenges.

  • Accountability

    Stop putting important decisions off. Leave every meeting with clear actions and the accountability to follow through.

  • Strategic thinking

    Step away from the day-to-day and spend time working on your business—not just in it.

  • Trusted relationships

    Build meaningful relationships with founders who understand the realities of business ownership.

  • Confidentiality

    Everything discussed remains confidential, creating a safe environment for open and honest conversations.

Who it's for

Founders who want more than networking.

  • Want more than networking.
  • Value honest feedback and constructive challenge.
  • Are committed to building stronger businesses.
  • Want access to experienced peers.
  • Believe leadership grows through shared experience.
  • Understand that better decisions create better businesses.
What you get

More than a meeting.

  • Peer Intelligence

    Tap into the collective experience of a curated group of non-competing founders facing similar challenges.

  • Strategic Accountability

    Monthly structured sessions keep you focused on what matters — with a group that holds you to your commitments.

  • Expert Facilitation

    Every board is chaired by Vanessa Garrard, bringing decades of real commercial experience to every session.

  • Confidential Environment

    What's said in the room stays in the room. Boards are carefully curated to ensure no conflicts of interest.

  • Practical Outcomes

    Leave every session with clear actions, fresh perspectives and renewed momentum for your business.

  • Trusted Network

    Build genuine relationships with fellow founders who understand the journey and are invested in your success.

Choose your board

Brisbane, Gold Coast or Virtual.

  • LYFTforum Brisbane

    In-Person

    Limited seats available

    Our Brisbane board brings together ambitious founders from across South East Queensland for a structured monthly session in the heart of the city.

    • Second Tuesday of each monthMonthly
    • 7:30am – 10:00am
    • Brisbane CBD
    Apply for Brisbane Board

  • LYFTforum Gold Coast

    In-Person

    Limited seats available

    The Gold Coast board is designed for founders building businesses on the Coast and across Northern NSW, meeting monthly in a confidential, facilitated environment.

    • Third Wednesday of each monthMonthly
    • 7:30am – 10:00am
    • Gold Coast
    Apply for Gold Coast Board

  • LYFTforum Connect

    Online

    Open to founders Australia-wide

    LYFTforum Connect is open to founders anywhere in Australia, delivering the same structured peer advisory experience online with full facilitation by Vanessa.

    • Fourth Thursday of each monthMonthly
    • 10:00am – 12:30pm AEST
    • Zoom (link provided on joining)
    Apply for Virtual Board
Membership

One simple monthly investment.

$895 + GST

per month

  • Monthly facilitated board session
  • Chaired by Vanessa Garrard
  • Curated group of non-competing founders
  • Structured agenda & accountability
  • Private member community access
Apply Now
Every membership includes

A complete advisory board experience.

  • Monthly facilitated advisory board meetings

  • Professionally chaired discussions

  • Confidential peer support

  • Strategic guidance from Vanessa Garrard

  • Accountability between meetings

  • Access to a trusted founder community

  • Practical ideas you can implement immediately

The outcome

You no longer have to solve your biggest challenges alone.

You'll become a better leader, make better decisions and build a stronger business because you're no longer trying to solve your biggest challenges alone. The greatest value isn't just the advice you receive—it's the quality of the people sitting around the table with you.

How it works

From application to your first session.

  1. 01

    Apply

    Submit your application below. Tell us about your business, your goals and which board interests you.

  2. 02

    Discovery Call

    Vanessa will personally review your application and reach out for a brief discovery call to ensure it's the right fit.

  3. 03

    Join Your Board

    Once accepted, you'll receive your onboarding pack and be introduced to your fellow board members ahead of your first session.

Questions founders ask

Peer advisory boards, explained.

Straight answers about advisory boards, CEO peer groups and business masterminds for founders in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and across Australia.

What is a peer advisory board?

A peer advisory board is a small, curated group of non-competing business owners who meet regularly to work through each other's real challenges under professional facilitation. Unlike a formal governance board, members have no legal duty to your company — they bring lived commercial experience, honest challenge and accountability. LYFTforum runs as a monthly peer advisory board for founders and CEOs in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and online.

How is an advisory board different from a board of directors?

A board of directors carries legal and fiduciary responsibility for the company. An advisory board has no statutory power — it exists purely to improve the quality of your thinking and decisions. That makes it faster to establish, far less expensive, and better suited to founder-led businesses that want counsel rather than governance.

Is LYFTforum a business mastermind or a networking group?

Neither. Business networking groups are built around referrals, and most masterminds are built around a single leader's methodology. LYFTforum is a facilitated peer advisory group: every session is chaired by Vanessa Garrard, members bring live business issues, and the outcome is decisions and actions — not leads or lectures.

Where do the Brisbane and Gold Coast boards meet?

The Brisbane board meets in the Brisbane CBD on the second Tuesday of each month, 7:30am–10:00am. The Gold Coast board meets on the third Wednesday, 7:30am–10:00am, serving founders across the Coast and Northern NSW. LYFTforum Connect meets online on the fourth Thursday for founders anywhere in Australia.

Who joins a CEO peer group like this?

Founders, CEOs and managing directors of established Australian businesses — typically $1m to $100m in revenue — who want experienced peers, honest feedback and structured accountability. Members are carefully matched so no two competing businesses sit on the same board.

What does an advisory board cost?

LYFTforum membership is $895 + GST per month. That includes the monthly facilitated board session chaired by Vanessa Garrard, accountability between meetings and access to the private member community.

Is everything discussed confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality is the foundation of the forum. What is said in the room stays in the room, and boards are curated to avoid conflicts of interest so members can speak openly about numbers, people and strategy.

How do I join?

Apply using the form on this page. Vanessa reviews every application personally and will arrange a short discovery call to confirm fit and the right board for you, then you're introduced to your fellow members ahead of your first session.

Apply now

Ready to find your board?

Complete the application below and Vanessa will be in touch within 2 business days.

Vanessa personally reviews every application. You'll hear back within 2 business days.