Presentations
WQAC 2025
St George, 19-20 August
Welcome to St George, Balonne Shire
Cr Samantha O’Toole, Mayor - Balonne Shire Council and Chair - SWQROC
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Bush Wellbeing - Why communities making it #OK2SAYNO are creating social sustainability across Western Queensland
Shanna Whan AM, CEO and Founder - Sober in the Country
Transitioning Mount Isa for the Next Economy
Cr Peta McRae, Mayor - Mount Isa City Council
From Outback Highways to Outback Skyways!
Juliette Vicaire, Strategic Project Manager - Flying Whales
Protecting the Mental Health of Western Queensland Communities
Sandy Gillies, Chief Executive Officer – Western Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHN) & Adjunct Professor, Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University
Improving Policy Synergies across Drought Management and Clean Energy Transition
Professor Ben Lyons, Director, Southern Queensland Northern NSW Drought and Innovation Hub (Rural Economies Centre of Excellence) – University of Southern Queensland
Empowering Local Engagement in the Olympic & Paralympic Movement
Jessica Reid, Chief of Staff to the President - Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee
Quantum – Technologies and Computing: What It Is and Why It Matters to Regional Australia
Dr Anita Milroy, Senior Project Manager, Inspiring Australia Queensland / Advancement and Community Engagement - The University of Queensland
Dr Wade Naylor, Lecturer Physics, Mathematics & STEM Education – Australian Catholic University
Queensland Local Government Grants Commission – Priorities and Program Focus over the Next Term
Vic Pennisi, Chair – Queensland Local Government Grants Commission
Promoting Western Queensland Priorities through Election Cycles – WQAC Priorities and Future Advocacy Program
Greg Hoffman PSM, Executive Officer - Western Queensland Alliance of Council
From Culture to Commerce: Bridging Tradition and Innovation in Doomadgee to Drive Business Opportunities (virtual presentation)
Troy Fraser, CEO - Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council
From Patchwork to Place-based - Progressing Digital Connectivity Planning and Investment in Western Queensland
Jay Sindorff, Executive Director, Strategic Policy - Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business
Kristina Neylan, Executive Director Strategic Delivery - Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business
Digital Engagement: Harnessing Technology for Community Connection
Louise Gronold, Regional Digital Development Officer - Central West Qld
Rick Hospers, Regional Digital Development Officer - North-North West Qld
Pursuing Renewables in Balonne to Support High Value Industrial Products for Local Producers
Gareth Forde, Principal Engineer - All Energy
Max Barnes, Process Engineer - All Energy
From Paddock to Plantation: Growing AgTech and Timber Industries in Western Queensland
Dwayne Armstrong, Business Development Manager – Webster Timbers / Tambo Cypress Mill
Reviewing the Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers (GABORA) Plan – Feedback Session for WQAC Submission to Government
Tom Vanderbyl, Principal - Badu Advisory Pty Ltd