Q150 Advisory Committee
Professor Peter Coaldrake
Executive Chair, Queensland’s 150th Celebrations Advisory Committee
Vice-Chancellor, Queensland University of Technology
Professor Peter Coaldrake is Vice-Chancellor of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), a position he took up in April 2003 after being Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Prior to his roles at QUT he served for four years as Chair of Queensland’s Public Sector Management Commission, the body established by the Goss government to overhaul Queensland’s public sector.
Peter is a dual Fulbright Scholarship recipient, as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the field of politics/public policy (1980–1981) and as a Senior Scholar in the field of higher education policy and management (in 2001–2002).
He is the author or editor of a number of books and monographs, including Working the System, Government in Queensland (University of Queensland Press, 1989).
He is Deputy Chair of the Board of Universities Australia and a member of the Board of The Foundation for Development Cooperation Ltd. He was appointed by the Premier as a Smart State Ambassador in 2006 and Executive Chair of Queensland’s 150th Celebrations Advisory Board in October 2007.
Professor Peter Andrews, AO
Queensland Chief Scientist
Professor Peter Andrews is an eminent Queensland scientist and bio-entrepreneur. His role as Queensland Chief Scientist involves advising government on policy and economic development issues associated with science, research and innovation.
Author of more than 100 publications and inventor on two patents, he has led multifunctional scientific teams at research institutions in Victoria and Queensland.
Peter has been at the forefront of initiatives to develop the Australian biotechnology industry and is an active participant in the commercialisation of Australian science and research. Since 1985, he has founded, co-founded or been a director of more than 10 scientific companies. He currently serves as a director of two Australian biotechnology companies.
Michael Choi MP
State Member for Capalaba
Michael Choi was born in Hong Kong and emigrated to Australia with his parents during the 1970s.
Michael graduated from Engineering studies in 1984 and became a tutor at Queensland University of Technology, as well as a consultant engineer in the private sector.
In 1988, he became founder and CEO of the award winning multi-disciplinary engineering and consultancy firm Micdor Consultants.
At the time he was also heavily involved in the business community as a Member of the Small Business Council of Queensland from 1996 to 1998, and then the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council from 1998 to 2001.
Michael was elected Member for Capalaba in February 2001. He has served on numerous Parliamentary and Estimates committees, and has been Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism, Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
Michael is also the Chair of the Queensland Small Business Advisory Committee and an Observer on the Queensland China Council.
Glenn R. Cooke
Research Curator
Queensland Heritage Australian Art
Queensland Art Gallery
Glenn R. Cooke was appointed the first Curator of Decorative Arts at the Queensland Art Gallery in 1981.
Glenn has a Bachelor of Arts from Melbourne University (1977) and a Master in Arts from the George Washington University (1979).
His work includes publications such as L. J. Harvey and his school (1982), Carl McConnell: master potter (1986), Thorns and petals (1988), A time remembered: art in Brisbane 1950 to 1975 (1995), Art off centre (1997), Art prize exhibitions in Brisbane 1950-1975 (1998), Lady woodcarvers of Rockhampton (2000) and Tropical Pleasures (2004).
He has also written numerous articles on the visual arts especially relating to Queensland.
His commitment to documenting Queensland's visual art history was recognised in 1999 when he was appointed Research Curator, Queensland Heritage.
Eleanor Davidson
Chief Operator Officer
Meridien Student Living
Eleanor Davidson has extensive experience across banking, property management and tourism and hospitality.
Eleanor is the 2006/07 Queensland Business Woman of the Year, acknowledging her contribution to the hospitality industry. At the time she was General Manager of the Carlton Crest Hotel in Brisbane.
She is the Chief Operating Officer for Meridien Student Living. She is currently studying for her MBA through the University of Southern Queensland.
Eleanor has been awarded the Centenary Medal for Services rendered to the Tourism and Hospitality Industry and is a member of the Board of South Bank Corporation.
She is a member of the Queensland Premier’s Round Table.
Professor Glyn Davis AC
Vice-Chancellor and President
University of Melbourne
Professor Glyn Davis is Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Melbourne.
From 2002 to 2005 he served as Vice-Chancellor of Griffith University where he had previously taught and researched public policy.
Glyn was educated in political science at the University of New South Wales and the Australian National University, before undertaking post-doctoral appointments as a Harkness Fellow at the University of California Berkeley, the Brookings Institution in Washington DC and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
His public sector service includes working as the Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet in Queensland, and a term as Foundation Chair of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.
He was appointed an inaugural Smart Ambassador in 2004 and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and a Companion in the Order of Australia.
Tim Fairfax AM
Tim Fairfax is Deputy Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast and chair of its Foundation.
Trustee of the Queensland Art Gallery and President of the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation, Tim is also a board member of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and is Councillor of the Royal National Association.
He is Chairman of the Salvation Army Brisbane Advisory Board and Trustee of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation.
He also holds extensive pastoral holdings in Queensland which are involved in beef, grain and wool production.
Christopher R. Freeman
Chairman, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Queensland
Mirvac
Chris Freeman was appointed Chairman of Mirvac Development for Queensland, United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates in 2008 after 10 years as Chief Executive Officer for Queensland.
Chris has been instrumental in directing the growth of Mirvac in Queensland with a range of flagship projects in residential, commercial, retail and education with an estimated current value of over five billion dollars.
He has extensive experience in the property development industry including a term as Executive Director for the Sunland Group Limited.
His professional and business background includes more than 20 years experience in the finance sector including business, agri-business and corporate.
