Maria Anderson, Brisbane marketing strategist
About Maria Anderson
Maria Anderson is a Brisbane marketing strategist who helps owner-led businesses grow with a clear plan and marketing that keeps working. She is the founder of Sustainable Marketing Services, a strategy-led marketing partner based in Cleveland, in the Redlands.
Maria started the business in 2008 and has more than 25 years in marketing. She is a Certified Practising Marketer and a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute, and has helped over 300 businesses across more than 20 industries.
Why work with Maria
Maria leads every account herself. You meet her at the first meeting, and she stays your main contact from then on. She learns your business before she recommends anything, then explains it in plain English.
She does both the strategy and the work, as part of your team, so the plan you agree on is the plan that gets done.
What you can expect:
- A clear plan before you spend money on marketing activities
- Plain English advice you can act on
- Work delivered on time and on budget, for a fixed price, with monthly reporting on what was done and what it brought in
See how Maria builds a plan with our marketing strategy services in Brisbane.
My story, from a family business to marketing
I grew up in my family's business, Anderson Camera Repairs. My grandfather started it more than 70 years ago, and my father carried it on, becoming a camera technician known around the world. I worked in the business too. It showed me what a business built to last looks like: deep expertise, great service and customers who stay for decades. The industry has changed from cameras to marketing, but those values have not.
What I believe
Marketing works best when it starts with strategy. Without a clear plan, marketing is just noise. I build the strategy first, then a simple marketing system that keeps working year after year, so you can grow with confidence. Better marketing, not just more of it.
I am human-led and AI-assisted. I use AI to work faster, but every recommendation comes from my own judgement and experience.
Experience you can count on
I have more than 25 years in branding, marketing strategy, digital marketing, public relations and social media. I used digital and social media for clients early, well before they became mainstream.
I studied accounting at university before switching to marketing, so I start with the numbers. I measure success by what the work brings in.
Maria has led national campaigns and managed international brands. She has delivered campaigns across advertising, editorial, digital, social media and influencers, and supported product launches in Australia and New Zealand. She also recruits and mentors marketers, and helps clients build strong in-house teams.
How Maria works:
- Finds the gaps fast, then fixes them
- Lines up your brand strategy, your offer and your channels
- Builds simple systems so your marketing keeps running
Find out how our marketing consultants work with you.
Qualifications
- Certified Practising Marketer and Fellow, Australian Marketing Institute
- Bachelor of Business, Marketing and Public Relations
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- Diplomas in Sustainability and Financial Services
- Certificate in Carbon Accounting
- Certified Social Media Specialist
Leadership and community
When Maria joined the Board of the Little Ship Club in 2019, the club was close to insolvency. As Commodore for two years, she helped turn it around through COVID into a club with strong surpluses, and supported its finances, grants, operations, marketing and member communications. Since December 2025, she has served as the club's Honorary Treasurer.
She mentors Griffith University students and hosts interns, and one graduate each year gains a stepping stone role. She has also volunteered with Marine Rescue Jacobs Well.
Read more about our work in the community.
Speaking
Maria shares practical marketing advice with business and industry groups. Her talks include:
- Engineers Australia: brand strategy and marketing systems
- CCIQ ecoBiz forums: how to connect sustainability and marketing
- Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business, ecoBiz and local chambers
- Bayside Women in Business: sustainable growth
- QWestNet: aligning business strategy and marketing
- AI Society: an educational session on building an AI chief financial officer (an AI CFO)
Awards and judging
Sustainable Marketing Services has won 11 business and marketing awards. See the full list on our About Us page.
Maria judged the Australian Marketing Institute awards in 2026, 2025 and in an earlier year.
What clients say
From franchise closure to confident relaunch
"When my franchisor announced it was closing, I suddenly had no brand of my own, no website, emails or marketing assets. Being time-poor, I turned to Maria, who took charge immediately. Within weeks, she delivered a complete brand strategy, new visual identity, website, professional photos, vehicle signage, stationery and uniforms, managing every detail across multiple suppliers. Maria kept me involved while ensuring a cohesive, professional brand presence. Thanks to her expertise, I relaunched with confidence and a brand I'm proud of."
Mark Davies, Founder, Compass Fire & Safety
From quick wins to long-term growth
"Maria and the Sustainable Marketing Services team created a strategic marketing plan, brand positioning and key messages that gave us a clear growth roadmap. Quick wins like optimising Google My Business boosted income, allowing us to hire a general manager. They developed a website strategy, wrote copy, selected images and built a professional capability document that helped secure strategic partners. We now have the tools and confidence to scale, with significant sales growth already on the horizon."
Tony Jansen, City Tree Services
A complete marketing partner for a national sport
"Working with Sustainable Marketing Services has been a pleasure. They took the time to understand our organisation and delivered tailored solutions across marketing planning, brand positioning, digital strategy, PR, social media, research, surveys, crisis communications and change management. They recently developed our digital marketing strategy and managed our new website build from start to finish, allowing us to focus on strategic priorities. Their professionalism, innovation and partnership approach exceeded expectations."
Jennifer Gale, Sports Aviation Federation of Australia
Read more client testimonials.
Life beyond marketing
Maria enjoys boating around North Stradbroke Island with her husband. Tango the Cavoodle and Charlie, their chocolate Burmese, complete the family.
Questions about Maria
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Maria Anderson is a Brisbane marketing strategist and the founder of Sustainable Marketing Services, which she started in 2008. She is a Certified Practising Marketer and a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute, with more than 25 years in marketing. She is based in Cleveland, in the Redlands.
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Maria builds marketing strategies and plans for owner-led businesses, then delivers the work with her team. Clients work with her every month as part of their team, or on a three to six month project such as brand positioning, a marketing plan, a new website or a capability document.
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Maria works with owner-led businesses across Brisbane, the Redlands and South East Queensland. Most are manufacturers and distributors, or local trade and service businesses with a small team who want steady enquiries, sales and growth.
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Maria does both the strategy and the work. She learns your business before recommending anything, explains it in plain English and stays your main contact for as long as you work together.
How to work with Maria
How to work with Maria
Book a conversation with Maria. She will learn about your business and what you want to achieve, then recommend what to do next, in plain English, with no obligation.
Or call 07 3446 5837.