SPEAKERS

Michael Anthonisz - CHIEF ECONOMIST

Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC)

Michael Anthonisz is QTC’s Chief Economist and economic spokesperson and has over 16 years’ experience advising senior leaders at both the federal and state levels. Michael is responsible for QTC’s economic and financial market research and has led these efforts since February 2010. His team provides economic and market insights for key stakeholders including QTC’s Board, executive team and clients.

Prior to joining QTC, Michael spent 5 years as an economist at the Australian Treasury in Canberra where he worked on the Budget and revenue forecasting. Michael's specific areas of research interest include real-time assessments of the economy, fiscal policy as well as what drives bond yields and inflation.

frankie carroll - DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Department of Regional Development and Manufacturing

Frankie Carroll was appointed Director-General of the Department of Regional Development and Manufacturing in May 2020.

Prior to this, he was appointed Under Treasurer from February 2019 and was Director-General of the Department of Infrastructure Local Government and Planning between 2015 and 2018. Frankie was also Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), responsible for delivering a reconstruction program worth more than $13 billion – the largest program of its type in the nation’s history.

Frankie has more than 30 years’ experience in both the public and private sector. He also brings extensive executive experience in major project delivery in the water, construction, energy and financial services industries. As Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Water Infrastructure he delivered major water storage facilities to South East Queensland.

Before joining the public service in Queensland he worked for many years both in Australia and internationally in the financial services sector.

Frankie is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a Member of the Association of the Institute of Taxation in Ireland. He has also served on a number of key boards including Economic Development Queensland, Building Queensland and Trade and Investment Queensland.

A native of Ireland, Frankie is a keen marathon runner who says the best thing he ever did was marry a Queenslander, which has brought him to a State that he now calls home.

Cr Mark Jamieson - Mayor

Sunshine Coast Council and President of LGAQ

First elected in 2012, Mayor Mark Jamieson is currently serving his second term as mayor of Sunshine Coast Regional Council. During his first term, Mayor Jamieson led the development of a 20 year blueprint for a new economy for the Sunshine Coast, as well as the implementation of a new planning scheme.

Prior to his election as Mayor in 2012, Mark Jamieson enjoyed an extensive career in chief executive and senior leadership roles in the private sector, with both strategic and operational responsibilities for customer satisfaction, staff development, business performance and shareholder growth.

Mayor Mark Jamieson was elected as President of the Local Government Association of Queensland at the 120th LGAQ Annual Conference and holds the position until the October 2020 LGAQ Annual Conference. The President of the LGAQ is also by virtue of their presidency chairman of the LGAQ Board and Policy Executive.

hon Robbie Katter MP

KAP State Leader and Member for Traeger

Robbie Katter is the Member for Traeger and Leader of Katter’s Australian Party.

He was first elected to State Parliament on 24 March 2012 having previously been a Councillor on the Mount Isa City Council from 2008. Robbie is currently a member of the Transport and Public Works Committee and previously sat on the Agriculture and Environment; and State Development, Infrastructure and Industry parliamentary committees.

His community activity includes Board membership of the Laura Johnson Aged Care Home and Southern Gulf Catchments. Prior to entering Parliament Robbie was a property valuer and mine worker.

Lachlan Millar MP

Shadow Minister for Fire, Emergency Services and Volunteers and Member for Gregory 

Lachlan Millar is the Shadow Minister for Fire, Emergency Services and Volunteers and the LNP Member for Gregory. Lachlan was first elected to State Parliament in January 2015.

His Parliamentary Committee service includes:  Agriculture and Environment; Finance and Administration; and Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources.

Lachlan is an active community member being a Rugby Coach, Netball Coach and P&F Committee member. Prior to his election Lachlan was a farmer, harvesting contractor and rural reporter for the ABC.

Ann Leahy MP

Shadow Minister for Local Government and Member for Warrego

Ann Leahy is the Shadow Minister for Local Government and the LNP Member for Warrego.

