Learn what future industries are developing in regional Queensland and the impact of enabling infrastructure in their development.
Hosted by Julia Spicer regional representative on the Innovation Advisory Council and the Office of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, this webinar series is all about connecting Queensland’s amazing innovators in the regions. Hear about who’s out there and what they do, have your say and discuss topics that are important to you and learn about programs and policies that may impact you.
This session we are partnering with the Infrastructure Association of Queensland (IAQ) to talk about how future industries are re-shaping regional Queensland. Regional Queensland is well placed to benefit form a range of macro industry trends including digitisation, the clean energy transition, supply chain and manufacturing processes. These trends have the opportunity to support a range of new industries and businesses, and in doing so repositioning regional Queensland. This webinar will focus on the enabling impact of infrastructure to help support these industries, impacts of the value chain, investment considerations and the issues and opportunities for regionally based entrepreneurs.
We are pleased to be joined by Peter Dowling, Rob Williamson, Kylie Porter and Richard Jeffery to talk about this exciting topic.
Peter Dowling
CEO, Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC). Peter leads the Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC). A regional development organisation with 25 years of service and delivery. With strategic intent that focuses on sustainable growth, enhancing our workforce, promoting our region and supporting our businesses.
The Central Highlands Economic Master Plan (CHEMP) is our aspirational plan for regional development, with a 5-year Action Plan. From an operational perspective Peter has a lengthy background in regional development, community relations, corporate affairs, vocational education and universities as well as local government. These roles span both public and private organisations across urban and rural settings.
Peter has history with organisation board management roles such as: Economic Development Australia (Co-founder and Past Deputy Chair), Local Buying Foundation (Past Co-Chair), Qld. Minerals and Energy Academy (Past Director), Regional Development Australia Central & Western Qld (Past Director) and Yumba Bimbi Support Services (Past President/Treasurer).
Rob Williamson
Chief Operating Officer, Alpha HPA – an innovative high purity alumina (HPA) production technology for the burgeoning electric vehicle battery and LED markets. Alpha HPA is committed to commercialising new, smarter technology to meet the growing demand for HPA using the most environmentally responsible and efficient methods. Central to its business is the development of a new Gladstone based HPA First Project. Rob is a mechanical engineer with over 22 years’ experience including 10 in the USA, in the metals refining industry. In his last role as Vice President and GM of American Zinc Products, Rob rebuilt and started up a new 155ktpa SX zinc refinery (>USD$1B) that recycled hazardous waste from the steel recycling industry. Rob returned to Australia to join Alpha HPA (ASX:A4N) as COO in June of 2020 and is excited to be part of a new economy business focused on supporting the decarbonisation of the globe with their low carbon emission technology that produces high purity aluminium products for lithium ion batteries, LED and semi conductor sectors.
Kylie Porter
CEO, Greater Whitsunday Alliance. Kylie has a strong connection to the MIW region and, along with her leadership skills, as an experienced local – she has an invested drive in making the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region stronger for generations. Kylie was initially engaged as the Manager for Development + Innovation for GW3 in 2018 and, in that time, she worked with inaugural CEO Garry Scanlan to deliver a range of outcomes for the organisation, such as preparing workforces of the future, diversifying the regional economy and enhancing regional innovation in MIW. In 2019, upon Garry’s departure from the region, Kylie was appointed as the CEO.
Prior to joining GW3, Kylie owned a successful marketing and communications business for more than 20 years. During this time, she held a range of community and business leadership roles – including President and Vice President of the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce, Director of Regional Development Australia Mackay Isaac Whitsunday and Board Chairman of C-RES (Community Resourcing). Having stepped down from the Chairman role to focus on her CEO duties, Kylie has remained as a Board Member for C-RES which, in partnership with BHP, delivers the Local Buying Program in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and West Australia. She is also a committee member of Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival, the largest youth literature event outside of south east Queensland.
Richard Jeffery
Executive General Manager Commercial Strategy and Energy Futures (Acting), Stanwell Corporation Limited. Richard has 20+ years’ experience in heavy industry, finance and commercial disciplines. This includes 15 years in the energy sector, the majority of which has been with Stanwell Corporation. Having held leadership roles across financial, commercial and market modelling, most recently 8 months as the Acting EGM for the Growth and Future Energy division; Richard is currently the General Manager, Commercial Strategy.
Richard is responsible for, through collaboration with the broader business, development and execution of Stanwell’s commercial strategy, with a particular focus on portfolio diversification, decarbonisation projects (including Stanwell’s renewable energy pipeline) and Stanwell’s hydrogen and energy storage development activities. He is also responsible waste product marketing. Richard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in French with Economics and is a qualified accountant, holding the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants designation.
Would you like to get involved in the TNQ Hub? Do you have an upcoming event that you’d like us to attend? We’d love to hear from you! Please email tnqhub@jcu.edu.au