He is a member of the Brisbane City Council’s Urban Futures Board with responsibility for the Brisbane City Centre Masterplan and a Board member of the Queensland Government’s TransLink Transit Authority.
He has a strong interest in the arts and sport and is the current Chair of Major Brisbane Festivals Limited and a current Director of Tennis Australia Ltd.
Tony Gould AM
International Arts Consultant
Tony Gould, is an international Arts Consultant and a driving force behind the development of the performing arts in Queensland for the past 20 years.
Named one of five Queensland Greats in 2005, Tony provided the leadership and vision that has seen many artists and new companies flourish in Queensland.
A former professional actor and a senior executive with the ABC, Tony was appointed inaugural Director of the Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in 1979.
Dedicated to the Arts and to Queensland, Tony remained in that position for 20 years. During this period QPAC received many awards for artistic excellence.
Tony left a lasting legacy as artistic director of the acclaimed Brisbane Festival. In 1996, he established the Brisbane Festival and was Artistic Director of five of these events over 10 years.
Professor Emeritus John Hay AC
John Hay became Chairman of the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees in February 2008.
From 1996 to 2007, John was Vice-Chancellor of The University of Queensland where he led the development of major new research institutes in such fields as molecular bioscience, brain research, bio-engineering and nano-technology, clinical medical research, sustainable mining and many others.
He also established the new Mayne Centre Art Gallery and Australia's first national collection of artists' self-portraits.
John is currently Chair of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.
He chairs or is a member of many other state and national committees, ranging across many disciplines from the performing arts to science, technology, innovation, information systems, libraries, city planning and economic development.
In 2003 he was awarded a Centenary Medal for contributions to Australian higher education. In 2004 he was made a Companion in the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list.
Marayke Jonkers
Paralympic swimmer and motivational speaker
Marayke Jonkers is a paralympic swimmer and motivational speaker who won two bronze medals at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games and represented Australia at the Sydney 2000 Games.
The 26-year-old from Queensland's Sunshine Coast became paralysed in a car accident as a child, but has shown that with a positive attitude anything is possible.
Marayke has broken the world record for 100 metres butterfly and has over 70 Australian records in breaststroke, individual medley, freestyle and butterfly.
Away from the pool she has two university degrees, in social science and communications.
Her outstanding achievements have lead to Marayke winning many awards and accolades. She has started a charity called Sporting Dreams to help other people with disabilities to experience fun, fitness and personal development through sport and achieve their sporting dreams.
In 2005 she was named Queensland Young achiever, recognising her sporting and academic achievements, and commitment to the community.
In 2008 Marayke was announced as the inaugural winner of Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Fun Fearless Female Award.
Marayke has been selected on the Australian team to compete at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Nadine McDonald-Dowd
Program Coordinator of the Kuril Dhagun Indigenous Knowledge Centre
State Library of Queensland
Nadine was the Artistic Director of Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts Company from 2001 to 2004.
She first joined Kooemba in 1996 as a freelance workshop tutor working mainly in youth detention centres and schools, developing and facilitating workshops on theatre, music, reconciliation and performance.
The following year, her role was a more strategic one, which developed the educational arm of workshop programs.
She then left the company to perform as the nurse in Jimmy Chi’s National Tour of Corrugation Road in 1998.
Nadine is an active member of the National Indigenous Theatre Alliance BLAKstage. She has actively lobbied for Indigenous artists through appointments on boards such as the Queensland Theatre Company, Queensland Government’s Premier’s Indigenous Advisory Board, Queensland Community Arts Network, Contact Youth Incorporated and the National Performance Conference.
Phil Reeves MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier of Queensland
State Member for Mansfield
Prior to entering Parliament in 1998 as State Member for Mansfield, Phil Reeves studied for his Bachelor of Arts in Leisure Management at Griffith University and later operated a Sports Management and Marketing business.
In 2006 Phil was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport.
In 2007 he was appointed to the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, representing the Premier on Queensland’s 150th Celebrations, Queensland Events and the Queensland Commemorative Events and Celebrations Committee.
Steve Renouf
Ambassador for Indigenous Sport
Department of Local Government, Planning and Sport
Steve Renouf played 12 seasons with the Brisbane Broncos and was a major factor behind the club's early success.
He has also played 11 games for Queensland and nine Tests for Australia including one Super League Test.
He retired from playing in the NRL competition in 1999 after signing a two-year deal with English club Wigan.
Today he is Ambassador for Indigenous Sport at the Department of Local Government, Planning and Sport. He also is an active youth and anti-racism advocate.
Professor Kay Saunders AM
Executive Director
The Brisbane Institute
Trained in political science and anthropology, Kay Saunders AM was professor of History and Senator of the University of Queensland from 2002 to 2006.
Serving on the Council of the Australian War Memorial, she was Chairman of the Official History to the Australia at War Committee.
Kay was appointed to the Council of the National Maritime Museum of Australia and was director of the National Australia Day Council.
She served as Chair of the Queensland Government’s Cultural Advisory Council and was a member of the Premier’s Advisory Council on Women’s Policy.
She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, the Royal Historical Society (London) and the Royal Anthropological Institute.
In 2001 she received the Medal of the National Museum of Australia and in 2006 was the recipient of the John Kerr Medal from the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
Her most recent books include A Crowning Achievement: A Study of Australian Beauty, Business and Charitable Enterprise (2005) and Between the Covers: Revealing the State Library of Queensland’s Collection (2006).
Last reviewed on 11 July 2008
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