Ann was first elected to State Parliament in January 2015. She has been a member of several Parliamentary Committees including - Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources; Communities, Disability Services and Domestic & Family Violence Prevention.

Ann lists as her interests: Border Collie dogs being a member of the Queensland Working Sheep Dog Association, aviation being a pilot – a necessary skill to cover such a huge electorate, community service being an active member of several community groups in her hometown of Roma, and politics!!

Hon Stirling Hinchliffe MP

Minister for Local Government, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Stirling Hinchliffe is the Minister for Local Government, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs being appointed in December 2017. Stirling has had a long Parliamentary career first being elected as the ALP Member for Stafford from 2006 to 2012 and currently as the Member for Sandgate since January 2015.

Stirling has held several Ministerial positions over his two periods in State Parliament in the portfolios of: Transport and Commonwealth Games; Employment, Skills and Mining; and Infrastructure and Planning. He has held several positions as Parliamentary Secretaries to Ministers and been a member of numerous Parliamentary Committees. 

Outside of Parliament Stirling is active in his community through involvement with the Northside Wizards Basketball, Einbunpin Festival, SANDBAG and the Sandgate State School P&C. Prior to entering Parliament Stirling was a business development manager, property industry analyst, policy manager and executive officer.

Hon Glenn Butcher MP

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing

Glenn Butcher is the Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and was appointed in May 2020. 

He is the ALP Member for Gladstone. He was elected to Parliament in January 2015 and has held several Assistant Ministerial positions including – Treasury; Transport and Infrastructure; and Local Government and Infrastructure.

Glenn has also served as Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee and a Member of the Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Parliamentary Committee.  

When back at home Glenn is an Independent Director of the Gladstone Rugby League and a Member of the Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd. Prior to entering Parliament Glenn was an apprentice, maintenance tradesman and maintenance superintendent.

Hon David Littleproud MP

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management & Deputy Leader of the National Party

David Littleproud is the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management being sworn in on 6 February 2020. Since his election as the LNP Member for Maranoa in 2016 David has held several Ministerial positions.

David was first appointed to Federal Cabinet as the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources from 20 December 2017 to 29 May 2019.

David was the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Drought Preparation and Response from 26 November 2018 to 25 January 2019 and 2 March 2019 to 29 May 2019.

Prior to entering politics, David worked in banking and finance roles and owned a small business working across southern Queensland.

Hon Scott Buchholz MP

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport 

Scott Buchholz is the Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport being appointed to the position in May 2019. He is the member for Wright in Queensland’s south-east corner having been first elected in 2013.

Prior to his current position Scott was Assistant Minister for Roads and Transport from August 2018 to May 2019. His Parliamentary Committee service has included – electoral matters, public works and Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.

Prior to entering Federal Parliament Scott was Chief of Staff to Senator Barnaby Joyce, Agri-finance manager, managing director and ringer.

Senator the Hon James McGrath

Senator for Queensland

James McGrath is a Senator for Queensland having been first elected in 2013. He is Chair of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee and Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. 

James’ previous roles have included Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister from 2015 to 2018, Assistant Minister for Immigration in 2016 and Assistant Minister for Regulatory Reform in 2017.

Prior to entering Parliament James was a solicitor, ministerial advisor and held various roles within the campaign office of the Conservative Party of the UK including Deputy Campaign Director for the Boris Johnson London Mayoral Campaign in 2008. 

Bruce Scott OAM - Advisor

National Drought and North Queensland Flood Recovery and Response Agency, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Bruce Scott OAM is the Advisor to Coordinator-General Shane Stone on regional matters, including the role of local governments in helping communities recover from and prepare for drought and natural disasters such as flood and bushfires.

Bruce was born and bred in Western Queensland and is now based in Charleville, having spent 32 years owning and operating a cattle station, Moothandella, in the Queensland Channel Country, near Windorah.

Bruce has extensive experience living and working in remote communities and was self-employed and an employer for 38 years, as well as serving on numerous boards and local, state, federal government and community committees.

