Far North’s future lies in hands of young leaders

l PORTSMITH

| Nick Dalton

SEVENTEEN young people are being prepped for their future leadership roles in the Cairns region.

They have been selected as part of the 2023 Cairns Chamber of Commerce emerging leaders program which was launched on Tuesday.

Chamber chief executive Patricia O’Neill said the program “aimed to develop globally relevant and locally connected leaders in a manner that supported the future economic, political, social, cultural and environmental prosperity of Far North Queensland”.

She said it was a competitive process with 28 young people applying on the back of last year’s successful program.

“We want to stop the brain drain from Cairns,” Ms O’Neill said.

She said over the next 12 months the delegates would take part in a series of six industry immersion days comprising of keynote presentations, panel discussions and site familiarisation tours aimed at building leadership skills, soft skills and industry knowledge.

Ms O’Neill said a mentoring program would run simultaneously, with each participant paired with a business and/or industry leader from the region.

“Participants are provided with opportunities to grow their professional network and develop valuable business and industry contacts; improve their public speaking skills; and gain an understanding of the industries that drive Cairns, with a consciousness to the bigger picture of our region’s future,” she said.

Program delegate Alex Nelson, senior infrastructure advi- sory consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, said last year he had moved to Cairns from Brisbane and was committed to the Far North.

“This is an amazing opportunity to connect with young likeminded professionals,” he said.

The 23-year-old said he wanted to establish a network of contacts in the region.

Chrystal Neeve, of Cairns Regional Council, said it was “an ideal opportunity, not only as an emerging leader, but to gain exposure and grow skill sets”.

“I’ve just started a leadership role at council events team and really want to take leadership to the next level,” the 35-year-old said.

The program managers are Anna Alexander, the managing director of Bespoke Consulting Solutions, and Rock Ridge Farming operations manager Jess Luming.

Ms Alexander urged delegates to “turn up and be present”.

“As a leader this demonstrates to others that you are committed, engaged, interested and value the opportunity. And you never know what can happen just from turning up,” she said.

The delegates are Alex Nelson (PricewaterhouseCoopers infrastructure advisory senior consultant), Amanda Agius (Cairns Regional Council governance team leader), Amy Mail (Cairns Regional Council economic development officer), Claire Simmons (Cairns Regional Council development and planning executive manager) Chrystal Neeve (Cairns Regional Council events delivery coordinator, Dylan Psiuk (Morgans Financial financial adviser), Emma Gelling (Blended Hair owner-operator), Jasmyn Tureia (Crystalbrook Bailey people and culture business partner), Jake Gries (Aurecon program advisory manager), Jeff Scharton (Selectability direct services team leader), Kelly Graham (Grant Thornton audit and assurance senior manager), Mali Ingram (Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport program manager), Mandy Kennedy (Catholic Education Services Diocese of Cairns’ human resource officer), Monique Guazzo (National Indigenous Australians Agency North Queensland region adviser), Pip Bühler (Cairns Property Clearances’ commercial sales owner-director), Shaun Booth (ARO Industries civil engineer) and Sheree Gall (Cairns Airport airside infrastructure manager). The program delegates with other Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Cairns Regional Council representatives and mentors

Claims of Daintree River ferry pollution being investigated

l DAINTREE

THE Department of Environment and Science (DES) is investigating a report that recent maintenance of the Daintree River ferry had resulted in the alleged release of contaminants into the waterway.

l TOILET UPGRADES

A NEW public toilet at Mt Sheridan plus upgrades at five other parks to the tune of $1.6 million is planned by Cairns Regional Council to meet Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliance. A new facility will be built at the Lakes Park, Mount Sheridan. The new toilet block will include a unisex, DDA compliant, ambulant and accessible cubicle in line with council’s standard toilet block design. Upgrades will be undertaken at Glenoma Park, Brinsmead; Possum Park and Vallance Park, Trinity Beach; Giangurra Esplanade, East Trinity; and Johnson Park, Gordonvale.

l FREE LUNG TESTS

HEART of Australia is bringing its world-first, innovative mobile medical imaging clinic – HEART 5 – to Cairns to provide free lung screening for former and retired resource workers in the region. It will be at the Cairns Showground, Severin St entrance, on March 31 and April 1.

l PLAY IN FOCUS

MISSION Beach playwright Laurie Trott’s play To Kill a Cassowary has been longlisted for Queensland Writer’s Centre Adaptable program. Ms Trott will get the chance to pitch to the film industry professionals at the Gold Coast Film Festival. If she makes the shortlist of 25 then To Kill a Cassowary may be made into a film.

l TEA AND BRA DAY

A department spokesman said DES was “currently making inquiries to understand if a pollution event occurred and whether appropriate controls were in place to manage the environmental risk”.

But Douglas Shire Council, which was undertaking the ferry refurbishment works, “strongly refutes these claims”

“Council are aware of the allegations made,” a council spokesman said.

“Council staff and contractors put extensive environmental controls in place to ensure there was no environmental impacts.” The council spokesman also said: “The Department of Environment and Science is not conducting any investigations in relation to the Daintree ferry.”

The Daintree ferry returned to normal services on Monday at 10.30am.

INNISFAIL Breast Cancer Support Group is hosting a morning tea and bra day on Saturday, April 15. The event will be held at Tully CWA hall and cancer survivors are invited to attend if they need new bras or prostheses or just a cuppa and a chat. Contact email Zoe Dunne by email innisfailbcsupport@ gmail.com