KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Councillor Jenny Hill | Mayor of the City of Townsville

Councillor Hill was born and educated in Melbourne and graduated from LaTrobe University with a Bachelor of Science in 1981. The following year she moved to Townsville with her fiancé who was enlisted in the Australian Army.

Cr Hill has 23 years’ experience as a scientist with mining companies, the Department of Primary Industries, James Cook University and Townsville Hospital. She has also completed a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at James Cook University, which included management, economics and accounting.

In 1986 she joined the Army Reserve, first serving in the Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME), maintaining and recovering defence vehicles, and then becoming one of the first women in Australia to complete full infantry training in the reserves.

Cr Hill has over 18 years’ service in local government. In 2012, she was elected the first female mayor of Townsville.

Dr Alan Duffy | Astrophysicist; Research Fellow and Associate Professor, Swinburne University

Sponsored by Boral

He is attempting to find this dark matter as part of SABRE, the world’s first dark matter detector in the Southern Hemisphere at the bottom of a gold mine in Stawell, Victoria.

He is also an Associate Investigator in two ARC Centres of Excellence investigating the origin of matter (CAASTRO-3D) and seeing the Universe with gravitational waves (OzGrav).

When not exploring simulated universes Alan lectures in physics as well as science communication at Swinburne University of Technology.

Every fortnight Alan tries to explain breaking science from UFO sightings to the latest NASA discoveries on his space segment with ABC Breakfast News TV, ABC Radio Sydney with Robbie Buck and ABC Radio Melbourne with Clare Bowditch. He is also a regular on Ten’s The Project, Nine’s Today Weekends as well as TripleJ’s Hack show.

You can hear Alan in his new ABC Radio National Cosmic Vertigo, see him the in the latest Todd Samson science show Life on the Line or catch him at any number of public speaking events. Everything from the Sydney Opera House with TEDx Sydney, to opening in front of 5000 Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s fans. He’s even toured Australia with the BBC’s Science of Doctor Who show.

He was the Ambassador for the Sydney Science Festival 2016, and host for Famelab showcasing science talent across Australia.

He wrote and starred in a science show about dark matter, Dark, shown in 148 planetariums in 25 countries worldwide. His other writing pursuits include his own column in The Conversation and Australia’s most popular science magazine Cosmos.

He was named one of Men’s Style Magazine’s Men of Influence, WA Sunday Time Magazine’s Best and Brightest as well as a finalist for the National Eureka Award for Promoting Understanding of Australian Science Research, Victorian State Finalist in the Fresh Science Award for science communication and recently Commbank’s Australian of the Day.

In his spare time, you can find Alan speaking around the country at various conferences and corporate events.

Sustainability Through Inspired Leadership And Community Engagement

Brigadier Chris Field | Commander 3rd Brigade Australian Army

Brigadier Chris Field has served four postings and almost a decade in Townsville.

As a Lieutenant, he commanded a rifle platoon, which included service in Malaysia, and served as mortar line officer in 2nd/4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.

As a Captain, he served as a military observer with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation in Israel, Syria, and Lebanon.

As a Major, he commanded companies in 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, and was operations officer during the Battalion’s deployment as a lead infantry unit to East Timor.

As a Lieutenant Colonel, he was a planner with the Third US Army / US Army Central during the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He then commanded 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. During this command, within 18-hours of notification, he led a deployment to the Solomon Islands and assumed command of Coalition Joint Task Force 635.

As a Colonel, he was Chief of Operations and Plans, Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

As a Brigadier, he deployed a 1600-person Joint Task Force 661 to the Whitsundays Region following Severe Tropical Cycle Debbie. At this rank, he also served as:

• Queensland’s State Recovery Coordinator designing state, local and community recovery, reconnection and rebuilding plans for one-third of the State.

• Deputy Commanding General - Force Development, 82nd Airborne Division / Combined Joint Task Force 82, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

• Chief of Staff, Headquarters Forces Command, Sydney.

• Head of Corps, Royal Australian Infantry.

• Regimental Colonel, The Royal Australian Regiment.

He is a fellow of the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies and a distinguished graduate of the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

He is a graduate of the: Australian Institute of Company Directors; Australian and United States Joint Task Force Command courses; United States Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting; Royal Military College, Duntroon; and, Australian Defence Force Academy.

He is a director of Ronald McDonald House North Queensland and a member of the Townsville District Community Policing Board and the Regional Managers’ Coordination Network, Townsville.

Brigadier Field is married to Sarah Kendall, who is a Townsville City Council Executive Officer and a member of the Townsville Health and Hospital Board.

Councillor Graham Scott | Livingstone Shire Council

Graham graduated as a Civil Engineer in 1980 and worked for a number of regional Consulting Engineers before establishing Graham Scott & Associates in 1993. He is currently Manager of Calibre Consulting, Rockhampton, and Chair of Capricorn Enterprise.

Graham Scott & Associates Pty Ltd was involved in the design and construction of a range of projects including urban land development, roads, residential unit complexes and a variety of commercial and government buildings. Graham Scott & Associates joined the Calibre Consulting Group early in 2012.

Graham is considered one of Central Queensland’s most highly respected senior engineers. Having worked in Central Queensland Region for four decades, his knowledge of development drivers, processes and regulations, economic, community and environmental conditions has attracted a broad range of clients and engineering projects. He has become a trusted adviser to many long-standing clients.

