LGAQ Acting President, Mayor Matt Burnett
Gladstone Regional Council Mayor Matt Burnett was appointed LGAQ Acting President on 21 June 2024. Mayor Burnett also serves as a Director, and the Vice President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA).
The Board
The LGAQ Board is responsible for the operation of the business of the company. The Board of four Directors consists of the President elected by the member councils at the Annual General Meeting following the quadrennial council elections and three other Directors elected by and from members of the Policy Executive.
LGAQ Constitution as adopted on 31 August 2010 (amended October 2019)
The Policy Executive
Responsible for the determination of the Association's policy on behalf of member councils, the Policy Executive consists of 15 district representatives and the President. The Policy Executive meets 6 times per year to discuss and determine LGAQ policy.
District 1 - Brisbane City Council
District 2 – SEQ (Northern)
District 2 – SEQ (Southern)
As Mayor of Redland City Council, Karen Williams is passionate about key issues impacting on the region. Cr Williams is a former small-business owner and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors with a background in the domestic and foreign exchange markets. This is her first term on the policy executive, representing the southern SEQ councils or Redland, Logan and Gold Coast.
District 2 – SEQ (Western)
District 3 – Wide Bay Burnett
Councillor John ‘Jack' Dempsey was elected as Mayor of the Bundaberg Region on March 10th, 2016 after an extended period in Queensland politics. Cr Dempsey was formerly with the Queensland Police Force as well as the former State Member for Bundaberg. This is his first term on the LGAQ Policy Executive and he is representing the councils of Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie and North and South Burnett.
District 4 – Darling Downs
District 5 – South West
District 6 – Central Queensland
Mayor Matt Burnett has 16 years' experience in local government, including five years as Deputy Mayor prior to his election as Mayor of Gladstone Regional Council in 2016. Cr Matt Burnett is a born and bred Gladstone resident and his family's connection with the region extends to five generations. This is Cr Burnett's first term on the policy executive and he will represent the interests of Banana, Central Highlands, Gladstone, Livingstone and Rockhampton councils.
District 7 - Whitsunday
District 8 – Central West
District 9 - Northern
Townsville City Council's first female mayor, Cr Jenny Hill, believes in focusing council on developing the city as not only Queensland's second capital, but also as Northern Australia's premier city. This is Cr Hill's second term on the policy executive, a role which allows her to represent the interests of the Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook and Townsville regions.
District 10 - Far North
Cr Bob Manning became mayor of Cairns in 2012. Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004 for his service to the Cairns region community through the development of the tourism, marine and aviation industries, Cr Manning was Shire Clerk at Longreach for seven years before becoming CEO of the Cairns Port Authority from 1984 to 2002. This is Cr Manning's first term on the LGAQ policy executive and he represents the interests of the Cairns, Cassowary, Cook, Douglas, Mareeba, Tablelands and Torres councils.
District 11 – North West
District 12 – Aboriginal and Island Councils
District 12 - Aboriginal and Island Councils
Senior Management
After 12 months of leading the LGAQ’s Advocacy team – advancing and promoting policy positions and funding priorities critical to Queensland councils and their communities with State and Federal governments – Alison became the LGAQ’s first new CEO in almost three decades in November 2021.
Prior to that, Alison led the corporate affairs functions of ASX-100 companies from 2007-2020; as Group Executive of External Affairs at The Star Entertainment Group and, previously, in media and corporate affairs roles at Rio Tinto’s coal and uranium businesses in Australia, Africa and Canada.
Alison has worked in the public and private sectors in ICT, transport, energy, police and corrective services, and worked 14 years as a print, radio and television journalist before spending two terms as a senior media advisor in the Queensland Government.
In his role as LGAQ CFO, Darren oversees a team of finance and governance professionals. He leads the development and preparation of financial and accounting information for management and board for LGAQ as well as its subsidiaries according to relevant financial standards and legislation.
Darren has also held managerial roles of KPMG in numerous areas from general tax to superannuation advisory. Darren has been with the Association since 2007
As General Manager of Assist, Glen plays a crucial role in supporting and guiding Queensland's 77 local councils. These councils encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from Australia's largest urban councils to smaller ones situated in rural, remote, and First Nation communities.
Glen's responsibilities within his role are extensive, covering various areas such as governance, compliance, industrial relations, and disaster management. His team not only offers daily assistance but also fosters engagement and communication with LGAQ members.
In terms of disaster management, Glen serves as the representative for Queensland local government on both the Queensland Disaster Management Committee (QDMC) and the State Disaster Management Group (SDMG).
Before his tenure at LGAQ, Glen began his career as an educator, working across public, private, and international schools, as well as TAFE and the tertiary education sector. His academic achievements include holding two Master's degrees in Education and Business. With over two decades of dedicated service, Glen has been a valuable asset to the LGAQ.
In her role as the LGAQ’s inaugural Chief Digital Officer, Tracy oversees the Digital, Data and Analytics (LG Sherlock), Innovation and Business Systems teams. She leads the digital strategy and transformation for LGAQ and for our members, focusing on digital solutions to create next-gen councils.
Tracy has over 20 years-experience in creating customer-centric digital roadmaps and building high-performing, award-winning teams. She has led digital transformation and digital marketing for some of the largest events in Australia over the last decade, including the Brisbane floods, G20 and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. She has also led the digital transformation for critical infrastructure providers such as Urban Utilities and is passionate about the value digital will bring to LGAQ and its members.
In her role as Head of People and Culture, Leanne leads the development of the People and Culture strategy which will shape culture, develop talent, and promote wellbeing in LGAQ’s workforce of the future. Leanne has over 20 years’ experience as a strategic human resources, organisational development, and change management leader in a range of industries including transportation, aviation, mining, agriculture, and the public sector. She has led contemporary People practices in the relocation of manufacturing facilities, introduction of an employee-centric approach to performance development, and establishment of an integrity function to enhance business outcomes.
As Head of Advocacy, Sarah oversees the passionate, dedicated policy, intergovernmental relations, media, campaigns, member and funded programs teams that make up the Advocate stream within the LGAQ.
As a member-focussed team, Advocate not only works to progress member resolutions, but to find solutions to emerging issues impacting councils and their local communities across the length and breadth of the state.
An award-winning former journalist and State Political Editor who worked across rural, regional and metropolitan newspapers for almost 20 years, Sarah has always had a love for the local government sector. She joined the LGAQ in 2019.