Leadership Group
NORTH WEST QUEENSLAND
NWQROC Chair
Mayor Barry Hughes - Etheridge Shire Council
Barry and his wife Tammy live at North Head Station Forsayth, which has been in his family for over one hundred years. Barry's roots run deep in the Australian beef industry as well being a proud community member of the Etheridge Shire contributing on many levels of community involvement. He has been the President of the Gulf Cattleman’s Association Inc. for the last nine years.
Barry recognises the significance of the region's key industries of agriculture and resources and the important roles that they present as job opportunities and career pathways for local residents. Having served previous terms as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Etheridge Shire, he is acutely aware of the importance of economic development to sustain the community's and industries across the vast region of North and Northwest Queensland.
NWQROC Deputy Chair
Mayor Janene Fegan - McKinlay Shire Council
Cr Fegan was elected as McKinlay Shire Mayor in 2024 having been elected councillor at the 2016 local government elections and holding the position of Deputy Mayor.
Born in Cairns, Janene was raised in Hawaii and lived and worked throughout Queensland. After completing her nursing training in Mackay in 1990. In 1992 she moved to take up a Registered Nurses position at the Julia Creek Hospital.
It was here that she met her husband Trevor, and together they lived with their children on the family property for eight years before moving back to Julia Creek where they operate an electrical/refrigeration and tyre business.
Over the years she has been involved with several committees and community services and currently involved with the CAN (Community Advisory Network) Committee, Julia Creek Turf Club, Lions Ladies and volunteers for Meals on Wheels. Janene enjoys being able to give back to her community and has learned a lot from her different roles.
NWQROC Executive Officer
Greg Hoffman PSM
Greg Hoffman PSM is one of Australia’s leading local government professionals with over 45 years’ experience working in State and local government across three states and the Northern Territory. He has held positions of CEO, Commissioner, Managing Director, policy analyst, advocate and industry representative. In his current role Greg’s focus is on the people, policy and politics of the State’s remote and productive North West Region.
Greg is passionate about regional Queensland and has devoted a lifetime assisting councils, regional bodies and communities to ensure their voices are heard and that they receive a fair return for the contribution they make to the State and national economies.
Greg holds qualifications in accounting, management, public policy, media and company directorship. He has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to local government having received a Public Service Medal in 1993 and a Centenary Medal in 2002 for his contribution to Australian society and government.
CENTRAL WEST QUEENSLAND
RAPAD Chair
Mayor Tony Rayner, Longreach Regional Council
Cr Rayner is a proud Longreach local having completed his primary and secondary education in Longreach before completing his tertiary qualifications at University of Queensland (Queensland Agricultural College).
He was elected to council in 2016, and then elected as Mayor at the 2020 and 2024 local government elections. Six years prior he was the Chief Executive Officer of RAPAD Employment Services Queensland (RESQ).
He has a career spanning 30 years as a senior executive within the Queensland Government including roles such as Executive Director for the Australian Agricultural Colleges, Assistant Director-General Department Primary Industries, Executive Director Employment and Economic Development, and Regional Director.
He has actively engaged with the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) in various roles and has worked closely with many State and Federal Cabinet Ministers and Directors-General.
Councillor Rayner was elected as Chair of RAPAD following his Mayoral appointment and is also a Board Director for RESQ.
He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Justice of the Peace (Qualified), a Graduate of the Experiential Leadership Development Program.
RAPAD Deputy Chair
Mayor Andrew Martin - Blackall-Tambo Regional Council
Andrew Martin is the Mayor of Blackall-Tambo Regional Council having been elected at the 2016 and 2024 local government elections. Andrew is well known through agribusiness and agri-politics due to the many roles he has been held in over the years.
Andrew, with his wife Louise, own and operate Macfarlane Station near Tambo. Andrew holds Diplomas in Agriculture and Rural Business Management and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors program. Andrew was one of the early adopters of wild dog cluster fencing which has enabled him to run a far more profitable enterprise while enhancing land and environmental management.
Councillor Martin also has had interests in many businesses and is well versed in directorship.
His current focus is driving the creation of a wool processing plant in his community which would create jobs and underpin the local economy.
RAPAD Chief Executive Officer
David Arnold
Since 2003 David has been the CEO of RAPAD and the Rural Financial Counselling Service North Queensland. He is also a director of RESQ+.
David is the Deputy Chairman of the Central West Hospital and Health Service (CWHHS), chair of its executive committee and member of the audit & risk committee, since its inception in 2012, and member of its finance committee since 2016. Since 2011 he has held two periods as a committee member for Regional Development Australia.
David has considerable experience in senior management and company directorship, gained over the past two decades through his current CEO position and his other governance responsibilities. As a volunteer, David has been President (7yrs), Vice President and remains a member of the Longreach Home and Community Care entity, which delivers care to the frail, aged elderly and disabled.
David has undertaken multiple governance training programs through the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Mt Eliza Business School.
SOUTH WEST QUEENSLAND
SWQROC Chair
Mayor Samantha O’Toole, Balonne Shire Council
Cr O’Toole was elected to Council in March 2016 and elected Mayor in March 2020 and elected unopposed March 2024. She is the South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils.
SWQROC Deputy Chair
Mayor Shaun Radnedge - Murweh Shire Council
Shaun (Zoro) is a born and bred Charleville boy, he is married and has three children. Zoro and his wife have operated a local business in Charleville. Zoro was first elected to Council in 2016 and elected Mayor in 2020 and 2024.
He has been involved in several clubs within the Shire, including Charleville RSL, Junior and Senior League, Western Rugby League and Warrego Pony Club.
His goals are to keep our youth engaged, active and be able to offer employment for our young adults. He is keen to showcase what a great lifestyle we have to offer in Murweh Shire.
SWQROC Executive Officer
Simone Talbot
Simone started her career in the finance industry before moving to the local government sector – a sector she is passionate about. Having worked in various roles at the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) for close to 20 years, Simone has an in-depth knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector - from large and complex urban councils to small and resource constrained rural and remote councils.
Simone has strong leadership and strategic management skills and a proven track record of influencing and negotiating for outcomes. She has been responsible for designing and delivering key projects, policy and funding programs such as the Queensland Roads and Transport Alliance; the Queensland Water Regional Alliance Program; the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme; the Building our Regions Program and the Works for Queensland Program among many others.
Given her advocacy work over many years at senior executive and ministerial levels, Simone understands the importance of managing stakeholders and investing in relationships to create shared value. Simone has represented the cause of councils across all levels of government as well as other peak bodies and industries.
In 2019 Simone established her own boutique consultancy business and has contributed to a diverse range of projects with individual councils, Regional Organisation of Councils (ROCs), peak professional bodies, the State and Commonwealth Governments as well as private sector companies.
Most recently Simone has taken on the position of Executive Officer for the South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (SWQROC) where she has guided and supported the Board establish the necessary governance, financial management, strategic planning and advocacy priorities of the newly formed organisation.
Simone has undergraduate qualifications in economics and political science from the University of Queensland as well as post graduate qualifications in Executive Management and Leadership and Business Administration from the University of New South Wales.