The Regional Development Australia (RDA) Sunshine Coast Incorporated committee was created in June 2009 and incorporated in January 2010. It consists of up to 11 members with an executive team that includes the Chair, Deputy Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Carol Cashman
Chair
Carol served on the Brisbane City Council for 16 years where her portfolio was planning and development.
She was responsible for introducing Neighbourhood Planning that was a successful and award winning citywide communication and planning project that engaged residents in how and where to plan for the growth of the city into the future.
Prior to this, she was a director of a company that helped local technology companies to grow and market their businesses and products within Australia and to markets in Asia and Europe.
Carol has a reputation for getting things done and is strongly committed to consultation and working together to achieve outcomes.
She serves on a number of boards and is a qualified community engagement specialist and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jason Law
Deputy Chair
Jason has held a diverse range of senior roles across marketing, operations, sales and retail channels specialising in strategy development, organisational transformation and stakeholder engagement; most recently holding the position of National General Manager for Local Government and Smart Cities at Telstra.
His extensive 32 year experience in the industry coupled with 20 years working in Regional Economic Development organisations, has given Jason a unique insight into the issues facing communities across Australia. Taking these experiences and insights, Jason has worked with all levels of Government to develop initiatives and solutions for local communities.
His passion for regional development and leadership in this space resulted in the formation of Telstra’s Local Government and Smart Cities team in 2016. Jason is a graduate of the AGSM’s General Manager Program and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and also holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration from USC. He lives on the Sunshine Coast and is a proud father of six who loves to spend his time with family, exercising, playing cricket and guitar.
Marc Robinson
Treasurer
Marc is a Partner with BDO on the Sunshine Coast, one of the largest full service accounting and advisory firms in Australia, and globally.
Drawing from his 20 plus years experience, from assisting clients across all industries, Marc has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the challenges affecting local small and medium sized businesses and is a big believer in providing exceptional personal service that results in strong relationships.
Marc is a member with the Taxation Institute of Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Leanne Layfield
Committee Member
Leanne retired as Executive Officer of the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce in 2018 after leading the organisation to new heights and strengths over a six year tenure. During that time she increased the membership to over 500 members and implemented signifcant and impactful activity that supported and engaged the business community. The Caloundra Chamber of Commerce is widely regarded as one of the leading business associations in Queensland.
Prior to the Chamber role, Leanne’s career was in the tourism industry leading Caloundra Tourism and prior to that she held senior roles in Tourism Sunshine Coast and Tourism Queensland.
She has a wealth of experience in the not for profit sector and with incorporated associations. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Leanne currently sits on the Fisher Electorate Business Council working with Andrew Wallace MP. Leanne is the Secretary of the Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance and is on the committee of the 4556 Chamber of Commerce. She lends a hand to the annual Buderim9 cycling event that fundraises for charity. What she loves most of all is helping SME businesses at the grassroots level connect and advance.
Andrew Brodie
Committee Member
Andrew was appointed the Chief Executive Officer for Sunshine Coast Airport in February 2019, and has been responsible for driving the continued success of the airport, through the delivery of major infrastructure projects including a new internationally capable runway and capitalising on the recently approved Master Plan to develop non-aeronautical commercial opportunities.
Andrew came to Sunshine Coast Airport after eight years in senior executive positions at Brisbane Airport Corporation, most recently as General Manager, Airline and Retail Management, leading and managing the main aviation and commercial revenue earning business units of the airport.
Andrew also has over 20 years’ experience in commercial property management having spent 15 years with GPT/Lend Lease and AMP in senior executive portfolio management roles.
By cultivating a culture of collaboration with local businesses and the community, Andrew sees the future Sunshine Coast Airport becoming a significant domestic and international gateway in south east Queensland.
In February 2021 Andrew was also appointed as Chief Executive Officer to Agilis Airports, the management group for both Coffs Harbour and Sunshine Coast Airports.
Alister Morrison
Committee Member
Alister is the Senior Director & Head of Physical Sciences at UniQuest, based at The University of Queensland (UQ). He leads a team of intellectual property (IP) commercialisation and innovation specialists, focusing on commercialising technology through licensing into industry, and start-up creation after attracting venture capital and partner-investment.
Alister brings more than 20 years of strategic international experience, having held senior career roles in mergers and acquisitions, economics, business development, strategy, planning and technical asset development.
Alister’s former workplaces include US-listed Pioneer Natural Resources, strategy and technology management consultancy Arthur D. Little (ADL), and energy research firm Wood Mackenzie (now Verisk Analytics), and he was a founder of his own strategic consultancy business. He has international experience across Europe, Australia, USA, Middle East, Africa and Asia. Alister holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in Applied Geophysics, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and is an accredited Australian Certified Economic Developer (ACEcD).
Alister has a passion for the Sunshine Coast region, economic development, clean energy, technology, innovation, capital fundraising and community projects. He is eager to contribute to helping the region develop further, particularly through helping attract investment, start-ups, improved infrastructure and technology.
Jenny Broderick
Committee Member
Jenny is the co-founder of Hillside Tractors Australia located in the Glass House Mountains. Since 2004, they continue to distribute hillside machinery nationally with several patented solutions, with products manufactured both in Australia and in Europe.
With a passion for small business and her local community, Jenny is the President of the Glasshouse Country Chamber of Commerce, an organisation growing in strength as it continues its focus on Agritourism and industry through networking, collaboration, engagement and advocacy.
Jenny comes with significant experience in Community event coordination, is a committee member of Celebrate Glasshouse Country, assists in the coordination of the Glasshouse Country Disaster Management Network and is a member of various local committees.
Jenny holds an MBA and a B.Psyc.Sc and is passionate about our businesses and communities working together to recognise our potential as a united region.
Helen Bartlett
Committee Member
Emma Thomas
(Ex Officio Member)
Emma is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sunshine Coast Council – one of the largest local governments in Queensland serving a population in excess of 320,000 residents and one of Australia’s fastest growing regions. The Sunshine Coast Council is pursuing a transformational agenda to strengthen the region’s economy, improving the region’s liveability, enabling community connectedness and inclusion and maintaining an outstanding natural environment and landscape.
Prior to joining Council, Emma has held a range of chief executive and senior executive leadership roles with the Australian Capital Territory, South Australian and Queensland governments. She is a values based leader with a passion for, and commitment to, sustainable regional economic development and fostering social inclusion, community diversity, connectivity and accessibility. These elements are an integral part of her focus and leadership as Sunshine Coast Council CEO.
As the CEO, Emma is responsible for an organisation with a budget in excess of $860 million, more than $5 billion in assets, over 1800 people and is overseeing one of the most innovative policy, program and infrastructure delivery agendas that seek to position Council as a national leader in local government excellence and the Sunshine Coast as the most liveable and sustainable region in Australia.
Join the RDASC Committee
Applications are invited for Committee member positions at REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA SUNSHINE COAST.
Make a difference in your region
Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast (RDASC) is seeking highly-motivated leaders with vision, drive, and strong ties to their region to volunteer to the RDASC Committee.
RDA Committees are vital promoters for their state/region. They bring together private business and all levels of government with regional stakeholders to build and drive economic growth.
Applications are sought from business and community leaders who have a proven track record of achieving meaningful outcomes in a complex environment.
Women, people from Indigenous and diverse cultural backgrounds, and people with disability are encouraged to apply.
An Applicant Information Pack, including the application form, can be found at RDASC Committee Members Applicant Information Pack 2021
For further information, project@rdasunshinecoast.org.au
Applications close at 5pm AEST Friday 23 April 2021