FNCCI Summit ’23 Speakers

Glenn Butcher

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water

Glenn is the member for the seat of Gladstone, where he was born and bred. After schooling and attending the local TAFE he started an apprenticeship at the local power station QEC as a fitter and turner.

After completing his apprenticeship Glenn worked at Queensland Alumina as a tradesman, supervisor, and more recently as a Maintenance Superintendent.

Prior to becoming a Minister, Glenn held several Assistant Minister roles including Assistant Minister for Treasury.

On 11 May 2020, Glenn was sworn in as the Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and following the 2020 Queensland State Election added Minister for Water to his portfolio responsibilities.

Glenn is passionate about Queensland’s manufacturing industry and helping the state’s regional communities to expand existing industries, develop new growth industries, and create secure, long-term jobs for regional Queenslanders.

Justin Mohamed

Ambassador for First Nations People 
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Justin Mohamed commenced as Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People on 4 April 2023. He is a Gooreng Gooreng man from Bundaberg in Queensland. 

Justin has a strong connection to community having worked for decades in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, as well as in the government and corporate sectors, on issues spanning health, social justice and reconciliation. 

Justin was most recently Deputy Secretary of Aboriginal Justice in the Victorian Government. He has also held the positions of Chief Executive Officer for Reconciliation Australia and Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, and he has represented Indigenous organisations internationally including at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. 

Cathie McBean

Chief Strategic Policy &
Engagement Officer, NAIF

Cathie is a highly experienced and dedicated senior executive with over 25 years of experience across various sectors. Most recently Cathie was the Manager External Affairs and Regional Development for a mining project in the Northern Territory and prior to that was Director Marketing and Campaigns for NSW Public Transport for the NSW Government for five years. She was also Director Corporate Communications in the Department of Premier and Cabinet in the NSW Government and has held senior roles in the Northern Territory Government in the Dept of Chief Minister.

Based in Darwin, Cathie commenced in the role in November 2022.

Caroline Bommes

General Manager, Brand & Marketing, Energy Transition, Acciona Energía

Caroline Bommes is General Manager, Brand and Marketing for Acciona Energía Australia. In her role she is also responsible for leading the Community and Stakeholder Engagement team which includes the Fist Nations Engagement team. Her deep sector expertise in renewable energy, engineering and the built environment was gained across a range of marketing, brand and communications roles in Australia and overseas. She has extensive experience in developing global brands (French, German and Spanish) to generate local impact in Australia. Caroline is passionate about facilitating the development of collaborative solutions, and has committed her career to contributing to positive change in the world.

Robert Willmett

Deputy Director General of Culture and Economic Participation at the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts.

Robert has extensive experience in implementing complex government initiatives and reforms. He has a proud record of working effectively across government at all levels, the non-government sector and with First Nations communities and stakeholders.

Prior to joining the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts,
as Deputy Director-General, Culture and Economic Participation, Robert was Deputy Director-General, First Nations Strategy Unit, Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy. Prior to this, Robert was Group Manager responsible for leading the National Indigenous Australians Agency’s operations and delivery in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Robert is a descendant of the Kuku Yalanji and Waanyi people of Far North, and North West Queensland. He started out as a trade-qualified compositor in print media before completing a Bachelor of Arts degree and Graduate Diploma of Public Policy from Central Queensland University.

Kerrin Anderson

Director, Institute for First Nations Governance Professionals Ltd

Kerrin is a lawyer with more than 25 years of experience and runs her own legal and governance consulting business.  In addition to her legal qualifications Kerrin is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has completed a Certificate in Governance and Risk Management from the Governance Institute of Australia, a CLE Certificate in Indigenous Governance at the University of Arizona and the Risk Management for Corporate Leaders executive education program at Harvard Business School and is a certified global
partner with the Haines Centre for
Strategic Management.

Kerrin also has over 15 years of experience working with not-for-profits, particularly community-controlled indigenous organisations, specialising in their corporate structuring, governance advice and training, strategic planning and management, risk governance and management and company secretarial services and advice.

Kerrin has developed innovative methods of integrating governance, strategic planning and risk management for Boards.  Kerrin has also developed an innovative approach to the provision of applied governance training and strategy development for indigenous boards using indigenous knowledge perspectives.  A particular focus of this approach is on the principles of indigenous nation rebuilding and their application in an Australian context, particularly with native title bodies.

In addition to her legal and consulting experience, Kerrin has extensive practical experience as business owner and a director of not-for-profit organisations and is currently a director of the Institute for First Nations Governance Professionals Ltd, Constructionarium Australia Ltd and a Director and Global Partner in the Haines Centre for Strategic Management Ltd.