Prior to joining the National Drought and Flood Agency, Bruce spent 26 years as a local government councillor and director of numerous public and private sector organisations. As a councillor Bruce spent 16 years as mayor of Barcoo Shire Council. He and his wife recently sold their beef cattle property and retired from local government at the March 2020 Queensland local government elections.

Warick Agnew - Director-General

Department of Local Government and Multicultural Affairs

Warwick Agnew was appointed as Director-General of the Department in May 2018 following an extensive career and experience in both private and public sectors.

Prior to joining the Department, Warwick was a senior executive in a Queensland Government central agency and has direct experience in social and economic policy issues facing all areas of Queensland.

Throughout his career Warwick has led social and economic infrastructure projects, economic analysis and policy, legislative reform, financial and commercial procurement and corporate finance advisory services.

Most recently Warwick held the position of Deputy Under Treasurer in Queensland Treasury, responsible for commercial, fiscal and economic advice on the state’s economic portfolios and leading Treasury’s role in investment policy and attraction programs to stimulate private sector investment in Queensland.

Warwick’s private sector experience includes commercial project development and senior advisory roles for global companies servicing resources, energy, industrial, infrastructure, property and defence sectors. He has also served on key government boards including Queensland Treasury Corporation Capital Markets Board, the Long-Term Asset Allocation Board and the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority.

Brendan Moon - CEO

Queensland Reconstruction Authority

Brendan Moon was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) in June 2016, after acting in the position since November 2015. Prior to this, he was Deputy Chief Executive Officer and has been at QRA since 2011 as General Manager, Operations.

As Chief Executive Officer, Brendan leads the strategic direction of QRA, Queensland’s permanent disaster recovery organisation.

This includes the efficient and effective coordination of natural disaster reconstruction efforts across Queensland with administrative responsibility for more than $15.7 billion in restoration and recovery funding under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA), Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and the State Disaster Relief Arrangements.

He led QRA’s Operations for Tropical Cyclones Oswald and Marcia, and state-wide reconstruction and recovery efforts from all significant natural disasters in Queensland since late 2015 including Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017, the Central Queensland Bushfires in 2018, the North and Far North Queensland monsoon trough flooding event in early 2019 and the Queensland Bushfires of late 2019.

Brendan is also the State Recovery Policy and Planning Coordinator. This standing role’s purpose is to lead recovery planning, policy and recovery capability development to ensure better preparedness of government agencies and the community for recovery operations.

He is a regular contributor to national and international dialogue on disaster risk and resilience and has addressed the United Nations Office of Disaster Risk Reduction’s Asian Ministerial Conferences on multiple occasions.

Brendan previously held the role of General Manager, Environment, Biodiversity and Sustainability of Wyaralong Dam Alliance, responsible for the procurement and delivery of what was, at the time, the largest vegetation and carbon offset project in Queensland.

Brendan is a graduate of the University of Queensland.

Tahna Jackson, Regional Recovery Officer (North Qld)

National Drought and North Queensland Flood Recovery and Response Agency, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Tahna Jackson is a livestock farmer from the Dimbulah region in North Queensland with a lifetime experience in the agriculture sector. With her husband they own and manage a sustainable regenerative farming operation focusing on beef cattle, sheep and goat meat sales and pasture raised free-range chickens for egg production. In 2020 they further diversified their produce range by planting passionfruit.

Tahna’s experience in running a farming business and previously work in rural support services gives her a genuine understanding of the many and varied challenges faced by people living in rural and regional communities.

Prior to joining the National Drought and Flood Agency, Tahna worked as a Farm Liaison Officer with the Rural Financial Counselling Service (QLD), supporting Australian Government programs including health and wellbeing services. She also worked as Regional Manager and as a Drought Project Manager for AgForce Queensland, and is well known in North Queensland, having previously lived and worked in Longreach, Boulia and McKinlay Shires.

As a Regional Recovery Officer, Tahna is responsible for engaging with individuals, businesses, stakeholders and communities impacted by drought and the North Queensland monsoonal flooding in 2019 and will be travelling widely across North Queensland.