Profile
Gary’s grass roots experience spans business, rural and community sectors and many years of working collaboratively with people from all walks of life.
Community-minded and focused
Gary has demonstrated strong community leadership as an active member of local organisations in every community in which he has lived. Through his involvement he has gained the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life – young, old, disabled – and has developed a better understanding of the challenges they face.
- More than 20 years active involvement in St John Ambulance Brigade
- Gary attained the rank of Corps Superintendent in charge of all St John personnel within the Maryborough District. He also lectured groups in First Aid and rendered First Aid at local sports fixtures
- Active member and held executive positions with several community groups and service clubs
- Gary was a charter member of the Leo Club of Maryborough, serving two separate terms as President
- President of the Maryborough Youth Council for one term
- President of the Granville Hall Indoor Bowls Club for one term
- Secretary-Treasurer of the Maryborough and District Indoor Bowls Association for two terms
- Youth Trainer for Fraser Coast Training Employment Support Service (TESS)
- Secretary for the Maryborough branch of the Queensland Dairymen’s Organisation
- Served in a number of Parents and Citizens groups in schools in Treasurer and President roles, including State Treasurer of the Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens’ Association Inc from 1990 to 1993 and its representative on several educational bodies
Professional, skilled and taking action
Gary has gained excellent communication and financial management skills as well as the ability to work with a mix of groups with diverse agendas throughout his professional career. His various management roles have provided Gary with un-matched experiences and skills that will greatly assist our new amalgamated council.
Financial and change management skills
- As Manager of Compliance Gary improved the business outcome for Compliance from near bottom performance nationally to best. Success was achieved through improved human resource planning, budgeting and negotiating better deals to make administrative funding go further. He was also responsible for 85 staff.
- As Change Manager, a role that involves helping organisations transition through periods of major change, Gary was responsible for implementing major program changes including all phases from feasibility, planning, implementation, training, post implementation review and ongoing monitoring.
(Both positions held during Gary’s time with the Department of Social Security for all of Central and Northern Queensland)
More about Gary
- Gary was born and schooled in Maryborough
- He earned an Under Graduate Degree in Business from the University of Southern Queensland and a Post Graduate qualification in Management from the University of New England
- Gary is a 4th generation sugar cane farmer who shares ownership of the family farm with his two brothers
- He has over 20 years experience working in the public service
- Is a proud father to Olivia, 27, and James, 21, and is a doting grandfather to William, 6, Patrick, 4, and Jack, 2
