Belinda and Christine from B&C Consultancy
B&C Consultancy was founded by First Nations women Belinda Panozzo and Christine Smith and is committed to empowering Aboriginal children, families and communities through culturally grounded and community-driven support across NSW.
Community and Background
Can you tell us a bit about your journey to the Picton community? How did you end up here and what attracted you to this community?
B&C Consultancy was established in July 2024 as a proudly mob-owned and operated company, dedicated to supporting Aboriginal children, young people, families, and communities across southwest Sydney and throughout New South Wales.
As our organisation has grown, we recognised the need for a workspace that not only supports our expanding operations but also provides accessible and welcoming facilities for our clients.
We are lifelong locals of the Wollondilly and Camden areas that is located on Dharawal Land, where our children have been born, raised, and attend school. Our deep connection to this community is at the heart of everything we do.
Business and Entrepreneurship
Tell us about your work. How and when did you decide to start it, and what motivated you to take the plunge into entrepreneurship or remote work?
We are proud Aboriginal women and the Co-Founders and Directors of B&C Consultancy, launched in July 2024. We are deeply passionate and committed to driving meaningful change within the community services sector.
Through our lived experience and professional insight, we identified significant gaps and barriers faced by Aboriginal families and communities when accessing services. Our mission is to address these challenges through collaborative and holistic approaches that empower and uplift our people.
Together, we bring over 30 years of combined experience across the disability, child protection, out-of-home care, permanency, and community development sectors, having worked in both government and non-government organisations.
What does work-life balance look like for you? How do you manage the demands of work while ensuring time for family and personal life?
We love that we can work remotely and have the flexibility to be with and present for our families while also meeting the demand of our work. At times it can be challenging however we have amazing family and friend support that we can rely to help find the balance of both. We have also known each other for years through community connections and then later in a professional capacity. The strong friendship we’ve built over the years allows us to support one another, which also plays a big role in helping us maintain a healthy work-life balance.
In your industry, what recent disruptions or transitions have had the most significant impact on your business?
We’re coming up to our one year anniversary at B&C Consultancy, which is incredibly exciting for us! While we’ve always been confident in the services we provide, the biggest transition has actually been learning how to run a business. That’s been our steepest learning curve by far.
From business planning and financial forecasting to navigating tax requirements and learning how to use Xero, it’s been a whole new world. We both have experience managing teams and leading projects in government and non-government sectors but stepping into a space where we are the decision makers, without a higher level of management or ministerial oversight, has been a big shift. It’s been challenging at times, but also really empowering.
Personal Life
Outside of work, what are your hobbies and passions? How do you like to spend your time when you’re not focused on business or family?
We love spending time with our families and friends. When we’re not focused on work, we enjoy supporting our children in their sports and activities. We also have a strong passion for culture and value staying connected with others by attending community events and functions. We both love a good facial and massage when needing self-care.
Are there any books or podcasts you’ve found particularly inspiring or informative recently? Any recommendations for the WorkLife community?
Not specific to business but we do both love a good true crime podcast. If you would like to dive into learning about Aboriginal history a culture we suggest having a read of Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe and Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia by Anita Heiss.
How do you maintain boundaries between work and personal life? Any top tips?
Each month can look different for us depending on work demands and travel requirements. However, self-reflection and thoughtful planning—both at work and at home—make a big difference. One of the best tips we’ve learned is that it’s okay to say “no” and avoid overcommitting. This helps us maintain a healthy balance between our professional and personal lives.
Home and Lifestyle
What is your taste like? Do you have a favourite item of furniture or object in your home? Anything that has special significance or tells a story about you?
We each have our favourite Aboriginal paintings displayed in our homes, which reflect our family connections and cultural journeys, something we are both deeply proud of. In our office, we also have a painting that tells the story of cultural songlines. It’s painted in one of our shared favourite colours, green, making it even more meaningful to us.
What do you like/appreciate about the design at WorkLife? Any favourite touches or things that make you feel at home when you are at work?
We love the flexibility our work provides, especially the opportunity to meet new people, which is a welcome change, as working from home can sometimes feel isolating. We also enjoy having created a personalised office space that reflects who we are. It’s a shared environment where we can welcome our partners and clients, making it both functional and inviting.
If you were to showcase the best of the local lifestyle to visiting friends, where would you take them and why?
We love visiting local cafés, parks, and nearby attractions. We often talk about the diversity of places in the area but also appreciate the calm and relaxed pace of the local lifestyle. It’s both soothing and inviting, offering a perfect balance between vibrancy and tranquility for families.
Productivity and Time Management
What’s your go-to productivity hack? How do you stay organised and efficient, especially with multiple responsibilities?
We always joke about our love for organisation, using both digital and paper calendars, along with a generous supply of sticky notes. At times, our collection of colourful post-it notes ends up looking like an abstract artwork when they’re all laid out together!
Benefits of WorkLife Membership
Lastly, what’s been the most valuable aspect of being a member at WorkLife for you and your work?
Besides the beautiful space, the connections we have made with others who we share the space with.
If you would like to know more about B&C Consultancy then jump on their website, and if you would like to connect you can find Belinda and Christina on Linkedin
