Board and CEO

Minister

The Authority reports to the Minister for Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience, through the State Government's Disaster Recovery Cabinet Committee, and also to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Board (the Board).

Board

Membership of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Board consists of:

Chair, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Major General R.G. Wilson, AOChair, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Major General R.G. Wilson, (Ret'd) AO

Born in Brisbane, Australia on 16 January 1955, Major General Richard (Dick) Wilson was an infantryman with extensive practical command experience at all levels from platoon to division. He retired from the Australian Regular Army in January 2012 and is currently serving as the Chair of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

During his 39 years in the military, Major General Wilson held a wide range of staff appointments, mainly in the areas of operations, plans and strategy. Seconded to the Office of National Assessments as a Defence Liaison Officer and Military Analyst in 1993, he was subsequently the Army representative on the Writing Team for the 1994 Defence White Paper, ‘Defending Australia’. Major General Wilson has also served on exchange with a US Army Division (1991-1992). His operational military service includes assignment with the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (January 2001-March 2002).

A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, the Australian Army Command and Staff College and the United States Army War College, his educational qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of New South Wales.

Board Members

  • Two members nominated by the Australian Government
    • Ms Glenys Beauchamp, Secretary of the Department of Regional Development and Local Government
    • Mr Brad Orgill, Head of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) Implementation Taskforce
  • One member nominated by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ)
    • Ms Lyn McLaughlin, former Mayor of Burdekin Shire Council
  • Three members with expertise or experience in engineering, planning or another field considered appropriate by the Minister
    • Former Director-General Main Roads Mr Steve Golding
    • Expert in local government planning and development matters Mr Jim McKnoulty
    • Experienced town planner and Deputy President of the Townsville Chamber of Commerce Mr Stephen Motti.

CEO, Queensland Reconstruction AuthorityGraeme Newton, CEO Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Graeme Newton

Graeme was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority in January 2011 and brings to the role more than ten years’ experience as Senior Executive in the semi-Government and Government sectors - most recently as the State’s Coordinator-General and Director General of the Department of Infrastructure and Planning. 

With tertiary qualifications as a Surveyor and Masters level qualifications in business and project management, Graeme has an in depth understanding of urban and regional planning, commercial business drivers and major project delivery.

He has led the approval and delivery processes for several major Queensland projects across the infrastructure areas of water, energy and transport and has delivered pipelines, telecommunications and transmission line projects. 

Graeme has held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Water Infrastructure and held senior roles with Stanwell Corporation and Burnett Water. He has served as the Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Queensland and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He is married with three children.