About Us Brisbane

Rowan Steer

General Manager

Karen Mai

Vietnamese Funeral Specialist

Karen Mai just joined our team. Karen has been with the Vietnamese Community for more than 30 years and is currently supporting families to organise a dignified and meaningful Vietnamese Funeral for a loved one. Karen has been studying and speaking Vietnamese for years.

Karen respects and understands that there are many cultural and religious traditions including Buddhism, Caodaism, Catholics and Christians in the community and will help you say goodbye to relatives in a good way. Karen will help the family play an important role in shaping a ritual, honouring the traditional and basic customs of any Vietnamese ritual.

Debb Campain

Funeral Director

Debb has been with Premier over 10 years and in that time has helped many families with her kind and caring manner.

Debb always takes the time to listen, to understand and ensure the family’s wishes, religious and cultural practices are included in the service Premier provides. She offers advice with empathy, respect and dignity.

Debb mostly works at Heritage Park Crematorium which is part of the Premier Funeral Group, where along with arranging funerals, she assists families with memorials and other needs.

Debb’s whole working life has been dedicated to caring for others. Starting her career as a children’s nurse, before moving on to the aged care and disability sector and now with Premier Funerals.

Julian Birkinshaw

Funeral Director

Julian commenced in the Funeral Industry in 1999, during that time he has served in several companies at different levels.

He has utilised his entire career to uphold the highest principles of funeral care and training his co-workers in the same high standards.

He has dedicated himself to serving countless families and individuals who have experienced loss, while providing them with a comfortable atmosphere of compassion and professionalism.

With these ideals, Julian constantly strives for these premier standards to continue. A persistent advocate for the communities of the wider Brisbane area, whilst taking a particular interest in the Vietnamese and Samoan communities of the western suburbs.

Jennifer Stangret

Funeral Director

I believe every funeral or memorial should reflect the individuality of the person your loved one was in life. Hi, my name is Jenny, I have only been in the funeral industry for a few years, but I developed an empathy for grieving families early on in life after losing my father and aunt and many more loved ones along the way. This led me to pursue a position in the industry so I can help guide families through the often-unknown steps and details after someone they care for passes away.

I understand what it’s like to feel numb with grief, so I would be honoured to support you every step of the way when you need it most.

I’m deeply committed to delivering a dignified and personal service. I’ll take the time to understand what made your loved one so special and what their loss means to you. I want to know about their interests, personality traits and any quirky characteristics that made them unique. I’ll offer suggestions and give you my complete dedication by taking care of every detail when you entrust your loved one into my care.

Shinae

Funeral Director

Kia Ora, Talofa, Malo my name is Shinae and I have been in the Funeral Industry a few years now, my journey stared in New Zealand as a Funeral Directors Assistant where I quickly worked towards personally caring for families. I have Māori heritage, and whakapapa to Te Aroha.

When I’m not at work ill be out exploring my new back yard (Australia) with my beautiful children, I am a devoted Mum and love to show my children what the world has to offer them.

I believe it’s an honour to take care of a loved one and I take pride in making the Funeral service as individual and unique and that person. I understand grief, this unfortunately came to me from losing my brother tragically over 10 years ago. This led me into the position I hold now hoping to be able to guide families through the often unknow, heartbreaking and hard steps to arranging a loved ones Funeral.

I pride myself in the service I offer the families I take care of and always ensure it is dignified and honourable the entire way through.

I bring with me skills and knowledge from my previous Funeral home in New Zealand, along with my own knowledge of traditional Māori services, often referred to as Tangi. I can cater for everyone’s religion and beliefs that are important to them as well as offer suggestions to give their families the different options available to them.

I truly belee it is an honour for me to work alongside of a family after losing someone and ensure that every small detail is taken care of when your loved one is entrusted to my care.

Paul Agresta

Funeral Director

Hi there, my name is Paul Agresta. I was born and grew up in regional NSW, moved to Sydney and then Canberra before settling with my family for the last couple of years in Armidale in the New England Region of Northern NSW. We moved to Brisbane to be closer to our broader family and have only been here a short time.

Once I moved to Queensland, after coming from years of being in a rewarding career in nursing and people management, where I demonstrated a true understanding of listening to my patients and my team, I showed compassion, empathy and sympathy for those in need, I made the decision that I wanted to continue helping people, and I entered the funeral industry and began working
for Premier Funerals.

As we all walk different paths through life and beyond, I will offer suggestions, I will also ensure that your voice is heard and commit to giving you and your loved one the upmost respect and professionalism during this difficult time.

I believe it is an honour and privilege to be entrusted to take care of your loved one, to show your loved one the respect, dignity and individuality they deserve. To work with families although at a time of grief to ensure that there
is a celebration of life and memories are cherished.

Thank you
“those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear”