New appointments help GOCs continue delivering for Queenslanders

Treasurer Curtis Pitt has welcomed the appointment of new directors to several government-owned corporations to help the businesses grow and capture new business opportunities in the years ahead. 

Mr Pitt said the new directors would bring a wide range of skills and expertise which will help deliver benefits for the businesses and their respective new roles. 

“Queensland’s government-owned businesses operate in complex and changing markets to help deliver crucial services and generate export dollars for the benefit of all Queenslanders,” Mr Pitt said. 

“Having the right mix of independent skills, industry experience and private and public sector knowledge will best ensure these businesses continue to deliver the outcomes the government and community expects. 

“Keeping key income-generating assets in public ownership, like our ports and our electricity networks, was one of our major election commitments. These new appointments will help ensure our assets keep delivering dividends for all Queenslanders.” 

Energy Minister Mark Bailey said the new board members were appointed on merit. 

“The new board members were selected from a large pool of talented and well-credentialed individuals to bring new focus and innovation to government-owned businesses,” Mr Bailey said. 

“The new appointees all possess demonstrated previous leadership experience and the ability to work with a broad range of stakeholders to provide strategic direction to these organisations.” 

All new board appointments will commence this month and expire in September 2019. 

Media contact: 0447 316 432 / 0419 945 546

New Government-owned business appointments  

Powerlink Queensland 

Sarah Zeljko, Director

Lawyer Sarah Zeljko has extensive experience in infrastructure, water, mining and manufacturing industries. Ms Zeljko was General Counsel and Company Secretary for Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal and Cement Australia and holds a Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma of Corporate Governance.  

Peter Hudson, Director

Qualified Accountant Peter Hudson brings extensive experience in the energy, mining, transport and telecommunications sectors to his new role. Currently a director at investment business Stradbroke Capital, Mr Hudson is also a director of Youngcare Ltd and the Queensland Theatre Company. 

Paul Lucas, Director

Former Deputy Premier and Government Minister Paul Lucas brings extensive public sector and infrastructure experience to his new role. Mr Lucas is Principal of Paul Lucas Consulting and has been involved in a number of large scale infrastructure projects including Airportlink, the Tugun Bypass and rail and busway projects.  

Stanwell Corporation 

Allison Warburton, Director

A Director/Partner with law firm Minter Ellison, Allison Warburton has extensive experience in traditional and renewable energy and climate change law. Ms Warburton is also an experienced private and government sector advisor in energy, resources and power generation industries. 

Adam Aspinall, Director

Experienced mechanical engineer and manager Adam Aspinall has extensive electricity and energy industry expertise. Mr Aspinall is Principal and Power Sector Lead Asia Pacific for global consulting firm Advisian and has served on the Board of Ergon Energy and as Chairman of SPARQ Solutions. 

Far North Queensland Ports Corporation 

Vanessa Maruna, Director

Cairns-based lawyer and town planner Vanessa Maruna has experience in project management, strategic planning and change management. Ms Maruna is the managing director of a law firm and town planning practice and has experience in both private practice and in-house positions specialising in project management, planning and environmental law and development advisory services.

 Tony Baker, Director

Cairns-based Tony Baker brings extensive industry experience in the tourism industry to the FNQ Ports. Mr Baker is the managing director of the Quicksilver Group, Australia’s largest tourism operator, chairman of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, and a member of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Tourism Reef Advisory Group. 

Gladstone Ports Corporation 

Marita Corbett, Director

Chartered accountant and certified internal auditor Marita Corbett has extensive experience in accounting, audit and risk management. Ms Corbett is Lead National Partner with international professional services firm BDO and has provided risk advisory and assurance services for government owned corporations, departments and private companies. Her Board experiences includes roles on Queensland Government departmental Audit and Risk committees and the Crime and Misconduct Commission. 

Port of Townsville Limited

Mike Reynolds, Director

Former Mayor of Townsville and long-serving state MP, Mike Reynolds has extensive local and state government experience to the new role. Mr Reynolds has experience as a non-executive director in the port, health, education and energy industries, including previous experience on the Boards of Townsville Port Authority and North Queensland Electricity Board.

 SunWater  

Vanessa Sullivan, Director

Vanessa Sullivan has more than 20 years’ experience advising government and private sector organisations on regulatory, strategy, market trading transactions and sustainability responses in the energy sector. Ms Sullivan is a partner at Lyon Infrastructure Investments, a former climate change and sustainability services leader with Ernst & Young and until recently was a director at energy business Energex.

 Queensland Investment Corporation 

Gillian Brown, Director

More than 30 years’ experience as a financial services lawyer will be among the extensive expertise Gillian Brown will bring to her new role. A partner at legal firm Minter Ellison, Ms Brown has expertise within the legal and professional services industry, specialising in finance, infrastructure and electricity. She recently provided advice on the creation of Energy Queensland through the merger of Energex and Ergon and has served as a member of the Capital Markets Board of Queensland Treasury Corporation.

 North Queensland Bulk Ports

 Jane McTaggart, Director

Experienced project manager Jane McTaggart will bring extensive public and private sector experience locally, nationally and internationally to her new role. Ms McTaggart is a senior project manager with Jacobs Engineering Group and has worked on major projects including the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, Port of Brisbane Motorway, the Gold Coast Light Rail and Legacy Way.

Seqwater

 John Dempsey, Director

Thirteen years as a director at energy business Energex, including five years as chairman, is among a number of experiences John Dempsey will bring to his new role. A former accountant, tax agent, chartered secretary and Cairns City Councillor, Mr Dempsey was also chair of the Allconnex Water business and a director for Multiple Sclerosis Society of Queensland.