Gail Godwin-Smith, Rolleston

Chair (Non-Voting)

2003 - Present

Landholder & Administration Officer Rolleston State School

A founding member of Comet River Catchment Group and member of the Parthenium Action Group Committee, Gail has extensive experience in the natural resource field. As a landholder, she is responsible for property management and planning of four Bauhinia Shire properties producing grains & beef. Gail is currently a National Weeds Program panel member for the assessment of funding for parthenium.

Trent Jeppesen, Comet

Pastoral Director (Voting)

2004 - Present

Grazier & Farmer

Trent and his family have operated a grazing and farming enterprise at Olivevale near Comet since 1983. Trent works to develop and maintain livestock and pasture improvements, and improve the sustainability of his dryland farming country. A graduate of the Emerald Agricultural College, Trent also holds qualifications as a National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS) Quality Assurance Officer. He is active member of the Emerald AgForce branch.

Proxy: Russell Purvis, Capella

Larry Daniels, Capella

Grains Director (Voting)

2006 - Present

Landholder Proxy Position: vacant

Larry and his family have been producing grain and cattle in the Capella region for 40 years.  An active AgForce member, Larry represents AgForce on the Fitzroy Basin Association Stakeholder Council.  He is also a member of the DPI&F Capella Sustainable Farming Systems group.

Proxy: to be appointed 23 November 2006

Tom Nicholas, Kilcummin

Integrated Catchment Management Director (Voting)

2005 - present

Board member

Tom is a member of the Belyando Suttor Implementation Group (BSIG) which is a sub-regional body covering the sub-catchments of the Belyando, Bowen, Broken and Suttor Rivers working with the Burdekin Dry Tropics Board.  As a farmer and grazier, Tom is an active member of the DPI&F Kilcummin Sustainable Farming Systems group, Vice-President of the Kilcummin AgForce Branch and also a regional delegate to AgForce State Council.  Tom was a State Councillor of the Queensland Grain Growers Association before its merger with cattle groups to form AgForce.

Sharon Kirk, Comet

Local Government Director (Voting)

2005 - Present

Shire Councillor, Bauhinia Shire & Grazier

Sharon was elected to Council in 2000, and is the Deputy Mayor for Bauhinia Shire. In her role as Councillor, Sharon chairs the Arts and Cultural Services committee and is a member of the Rural Services Committee. Sharon also runs a grazing operation near Comet with her family. Prior to her role with CHRRUP, Sharon was a member of the All Souls & Saints Girls School (AGGS) board and represented the Central Queensland region as a State Councillor with AgForce.

Proxy: David Brimblecombe, Capella Shire Councillor, Peak Downs Shire Council & Landholder

Sandy Paton, Yeppoon

Landcare Director (Voting)

2005 – Present

President Lake Maraboon Landcare

Sandy has been involved in Landcare since 1989.  In addition to her role as President of the local Landcare group, she also is the Fitzroy Basin Region Director on the Queensland Water & Land Carers (QWALC), the State peak body for NRM volunteers, and the Vice-President of the Capricorn Community development Association.  Sandy has been the recipient of numerous awards recognising her contributions including the National and Queensland Individual Landcare Awards, Capricorn Region ABC Rural Women’s Award & International Year of the Volunteer Premier’s Medallion.

Proxy: David Bridgemann, President Clermont & District Landcare Association & Landholder

Lindsay Black, Springsure

Indigenous Representative (Non-Voting by choice)

1997 - Present

Lindsay is from the Kairi tribe whose country stretches from the springs of the Nogoa at Salvator Rosa to north of Springsure at the Fairbairn Dam. A respected long-term resident of the Springsure district, he worked with cattle operations throughout his life, with a distinguished history in rodeo and boxing competitions. Lindsay believes Aboriginal people have a lot of knowledge to offer because they understand nature better than most. Lindsay was the immediate past Chair of the Fitzroy Basin Elders Committee.

Linda Drake, Anakie

Human Services Director (Voting)

2002 - Present

Central Highlands Coordinator Family Support, Lifeline Queensland 2001 - Present

Linda is involved in natural resources through the Human Services Group; liaising with the sector through a portfolio champions model and keeping the sector informed and gaining feedback. A former Emerald Shire Councillor and Emerald Environment Link Committee member, Linda is currently the President of Gemfest ‘Festival of Gems’ which is held annually at Anakie.

Proxy: Sandy Paton, Yeppoon President Lake Maraboon Landcare

Colin Moffatt

Mining Director (Voting)

August 2007 - Present

General Manager Technical, Ensham Resources

Colin Moffatt, General Manager Technical, Ensham Resources, was endorsed as Mining Director at the August 2007 Board meeting. With a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) and 22 years experience in the mining industry of Australia, Colin brings valuable experience to the Board. His current role covers the use of Ensham Coal Resource into the future, sustainability and land access for Ensham Tenements. Colin is a Member of the Queensland Resource Council Environment Committee, and holds an MBA.

Dr Jim Sands, Emerald

Campus Manager

2006 - Present

Tertiary Education Director from 2006

Originally from an irrigation block outside Emerald, Jim has renewed ties with the area, following his recent appointment to AACC.  The Emerald campus provides rural training in irrigated cropping and beef cattle production on the campus farm and two other beef properties.  Jim previously held a position at UQ Gatton Campus as lecturer in Soil & Water Management, and also played an active role in the Lockyer Catchment Co-ordinating Committee.  Jim holds a PhD in Surface Irrigation Management (QLD) and a B App Sci (Hons) in Rural Technology (QAC).

Proxy: Associate Professor John Rolfe, Central Queensland University
Associate Professor, University

Peter Dowling, Emerald

Economic Development Representative (Non-Voting)

General Manager, Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC)

Peter's experience in regional economic development spans 9 years with positions in an urban city council and now a rural development corporation. CHDC is a cooperative regional approach to economic development by four local governments. Previous to these roles he worked in the vocational education and training and university sectors. Peter is the founder of the Central Queensland Development Alliance and is at the forefront of the establishment of a Regional Economic Development Practitioners Group for Queensland.

Nigel Burnett (Food and Fibre Director)

Nigel joined the CHRRUP Board in November, 2006 and represents the Food and Fibresector. With a Bachelor of Rural Science from the University of New England, Nigel is engaged in sustainable farming on an irrigation property in the Emerald area, and has been involved in several projects with CHRRUP in the past 18 months. Amongst his other activities, Nigel also serves as a director for Colorada Cotton Pty Ltd. We would like to extend a warm welcome to Nigel, as he will bring valuable experience to the CHRRUP Board.

Representatives State Government Agencies (Non-Voting)

Kevin McCosker, Senior Project Officer, DPI&F

George Bourne, Senior Resource Management Officer, DNR&M

Juliana McCosker, Principal Biodiversity Planning Officer, EPA