Recently retired, Jenny has established herself as an educational leader in Queensland. With 33 years practising in the state education system, Jenny has expertise particularly in secondary education as well as the vocational education and training sector.
After teaching and Middle Leadership roles in secondary schools on the Sunshine Coast and in Gladstone, Jenny moved to Bundaberg to take up the Deputy Principalship at Kepnock State High School in 2006. She was appointed Principal at Kepnock State High School from 2009 to 2018 after which she moved into the Senior Public Service sector as a Senior Reviewer with the Department of Education School Improvement Unit based in Brisbane. Her final two years in service were as Assistant Regional Director, Sunshine Coast Region.
Jenny has a Bachelor of Education from Queensland University of Technology and a Masters Degree in Education Leadership from University of Queensland.
Jenny’s work ethic is driven by her desire to give back to her community and in particular young people who can benefit from a helping hand to succeed.
With over 40 years of experience in health and training health professionals, Denise has become increasingly aware of the significant impact that lifestyle, poverty, inequity, discrimination, lack of education opportunities, challenges in accessing services, and now climate change, have on poor health outcomes. Thus, working with people and groups who contribute to solutions for these issues is important to her. This is not a one-way street, as she learns new skills and meets many impressive people along the way.
Having attended primary schools around Central Queensland and secondary school at Bundaberg State High, Denise was well prepared to undertake a medical degree at the University of Queensland, from which she graduated with first-class honours in 1976. She is forever grateful for the opportunity to achieve this because of the encouragement and support of her parents, teachers, and friends, and she wants to pay this forward.
Denise has worked as a General Practitioner, Practice Owner/Principal, and Breast Physician in the district for many decades. Along with her clinical practice, she has been involved in training medical students, junior doctors, and doctors specialising in General Practice (GP Registrars). Each new area has stimulated her to obtain qualifications and recognition of appropriate learning. Lifelong learning is a core value of hers.
Her interests include growing trees and fruits, social cycling, and the big one—spending time with family and friends. Denise is also a novice apiarist.
Tony is Professor and Head of College for Health Sciences in the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, at Central Queensland University (CQU) where he manages nine Higher Education (HE) Allied Health Professional courses and seven Vocational Education & Training (VET) courses.
Tony holds five university degrees culminating in a PhD in 2006 and is an established lecturer and researcher in the field of Sports Medicine. As a registered Physiotherapist, he is currently an accreditation assessor for the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC) and a member of the Physiotherapists Panel of Assessors to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).
Tony is passionate about the health and wellbeing of regional, rural, and remote communities; being a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) Leading Australian Resilient Communities (LARC) program and maintains a role as Board Member for Bundaberg Health Promotions.
Leanne is a highly accomplished Non-Executive Director and financial professional with over two decades of board-level experience spanning the private and not-for-profit sectors. Her expertise encompasses a wide range of areas, including taxation, business advisory, wealth advisory, leadership, governance, management consulting, and financial management. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and is a Fellow of CPA Australia. Additionally, Leanne is a Financial Planner and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
As the founder of The Money Edge, an agribusiness, accounting, and financial advice firm in Bundaberg, Leanne has spent 30 years in public practice, aiding regional and rural businesses to thrive sustainably.
Leanne is deeply passionate about business and leverages her extensive experience to drive positive change, enhancing outcomes, efficiency, and fostering collaboration within organisations.
Elected as Deputy Chairperson at the Board meeting, 15 November 2021.
Martin is the Managing Director of ASX listed Auswide Bank Ltd where he heads up Auswide Bank's leadership team, and is responsible for overseeing the company’s operations and business strategy.
"I've been in banking for more than 30 years and have previously held roles both nationally and internationally - including senior executive roles in retail, commercial, corporate and specialist banking areas."
"My focus is on delivering excellent products and services to our many customers and growing the bank for our shareholders and communities. Banking is highly regulated so ensuring strong relationships across all our stakeholders is an important part of my role."
"I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Murdoch University, an MBA from the University of Western Australia and a Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance."
"I enjoy spending time with family, am a keen bike rider and enjoy travelling and exploring new places."
Luke Sinclair is the Associate Vice-President (AVP) for the Gladstone and Wide Bay Burnett Regions.
In this role he has responsibility for the business development and growth of CQUniversity in these regions, fostering opportunities for regional engagement and research, and overseeing the pastoral care of students and staff.
Luke is always keen to hear from industry and community leaders with regard to opportunities for how CQUniversity can engage further in terms of research, learning and placements for our students.
Giovanna’s first experience of business was growing up and working on her family’s large-scale horticulture farm in Bundaberg. Mentored by her father, she supported the operations of the family agribusiness. So business became a way of life for her - as natural as sleeping and breathing.
Giovanna's ability to build and transform brands into sustainable business models is built on the back of her business acumen acquired from over 20 years commercial experience across the agriculture, education, health, community development, tourism, and sport industries.
Giovanna is well known for her expertise in helping organisations and their stakeholders in transformational and collaborative change management. She does this through her innate ability to bring disparate stakeholders together for the common good enabling advocacy long after the project is delivered. She is an expert in facilitating co-design environments for stakeholders at all levels and functions.
She began Sparrowly Group with a clear vision to help create better, sustainable businesses backed by a better workforce for the future. She has done this successfully for a number of organisations in both the private and public sectors and in many instances, bringing the two sectors together to better align and drive impactful outcomes for their customers.
As well as providing strategic consultation, Giovanna runs impactful leadership and development and reflective mentorship programs for small businesses owners through to executive leaders.
Giovanna has co-authored two research papers on accessible tourism and career pathways which has received acclaim from the sector and decision makers alike.
She is a regular guest lecturer at University of Technology Sydney and University Western Sydney and sits on the School of Business and School of Behavioural Sciences industry advisory committees with both universities. Outside, Sparrowly Group, Giovanna is a Non-Executive Director for national charity, Mummy’s Wish and IMPACT Community Services.
A passionate advocate for the strength and potential of regional Australia, Tanya combines high‑level business acumen with deep expertise in human behaviour. Since joining IMPACT in 1999, Tanya progressed through a range of leadership roles before being appointed Managing Director. During her career, she has become widely recognised for her commitment to capacity building, advocacy, and her dedication to shaping agile, future‑ready leaders.
Tanya’s leadership extends far beyond IMPACT. She currently serves on the Boards of the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health and the Institute of Managers and Leaders and is a respected mentor and coach. Her ability to connect strategy, people, and purpose has made her a sought‑after contributor across a range of sectors and industries.
With multiple degrees, including an MBA and a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons), Tanya brings a unique blend of academic insight and entrepreneurial thinking. Her leadership at IMPACT has guided the organisation through major regional crises, including significant floods, financial challenges, and the COVID pandemic. Under her direction, IMPACT has not only stabilised but grown into a thriving, multi‑million‑dollar enterprise.
Working closely with the IMPACT Board, staff, and program participants, Tanya continues to drive initiatives that create meaningful social and economic opportunities for the community. Her focus remains clear: empowering people, strengthening resilience, enabling participation, and ultimately - improving lives.
