Board Members & Staff
RDA Mackay Whitsunday brings together a diverse and knowledgeable team. Our board includes:
Heather Norris
Interim CEO
The recruitment process is underway for the CEO position and further details will be available in due course.
Graham Smith
CHAIR
Graham is presently the Executive Chairman of G&S Engineering Services, a mining services company founded and headquartered in Mackay. Experience gained from operational and managerial positions in construction and services related companies nationally and internationally has given Graham wide experience in enhancing business growth and sustainability.
Born and raised in the Mackay district Graham has a passion for the growth and sustainability of the region and improving its recognition on the national stage.
As a board member of the Mackay Hospital Foundation and working closely as an avid supporter of the CQ Rescue helicopter service, Graham is able to engage in his passion for improving the liveability of the regional community.
Joy Deguara
Deputy Chair
Joy has a keen interest in Rural and Regional Development, having a Masters Degree in Applied Science majoring in Agriculture and Rural Development and extensive experience in rural community development.
Joy is an active partner in the management of her family run commercial and stud cattle business in the Nebo district of Central Queensland and is the business manager for her family’s business interests including retail and earthmoving businesses.
She also runs a small consultancy practice specialising in facilitation, capacity development and rural community development, primarily working in Papua New Guinea with farming women.
Joy is a Director (Secretary) of Beef Australia Ltd and a former Board member of Australian Women in Agriculture Ltd, the peak body for women in agriculture in Australia and more recently the AgForce State Council
Narelle Pearse
Narelle was born and raised in Mackay, before moving to Townsville for university. She spent a few years in Brisbane working as a Chartered Accountant and later as CFO for a freight forwarding company before returning to Mackay.
Narelle holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Masters of Commerce, Executive MBA, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology and is currently completing a Masters of Economic Development through RMIT.
Narelle is the current CEO of the Mackay Whitsunday Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDC).
Robert Cocco
Robert is the CEO of Reef Catchments- Mackay Whitsunday which is the leading natural resource planning and services delivery organisation for the Mackay, Whitsunday region. Rob’s interest in becoming involved in Regional Development Australia - Mackay Whitsunday was to become part of a broader team of community leaders with a passion for strategic and sustainable development for the benefit of future generations. Rob has long held the view that economic development and natural resource sustainability are not a mutually exclusive set of outcomes.
As CEO of Reef Catchments Rob has a number of strategic planning roles and responsibilities which support regional growth which is in line with sustainable natural resource utilisation and protection. Rob believes that failure of the region to correctly manage the balance of development and natural resource management will result in an inability for the region to meet its growth needs and also destroy the inherent natural beauty of our regional landscape which is enjoyed by our community and visitors to our region. Prior to his current role of CEO of Reef Catchments – Mackay Whitsunday Rob had 12 years of experience with the agricultural sector specialising in executive leadership roles in the areas of human capacity building and development, new business growth, political advocacy and research and development. Rob has graduate qualifications in both Applied Science Biology and Chemistry and has post graduate qualifications in Business Management and Administration and currently sits on a number of Regional, State, National and International committee’s and board’s which focus on sustainable development and growth.
Ann Crawford
Councillor Ann Crawford has twelve years experience with local government and extensive enterprise experience: owning and operating her own hairdressing business.
Councillor Crawford holds a Diploma Community Services/Community Development, has completed a Building Rural Leaders Foundation Program, is an executive committee member with Mackay Whitsunday Regional Development Australia and is a voluntary member of the Hinterland Community Care INC Committee.
As part of Councillor Crawford’s Council responsibilities she holds membership on the following committees/boards:
- Mackay Tourism (regional)
- Mackay Regional Council for Social Development (MRCSD)
- The Mining Trail Project Steering Committee (Regional)
- Isaac Regional Council RADF Committee
Councillor Crawford is married to Ken and they have two children and four grandchildren. In her spare time she likes to research and write about the family’s history and travel and explore the Australian Outback.
Mark Gaudry
A councilor with Whitsunday Regional Council and a former Councillor with Bowen Shire Council Mark is also happily married with five children.
Mark is the Deputy Chair of Enterprise Whitsundays, plus on numerous Boards and committees which encompass tourism, sports and recreation, social and community, arts and crafts, education and training, plus a number of other short term project groups.
Mark is passionate about maximising positive community benefits, outcomes and opportunities in an environment of sustainable development.
Darryl Camilleri
A councillor with Mackay Regional Council, Darryl is also a Chartered Accountant and former Managing Partner of Bennet Partners Chartered Accountants. Darryl was appointed Deputy Mayor for the first two years of the new council, and has served as Chairman for a number of community organisations. These include the Mackay Whitsunday Regional Economic Development Corporation (MWREDC), Mackay Chamber of Commerce and Mackay & District Health Council.
Darryl is married to Dr Gillian Camilleri and has two sons. He has had a long association with basketball and golf in Mackay.
Quinton Hildebrand
Quinton’s experience of the sugar industry spans 16 years and a number of disciplines.
Commencing as an economist with the South African Canegrowers Association, Quinton then moved to Tate and Lyle and took on strategic planning roles within Africa and Europe.
There followed a further 7 years when Quinton held marketing roles, firstly heading up the South African Sugar Association export single desk, followed by one year in the domestic marketing operations of Ilovo Sugar.
In 2008, Quinton moved his family to Australia where he assumed the duties of Chief Executive Officer with Mackay Sugar Limited in Queensland. Quinton has also recently taken on the role of Chairman of the Australian Sugar Industry Alliance.
Pierre Viljoen
In his current role as CQUniversity Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) and Head of Campus, Mackay, Pierre provides strategic leadership in cultivating high-quality relationships with the university’s internal and external communities.
Pierre holds a PhD in Industrial Psychology, is a registered psychologist with the Psychologists Board of Queensland and a member of the Australian Psychological Society. Pierre has a passion for Organisational Development and has consulting experience in a variety of sectors in Australia and South Africa.
Peter Freeleagus
Peter Freeleagus holds an Advanced Diploma of Management, Workplace Health and Safety expertise and is currently employed in the Mining Sector.
Peter’s experience in regional and strategic development include the former Mayor of Belyando Shire Council (now part of Isaac Regional Council), Committee member of Mackay Whitsunday Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDC) and WHAMBROC – the former Region of Councils body.
As the former Mayor of Belyando Shire, Peter is extremely proud of the Council’s efforts in developing an Affordable Housing Scheme, establishing industrial land estates and supporting small business in the local communities.
Peter’s is looking forward to being part of the RDA Mackay Whitsunday Committee, enabling communities to provide input into governments about the region and its priorities.
