Meet the PEBA Team
The Pro Environment Balloon Alliance is an industry association run by a passionate team of volunteers who dedicate time away from their businesses to represent the balloon industry... working towards a better future for our members, our industry and the environment.
BRIAN GRAY
President & Founding Director
Brian is a pioneer of the Australian balloon industry having owned and operated Important Items, a wholesale balloon and party business in Western Australia for over 35 years. Brian saw an opportunity as the balloons available in Australia at that time were poor quality and only available in mixed bags. A demand for professional quality, single colour packs was becoming evident and his business grew from there. Prior to this, Brian was a secondary school teacher and an international tour guide.
Brian first became concerned about the need to address environmental issues relating to the balloon industry in 2015 as public discussion in Western Australia turned toward littering laws and potential threats to the environment. After discussing the issues with other industry professionals, Brian and Chris Adamo from Sydney agreed that a national organisation was necessary to address changes to industry practices. Brian took action to stop the practise of releasing helium balloons.
The Pro Environment Balloon Alliance (PEBA) had it's early beginnings in July 2017 and has grown into the largest balloon industry association in the world. PEBA has members in 37 different countries and new chapters have opened in the UK, Norway and the US. Western Australia has the highest percentage of members per capita anywhere in the world.
ZOE ADAMS-JONES CBA
Communications, Public Relations & PEBA Director
Zoe is the owner of JAZ Trading, a wholesale distributor of balloons and event decor located in Queensland. After working in corporate roles and as a business consultant, she retrained in marketing, communications and design.
Taking on a role in marketing and operations for a distributor in the balloon and party industry, Zoe became a Certified Balloon Artist (CBA). She started working with retailers to showcase
new products and promote innovative thinking and new ideas with balloons through education and workshops.
Taking a leap of faith, Zoe went out on her own as a consultant, working with business owners to create a digital extension of their businesses. Designing and implementing the Qualatex Australia website kept her current in the industry and later led to the opportunity to become a distributor.
As a distributor, Zoe is in a unique position to mentor and support balloon professionals and small businesses in the industry. Through her roles as a Director of PEBA and an industry educator she is passionate about lifting the profile of the industry, assisting the community to appreciate the creative talent of balloon artists & entertainers and driving environmentally responsible change within the industry and the wider community.
Please refer all media and PR enquiries to:
Zoe Adams-Jones
JULIE SAVAGE
Community Liaison
Julie has a background in grassroots lobbying at local, state and federal levels. She works on a part time basis at JAZ Trading with her daughter Zoe and has a keen interest in our industry. She believes that we can find a balance between environmental responsibility and economic viability.
PEBA are very pleased to confirm Julie Savage in the role of Community Liaison. Julie is on board to assist our Australian members and the PEBA Board with submissions and communications to all levels of government.
As more councils start to add balloons to their plastics and litter policies, PEBA realised the need for a direct contact to help our members and the Admin Team with submissions. Julie has been working with the PEBA Admin team in the background since 2017 in a volunteer capacity until recently when she was appointed in an official position. A number of Australian suppliers have now come on board as financial members of PEBA to help fund the small fee Julie receives for her time.
We will continue to put our members in touch with her as more and more local councils begin to call for submissions.
Please refer to Julie for assistance with government submissions:
Julie Savage
CLAIRE GELDARD CBA
Member Liaison
Claire has been working in the balloon and party industry for over 15 years in Sydney, Australia. Claire currently manages The Party’s Here, a retail shopfront in Padstow, specialising in balloon décor and delivery. She is actively involved in a number of industry associations, such as the Qualatex Balloon Network (QBN Sydney Chapter) and the Balloon Artists & Suppliers Association (BASA Victoria & New South Wales branches).
Achieving her Certified Balloon Artist (CBA) qualification in 2010, she was honoured to receive the Treb Heining Pioneer Visionary Scholarship in 2016. Claire has attended numerous training events and conventions in both Australia and the United States, and has also taught classes in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.
Her commitment to networking in the industry shines through in her role with PEBA, liaising with and updating members, offering administration support and monitoring our social media channels.
Claire is passionate about finding a balance between the future of the balloon industry as well as the care of the environment.
Please refer all membership enquiries to Claire:
Claire Geldard
