NRW Australia Day awards honour 10 staff

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace has presented Australia Day 2009 Achievement Medallions to 10 staff from the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW), during a ceremony at Parliament House this morning.

Mr Wallace said the awards were due recognition of the hard work and dedication of the NRW state government employees.

“It gives me great pleasure to present these awards and congratulate the recipients on their workplace achievements,” Mr Wallace said.

“These medallions are an initiative of the National Australia Day Council and part of the official Australia Day honours system. They are a fitting acknowledgement of the outstanding contribution of these staff.

“Department officers are often required to tackle difficult and confronting tasks and they do so with professionalism and integrity.

“These medallions are testament to the efforts of these officers to the administration of this state.

“Each recipient has excelled in the service they have given to the people of Queensland. I am proud to work with staff who are so dedicated to their profession and I applaud their achievements.”

Mr Wallace said the NRW staff recognised today work in fields as diverse as indigenous services, water, corporate services and land management.

“The efforts of these officers represent about 300 years service to Queensland. That is an impressive record,” Mr Wallace said.

“Those receiving recognition today are a fine example of NRW staff and the exemplary work they do to help preserve and protect Queensland’s resources for today and the future.”

The 2009 NRW Australia Day medallion recipients are:

Ken Davis: Director, Executive and Administration Services, Corporate Services

Mr Davis joined the public service in 1982 with the Qld Water Resources Commission. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in corporate governance and service delivery and led a major record keeping project for NRW.

Ray Baker: Director, Economic Services, Strategic Policy and Legal

Mr Baker has worked in government for 46 years, mainly with the Departments of Natural Resources and Water and Primary Industries and Fisheries. Mainly involved in resource economics and agricultural and natural resource management policy, he played a critical role in the development and growth of market-based systems for natural resource management.

Mark Silburn: Senior Hydrologist, Landscape and Community Services, South West Region

Dr Mark Silburn is a recognised leader in hydrology and data analysis in Australia. He uses his knowledge of landscape, catchment and water balance issues in his work with salinity and water quality management.

David Girdwood: Principal Advisor, Valuation Policy, State Valuation Services Land Management and Use

Mr Girdwood joined the Valuer-General’s Department in Brisbane as a cadet valuer in 1963. For many years he has managed the administration of appointments to the Valuers Registration Board. He plays a key role in providing and interpreting valuation data to State Treasury, as part of the Commonwealth Grants Commission.

Christopher Bragg: Director, Marketing and Resources, Forest Products

Throughout his 36-year career in the Public Service, Mr Bragg has contributed towards improving the productivity, efficiencies and accountability of timber production in Queensland. His work has produced time and cost savings for the state and contributed significantly towards more open and accountable forest management in Queensland.

Kel Holmes: Director, Special Projects, Service Delivery

Mr Holmes was nominated for his leadership role in the Department and for his work in promoting the importance of waterwise initiatives in homes and businesses across the state. He has had a key role in promoting and assisting Queenslanders to implement effective water saving measures to reduce water use.

Phillip Boult: Manager, Cape York Tenure Resolution Task Force, Indigenous Services, North Region

Mr Boult manages the Cape York Tenure Resolution Task Force and helped negotiate successful land dealings for Marina Plains, Kalpowar, Archer Point, Melsonby, Lilyvale, Running Creek, McIllwraith Range and Mt Croll. The task force was established to finalise long-term ownership and use of identified parcels of State-owned land on Cape York Peninsula.

Claire Heath: Principal Project officer, Social and Economic Unit, Catchment Programs, Water and Catchment Division

Ms Heath has played an active role in supporting natural resource management within the department through the work of Landcare and community-based NRM bodies. In 2007 she was appointed national co-ordinator of a $1.2 million market based systems capacity building program which promoted the use of economic and market-like incentives to encourage better care for Australia’s natural resources.

Peter Gilbey: Director, Regional Water Supplies, Strategic Water Initiatives, Water and Catchment Division

Mr Gilbey has made a significant contribution to the water industry through innovations in irrigation area design and integrated water resource management. These include adapting a French-designed product to create Australia’s first use of downstream control gates for open irrigation channels.

Michelle Hill: Principal Advisor, Business Improvement, Human Resource Services

Ms Hill has extensive experience in community engagement and all aspects of business improvement. She was instrumental in developing the Facilitators Network which recruits existing NRW staff to pass on skills to colleagues through workshops or team development.

Media contact: Minister Wallace’s office, 3896 3688.