His ability to engage has also extended his role past conventional engineering into effective, high level and value-added community activities ranging from Local Government to Marine Conservation and Tourism.

The fundamental skill set of communication, teamwork and problem solving has allowed Graham to deliver major achievements for a range of Community Organisations across many fields of interest.

Sustainability Through Inspired Leadership And Community Engagement

Bill Lansbury | Deputy Director-General, Infrastructure Management and Delivery, Department of Transport and Main Roads

Bill leads the RoadTek team to deliver end-to-end management of transport solutions in the fields of civil construction and maintenance, structures, electrical and linemarking, specialising in technically difficult and hard-toscope projects. He also oversees RoadTek’s emergency response efforts, which includes working closely with other responders to ensure the road network is inspected, made safe and returned to normal use as soon as possible.

Bill has more than 35 years’ experience with the department, starting at the grass roots as a Cadet Laboratory Engineer and working his way through the ranks as well as around the state, including Barcaldine, Rockhampton, Cloncurry, Toowoomba, Roma and now Mackay/Brisbane. Former positions include Executive Director – North (RoadTek) and Principal Manager – Structures Management Services (RoadTek).

Together with his experience in the transport and civil construction industry, Bill holds a Bachelor of Technology (Civil), a Masters of Technology (Pavements), Advanced Diploma of Project Management and Executive Masters in Public Administration. He is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) – Civil.

Bill’s leadership is underpinned by strong strategic thinking, a focus on program management, keen relationship skills and a passion for safety.

Alan Patching | Bond University

Alan Patching founded, grew and sold a number of consultancy businesses before holding senior executive positions in major corporations across a range of industries.

He is now Managing Director of Alan Patching and Associates Pty. Ltd. and professor of project management at Bond University on the Gold Coast.

Perhaps his best-known business roles were as Chief Executive Officer of the entity which owned Sydney’s Olympic Stadium and as the stadium project director. He was also project director on the $280m redevelopment of Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Alan Patching has managed or directed over $25 billion (2012 equivalent value) of major projects throughout Australia, and in the early nineties negotiated the country’s largest ever property deal valued at $1.8 billion, and its largest commercial lease.

His business negotiations range from the sale and purchase of jet aircraft to the bulk buying of designer lingerie from leading international suppliers. He negotiated the deal to bring Tiffany of New York to Australia.

This impressive track record in business and leadership, combined with an extensive understanding of the psychology of human behaviour, constitutes a rare business presenter.

A presenter perfectly positioned to ensure your organisation can enhance not only technical aspects of leadership, but also that most important aspect of business communications and relationship buildingemotional intelligence.

Sustainability Through Inspired Leadership And Community Engagement

Brent Tate | Former NRL Player and NQ Cowboys Legend

Sponsored by Harrison Infrastructure Group

Brent Tate is a former professional rugby league footballer widely respected for his never-say-die attitude and a decorated and courageous career. An Australia national and Queensland State of Origin representative three-quarter back, Brent began his career at Brisbane in 2001 and played in the National Rugby League for the Brisbane Broncos (with whom he won the 2006 NRL Premiership), the New Zealand Warriors and the North Queensland Cowboys

Phil Duggan | Department of Natural Resources and Mines

Phil is currently the Acting Director Land Systems and Spatial Information Access branch within the Land and Spatial Information sub-division of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

He has been involved in the spatial industry for 30 years, and has managed spatial teams and systems in state government, local government and utilities since 2003. His current role includes the management of the Spatial Information Resource – a spatial database comprising thousands of spatial layers used by many Queensland government departments to manage and provide access to their spatial data.

Phil has had a focus on natural and built environment, property, and whilst in local government had a strong involvement in linking spatial and asset management practices and was heavily involved in the ADAC initiative.

Sandra Burke | District Director FNQ, Department of Transport and Main Roads

Sandra has over 25 years’ experience as a professional engineer and manager in Mining, Local Government and Water Utility.

She has extensive strategic planning and project management experience on planning and delivery of major capital infrastructure projects / programs and an exceptional background in operational, asset management of major public infrastructure and services.

In 2013 Sandra was nominated for BHP Billiton Cannington’s Women in Mining “Rising Star Award” category - her range, depth and breadth of skills, knowledge and experience are transferable and applicable in any industry.

Sandra held executive management positions at Cairns Regional Council from 1996 to 2006 as Manager Infrastructure Management, Manager Asset Management Development Program and Manager Water & Wastewater Services. As Manager Water & Wastewater Services, Sandra had responsibility for the operations and maintenance of the water /wastewater services (dam, bulk/reticulation water/wastewater treatment) for the Cairns region (pop 140,000) and direct reports of 100+ persons.

Her strengths around capital portfolio and project management grew from her role as Manager Infrastructure Management (Cairns Regional Council) and more recently in 2013 as Superintendent Project Governance & Assurance (for BHP Billiton).

Sandra holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with First Class Honours, is a Senior Member of Engineers Australia (MIE), a Registered Professional Engineer QLD (RPEQ) and Associate Fellow Australian Institute of Management (AFAIM). In 2006, Sandra was awarded a Fellowship from the Institute of Public Works Engineering to undertake “Levels of Service” study tour of NZ local governments in relation to Asset Management