Community focus for new board appointments

Published Monday, 23 December, 2019 at 01:45 PM

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Cameron Dick

Community recovery will be the focus of new board appointments to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) and the Gasfields Commission.

Minister for State Development and the Minister responsible for the QRA Cameron Dick said the new boards would continue to work to ensure resilient and informed communities across Queensland.

“These new members are experts in their fields when it comes to disaster risk reduction and the needs of Queensland communities,” Mr Dick said.

“In particular, the appointment of Major General Stuart Smith as QRA’s board chairman will help drive the strategic priorities of the agency.

“Major General Smith is no stranger to the QRA, having spent seven months leading recovery efforts as State Recovery Coordinator earlier this year.

“He is a strong leader with extensive experience responding to natural disasters, most recently the 2018 central Queensland bushfires and the north and Far North Queensland monsoon trough of 2019.”

“Major General Smith will be supported by a unique team with a wealth of knowledge and experience,” he said.

“These appointments reflect the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to diversity and regional representation at all levels of government body leadership.”

Mr Dick said recent bushfire and flooding events have demonstrated the importance of community resilience for all Queenslanders.

“The new QRA board will drive discussions on resilience, risk mitigation and the impact of climate change,” he said.

“A recent review of the board recommended it took a more active role in cultivating new ideas and policy discussion in line with QRAs expanded responsibilities.

“I thank longstanding QRA board Chairman Major General Richard Wilson for his commitment to recovery and resilience in Queensland over the past eight years.

“I also thank board members whose appointments will expire on 31 December 2019 for their service.”

The new board has been appointed from 1 January 2020 for a three-year term and includes:

  •          Major General Stuart Smith AO, DSC (Retd)
  •          Luke Yeaman, Deputy Secretary Infrastructure Group, Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities
  •          Mark Crosweller, Head of the National Resilience Taskforce, Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs
  •          Margaret de Wit, former President of the Local Government Association of Queensland and former Brisbane City Councillor
  •          Dr Anne Swinbourne, Senior Lecturer, College of Healthcare Sciences at James Cook University
  •          Dr Robert Glasser, a world-renowned expert in disaster risk reduction and former Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
  •          Belinda Murphy, Mayor, McKinlay Shire Council
  •          Kirsty Kelly, CEO, Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management, former CEO, Planning Institute of Australia
  •          Louise Abell, Director Operations and Assurance, KBR, Institution of Engineers Australia Fellow

These board appointments reflect recent amendments to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Act 2011.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority is Australia’s only permanent disaster recovery organisation.

Since its establishment in 2011 it has administered a $15.7 billion program of reconstruction works.

Mr Dick today also announced new appointments to the Gasfields Commission.

Acting chairperson Mr Ian Langdon was appointed as the new part-time commissioner and chairperson for a three-year term, until 30 November 2022.

“Mr Langdon will be joined by three new part-time commissioners: Ms Rebecca Pickering, Mr Stuart Armitage and Ms Shalene McClure,” Mr Dick said.

“The new commissioners collectively bring a breadth of expertise about the onshore gas industry in Queensland and regional communities in which the industry operates.

“This experience will ensure the Gasfields Commission can deliver the sustainable coexistence outcome that has been so important to the development of the onshore gas industry.

“We acknowledge the contribution of the outgoing commissioners: Ms Fleur Anderson, Mr Ian Hayllor and Mr Rick Wilkinson.”

ENDS

Media contact: Lesley Major 0419 288 284