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BDmag is a multimedia platform dedicated to showcasing North Queensland’s job generators and innovators to encourage growth, tourism & investment in Townsville.
The quarterly business development print magazine is distributed in Townsville, Ingham, Ayr, Home Hill, and Charters Towers.
BDmag offers cost effective print and online advertising solutions that reach a highly engaged audience, yet proudly supports the wider business community with free publicity opportunities to share stories of growth, innovation and knowledge sharing through guest post articles.
Along with our parent company Creative Concepts PR, we recently won Best Micro Enterprise 2022 at the Townsville Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. And our Managing Editor, Julie Johnston, was named finalist in the Emerging Business Woman of the Year category at the 2023 TBWC Bendigo Bank Business Womens’ Awards.
BDmag was founded in 2017 by Maddy Voinea and Sarah Jones to positively change public perception, encourage investment and inspire growth in Townsville and North Queensland. The magazine immediately resonated with the local business community and published eight issues before ceasing publication in December 2018.
As one of the original freelance writers with the BDmag team, and through her work as a PR Consultant, Julie Johnston felt there was a significant gap in the market for a local publication which provided publicity opportunities for businesses. The COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020 resulted in significant hardship for many local businesses, but also resulted in many inspirational stories of resilience and innovation.
Determined to bring back a publication to support and inspire the business community, and with Maddy and Sarah’s blessing, Julie relaunched BDmag in a digital format and trialled a new look digital magazine.
Due to growing demand from advertisers and readers, BDmag returned as a quarterly print publication in July 2021 and has firmly established itself as a high quality publication that engages and inspires its audience, while offering advertisers an affordable and targeted medium with return on investment.
We acknowledge and thank Maddy, Sarah and Jaz for their passion and dedication to BDmag in the past, and their ongoing support in our new chapter.
Julie Johnston has 20 years’ experience working in media, marketing and video production, and is skilled at finding the beating heart of a story.  She works with small to medium businesses, entrepreneurs and thought leaders to build their credibility and gain valuable brand exposure through media exposure. Julie shares this knowledge through group workshops and one on one coaching to empower others to create their PR.
In May 2020, Julie launched BDmag, a quarterly print magazine and online platform to showcase North Queensland’s leading businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators. Her passion for storytelling is interwoven through her hobbies as an active member in the local theatre community and an award winning playwright.
Julie has a diverse work history across two decades that includes PR, marketing, event management and video production but the common thread that ties them all together is a love of sharing the beating heart of a client’s story.
As the owner of Creative Concepts PR, she works with small to medium businesses, entrepreneurs and thought leaders to build their credibility and gain valuable brand exposure through media exposure and hosts group workshops and one on one coaching to empower others to create their own PR.
Julie’s passion for storytelling and providing a platform for locals to share their voice in the media is the driving force behind her role at BDmag. Born and bred in Townsville, but with several years of international travel under her belt, Julie believes North Queensland deserves a dedicated media platform to shine the line on the incredible businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators, many of whom go unrecognised for their role in driving the local economy.
Julie is an active member of Townsville’s theatre community and an award-winning playwright whose short scripts have been performed internationally. In 2016, her full-length play, Displaced, was performed locally by Full Throttle Theatre Company.
Georgie is BDmag’s resident writer who is passionate about entrepreneurship, regional affairs and sustainability. As a Townsville local, she’s been with BDmag since the publication’s relaunch and is responsible for producing content for both our print and digital outlets, including our statement through-leadership articles which dive into a different key issue every quarter.
 She has studied in New York City with The School of The New York Times where she was mentored by some of the world’s leading expert journalists from The New York Times, and wrote a weekly segment called The Georgie Times which recapped her adventures abroad.
 Georgie also works on the other side of the media coin in her role as our PR Coordinator for Creative Concepts PR, working with purpose-led clients to connect their stories with the media.
 When she’s not frantically typing on her laptop, you can find her adding to her colourful earring collection or volunteering with the Vinnies Refugee Assistance Program assisting with the resettlement of refugees in the North Queensland community.
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BDmag is a Townsville-based magazine and online platform, focused on shining a light on North Queensland’s innovators, job generators and entrepreneurs whilst also focusing on business growth and development in our region.Â
Townsville is a strong community – it’s time to show what we’re capable of.
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