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
Josh Dyke
Josh brings more than two decades of experience across local government, natural resource management, and regional development. He is recognised for his strategic leadership in complex policy environments and his ability to translate regional priorities into clear, actionable advocacy.
Josh’s career spans roles in biosecurity, waste management, town and open space planning, and asset management, giving him a rare end‑to‑end understanding of how regional services are delivered, funded, and sustained. He has worked extensively with councils, state agencies, industry groups, and community organisations to strengthen resilience, improve land management outcomes, and support long‑term regional liveability.
A strong collaborator, Josh is known for building trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups and navigating sensitive issues with clarity and integrity. His work in natural resource management and biosecurity has supported improved cross‑jurisdictional coordination, while his background in asset and open space planning has helped councils deliver infrastructure and services that reflect community needs and regional identity.
In his role at NWQROC, Josh drives strategic advocacy, policy reform, and regional cooperation, ensuring the voices of North West Queensland communities are heard and that councils are equipped to meet emerging challenges and opportunities.
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
Morgan Gronold
Morgan was appointed as RAPAD CEO in January 2026, following more than a decade with the organisation. During this time he has been responsible for delivering projects in the central west for the central west, to stabilise regional depopulation, grow jobs, and drive economic diversity, investment, and growth across the region.
Projects like the RAPAD Power Grid, a unique community-led energy infrastructure development project through a collaboration agreement between RAPAD, Barcaldine Regional Council, and Queensland-owned VisIR: www.rapadpowergrid.com.au.
Prior to RAPAD, Morgan spent over 15 years in the region with the Queensland Government focused on the international marketing and export of meat and agricultural products which saw him spend time in Latin America, USA and China.
SOUTH WEST QUEENSLAND
SWQROC Chair
Mayor Samantha O’Toole, Balonne Shire Council
In 2016, Cr O’Toole was elected as a Councillor at Balonne Shire Council and was elected Mayor in 2020 and 2024.
Cr O’Toole has been instrumental in delivering ground-breaking and life changing projects across the Shire for over almost two decades, involving partners from Federal, State and Local government levels.
She’s passionate about rural communities and has a goal to make Balonne Shire more liveable, while providing and pursuing opportunities to ensure future generations have a positive future in the bush.
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.