Gavan McFadzean

Manager, Climate Change and
Clean Energy Program,
Australian Conservation Foundation

Gavan McFadzean has a 25-year career in climate and nature advocacy campaigns across Australia, specialising in government and corporate relations, campaign strategy and public campaigns. He’s been The Wilderness Society’s Northern Australia Program Manager and Victorian Campaigns Director, Campaigns and Communications Director for the Leader of the Australian Greens, and the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Climate and Energy Program Manager for the last six years. He’s led campaigns to protect southern Australia’s native forests and northern Australia’s rivers and tropical savannah, federal climate and energy policy and represented the conservation sector at international biodiversity and climate change negotiations. He is a recipient of ‘Wild’ magazine’s ‘Environmentalist of the Year Award.’

Mellissa Case

Sustainable Development Manager,
Bechtel Mining and Metals 

Mellissa Case has more than two decades of practical expertise in social performance, communications, human rights, Indigenous participation and local content. Mellissa started her career with Bechtel on the Curtis Island LNG projects in Gladstone and for the last 12 years, she has supported multiple mega project developments across Australia, the USA, Canada,
the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.
She was recently co-chair of the IPIECA Social Responsibility Working Group, leading the Stakeholder Engagement and Indigenous Peoples Taskforces to develop global guidance for the oil and gas industry. She has direct project experience working with remote First Nations and Indigenous communities in Australia, Canada, and Alaska and holds a Master of
Public Relations and post-graduate degree
in Responsible Mining Development.

Joe Smith

Director,
UHY Haines Norton Gladstone

Joe Smith is a Director at UHY Haines Norton Chartered Accountants and is also the
President of Gladstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a role in which he has served since 2017.

Joe is passionate in his advocacy for local businesses and is also actively involved in several groups working on economic development, enhancing existing industries and bringing new industries, such as hydrogen and renewables, to the Gladstone Region.

With over 20 years of experience in accounting, tax, audit and business advisory services, Joe works with clients ranging from sole traders to large international companies and has a passion for helping business owners in the Gladstone Region achieve their goals in business and life. Joe also works with several First Nations-owned businesses and Not for Profit organisations to help build sustainable and prosperous businesses.

​In Joe’s time as President, GCCI has grown its membership base significantly and has also taken on the delivery of the Best in Business Awards for the Gladstone Region as well as the Business Expo.

Justin Saunders

Executive Director,
Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC)

For the past twenty years Justin has built a strong career in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs spanning Education, Social Housing, Health, Policy and Research and Native Title. Throughout his career Justin has maintained a strong passion for self determination through Aboriginal and Islander Community Control. Justin is a proud Aboriginal man from the Bigambul Nation of Goondiwindi and Gunggari Nation of Mitchell, South and West Queensland.

Justin has held numerous Directorships in various Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Organisations in health, education and training and homelessness and housing. For the past eight years he has been the Chairperson of the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Housing Authority (BATSICCHA) and is also a representative of the Department of Housing and Public Works, Ministerial Housing Council. Justin was previously the CEO of the Central Queensland Regional Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation (CQRAICCHO) and prior to this held numerous positions in senior management leading innovation and reforms in social and economic determinants to improve access for his community across the human and social services sectors. Justin was also the CEO of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC). Currently, Justin serves as the Executive Director of the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC) the prescribed body corporate leading contemporary innovations and models of best practice in governance, leadership, cultural heritage and native title.

Robert Skeen

General Manager, Special Projects,
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

Robert Skeen is the General Manager of Special Projects at the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC). Previously he was the CEO of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC).

Robert Skeen has traditional ties to the Gubbi Gubbi of the Queensland Sunshine Coast, Mununjarli of South East Queensland, and Waanyi of North West Queensland. 

 He has worked in the Government and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation  (ACCHO) sector for almost 25 years, including in organisational leadership roles in the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.  Mr Skeen is the co-chair of the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) and is also the NSW representative on the Joint Council of National CAPO. Currently a Biard Director on the Lowitja Institute and the National Advisory Group for Family, Domestic and Sexual Abuse. Mr Skeen has developed into a strong leader who has a proven track record of high-level leadership through showing his passion for Innovation and Change Management.

Jeff Dillon

Director,
Dillon Bowers Lawyers

Jeff Dillon is a Director of Dillon Bowers Lawyers. Jeff has acted as the Future Act Lawyer for the First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda People Aboriginal Corporation and the preceding Applicants
since 2012.

He has developed considerable expertise in native title and cultural heritage matters and has been listed in Doyle’s Guide as one of Australia’s leading Native Title Lawyers
since 2014.

Jeff has been involved in numerous native title matters, including:

• Indigenous Land Use Agreements;
• Cultural Heritage Management Plans;
• Cultural Heritage Management Agreements;
• Exploration Agreements;
• Right to Negotiate Agreements;
• Community Benefits Agreements addressing the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld); and
• Statutory Compensation.

