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Lisa MonksSocial Media & AI Educator

Social media strategist & AI educator · Cairns, Australia

Making social media and AI simple for small business.

Lisa Monks holding her laptop beside a red telephone box under palm trees in Cairns

I'm Lisa Monks. For years, I've helped Australian small businesses get seen and build trust on social media. Now I'm helping them make sense of AI too - what it can do, where it fits, and how to use it as a practical business tool that saves you time, cuts through the noise, and keeps you firmly in control.

Hands-on. Jargon-free. Practical from day one.

For small business owners, sole traders, consultants and professionals - no tech background required.

Seen & heard at

Social Media Examiner's AI Explored PodcastSocial Media Examiner's AI Business SocietyMari Smith's VIP EventCairns Chamber of CommerceJames Cook University/QLD AI HubTriple M CairnsCityLife Business Retreat
Portrait of Mari Smith smiling, wearing a floral top and hoop earrings
Lisa's contribution was a total standout: step-by-step, super easy to follow, and packed with practical gems. Watching her demo how she uses tools like NotebookLM for in-depth learning was pure magic. I'd have no hesitation in recommending her for AI tools training.

Mari Smith

Premier Facebook Marketing Expert & Social Media Thought Leader

AI tools training for Mari's VIP clients - San Diego, 2025

Three ways I can help

Get seen. Save time. Keep it human.

Social media helps the right people find you, understand what you do, and build trust in your business.

AI can help you write faster and get on top of the paperwork. It can think through decisions with you, like a sounding board that never gets tired of your questions. And the newest tools can even take whole jobs off your plate, start to finish - while you make the calls.

But here's the thing - the tools are not the strategy. Ever felt like the tech is running you, instead of the other way round? That's exactly what my KISSS approach fixes. For social media, KISSS means keeping it Simple, Social and Strategic. For AI, it means keeping it Simple, Structured and Strategic - so the tools support your business without taking over your voice, judgement or customer relationships.

Lisa Monks explaining something on a video call, seated at her laptop in a café

AI Training & Workshops

Beginner-friendly AI training for people who don't speak tech. Workshops, team training and 1:1 sessions that help small businesses get comfortable with tools like ChatGPT and NotebookLM, use them safely, and apply them across marketing, admin, planning and everyday business tasks.

Explore AI Training & Workshops →
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Social Media Services

Strategy, consulting, training and management to help your business get seen by the right people. Whether you need a clear plan, hands-on guidance, team training, or someone to manage it for you (something I do for a select few businesses), I'll help you build a social media presence you can actually sustain.

Explore Social Media Services →
Lisa Monks presenting on stage with a microphone, in front of a slide about AI

Speaking & Guest Training

Practical, energising sessions on AI and social media for conferences, business groups, team training and industry events. No hype, no jargon - just clear explanations, useful examples and live demos that make the penny drop.

Explore Speaking →
Portrait of Lisa Monks in a red top, smiling in front of a pale blue timber wall

Hello from Far North Queensland

Human at heart, tech in hand.

I founded ChipMonk Media in 2011 to help local businesses get their heads around social media. Over the years, that work has covered everything from Facebook and Instagram strategy to content planning, training, workshops and hands-on support for business owners who know they need to show up online, but don't want social media taking over their life.

That's the short version. The long version explains why a social media strategist is exactly who you want teaching you AI.

Kind words

What people say

Lisa is the Queen of Facebook and can pass on her knowledge in an easy to understand and fun way. I now have the tools and the confidence to tackle Facebook and all the recent changes. Any business that uses Facebook needs Lisa. It's as simple as that.
Lindsay McDonnell - FNQ Hospital Foundation
Lisa's talents and expertise as a social media specialist helped elevate our online presence and effectively promote the premier three-day spring racing carnival in North Queensland. Her creativity, intelligence, and expert grasp of social media's power were instrumental in our success.
Victoria Jennings - Event Manager, Cairns Amateurs
Read all testimonials →
Lisa Monks smiling and holding her phone, leaning forward in a leafy outdoor setting

Not ready to book anything? No dramas.

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Ready when you are.

Book a free 30-minute discovery call - a relaxed chat about your business, no obligation and no hard sell. We'll work out whether social media, AI, or a bit of both will move the needle for you.