Jeff has also played an integral role in establishing prescribed body corporates, charitable trusts and other corporate structures for Native Title Groups.

Desanya Stanley

Director,
Destiny Designed

Desanya is an inspirational Indigenous individual and is known for her ability to provide high-level strategic solutions to manage complex and diverse tasks which has resulted in achieving positive outcomes for First Nations people. She is also known for her ability to effectively communicate and engage with communities, having successfully designed and delivered programs to disengaged youth, families, and community members. Prior to establishing Destiny Designed, for over 15 years Desanya worked for Federal and State Governments and Non-For Profit Organisations where she continually demonstrated her ability to effectively collaborate, develop and implement initiatives.

Desanya has a strong desire to inspire and empower people across the nation to fulfil their individual purpose.

Simon Currie

Co-Founder and Chief Projects Officer,
Energy Estate

Simon Currie is the Co-Founder and Chief projects Officer of Energy Estate. Before that, he was Global Head of Energy at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright. He has advised on transactions in the energy sector in over 70 countries and has over 30 years of experience designing and implementing partnerships with First Nations and Governments in the energy sector, here in Australia and globally.   

Simon is a proud kiwi from Aotearoa New Zealand and advocates strongly for the energy sector to use the roll out of clean energy to deliver enduring transformative benefits to
First Nations. He sees decarbonisation as a vehicle to creates opportunities for greater levels of First Nations’ participation and partnerships in renewable projects and the supply chain. Simon is deeply passionate
about the Make Australia Makecampaign
which among other things is focussed
on the onshoring of the manufacturing
of renewable technology components.

Adele Wedlock

Team Leader
East Coast Business Development, Indigenous Business Australia

Adele grew up on the traditional country of the Dulabed and Malanbarra Yidinji peoples in Far North Queensland, in the sugar mill town of Gordonvale, on the Mulgrave River.
Adele has over 20 years experience leading and developing business across a range of industries from media and banking to employment and disability. Adele has worked in private, not-for-profit and public sectors.
IBA is a commercially focused organisation, providing home ownership, business solutions and investment opportunities. IBA’s vision is for a nation in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are economically independent and an integral part of the economy. Adele joined the IBA in 2021. As the Team Leader
of the East Coast Business Development,
Adele works with businesses that have a commercially viable model – assisting them
to start or grow by connecting them to
business supports, products, services and finance options.

Uncle Mick Eggmolesse

Co-owner & Director,
Marion’s Cleaning Service

Mick is a proud Byelle elder and leader in the local Gladstone Region, serving as both Chair of the Bailai Aboriginal Corporation board and on the board of directors for the PCCC Trust.
Mick has an extensive background in the construction industry and his current role as
co-owner and director of Marion’s Cleaning Service, a highly successful commercial and industrial cleaning business, demonstrates his commitment to success. In addition to this, he takes great pride in his cultural leadership role through performing ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremonies at various businesses and events.

Patrice Brown

Managing Director & CEO,
Impact250

Born on Darumbal country and raised on
the land on Baradha Kabalbara country
Patrice (Purcell) is a strong advocate for Aboriginal People. A mother, a country girl,
an environmental scientist and a business woman Patrice walks the talk.

Her company CQG Consulting has partnered with Traditional Owner groups throughout Queensland to deliver environmental and land management services.  Patrice’s company has provided pro bono support for groups in Cape York seeking to establish their own mining and tourism ventures and has provided business establishment advice to several groups.

Patrice is a Founder and director of the Indigenous business, Tunuba with Darumbal Enterprises in the Central Queensland area and has decades of experience as a board director.

Patrice’s efforts toward sustainable development have been recognised by several awards including the Queensland Telstra Business Women’s Entrepreneur (2016), Institute of Managers and Leaders Owner/ Entrepreneur for Queensland (2017) and Gladstone Engineering Alliance Forty Calis award (2016) and the Hall of Fame recipient for her contribution to the Gladstone region (2021), the National Award for Economic Development Champion in 2022 and the CQUniversity Industry Alumni award for 2023.

Phil Richardson

General Manager, Hydrogen Projects, Stanwell

Phil Richardson has 15 years’ experience developing strategy and executing commercial projects and economic policy reforms, with a focus on the energy sector.

Phil is the General Manager of Hydrogen Projects at Stanwell and is the project owner for Stanwell’s Central Queensland Hydrogen Project (CQ-H2), located within the Gladstone region. Phil recognises and respects the importance of engaging with and working alongside Traditional Owner groups in Stanwell’s current and emerging asset communities.

Prior to joining Stanwell, Phil held senior roles in the Queensland Government in energy and economic policy. 

Phil holds a Master of International Economics and Finance, Master of Governance and Public Policy and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.