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 Chief Executive Officer of Zeotech Limited, which is developing advanced materials for a more sustainable future. He is a senior executive with 25-years of international experience working with small, medium and large organisations, including startups and listed companies. To 2023, he spent 5-years as Senior Director and Head of Physical Sciences at UniQuest, the main technology transfer and commercialisation company of The University of Queensland (UQ), with a broad focus including cleantech and sustainability.
Alister commenced his career as a geophysicist and has also spent time with Wood Mackenzie, Arthur D. Little (ADL), Pioneer Natural Resources and Gulf Keystone Petroleum working predominantly from the UK, with cross-functional technical and commercial teams, partners, clients, senior management, boards and governments, with a focus on large projects, investment and commercial transactions, including acquisitions and divestments. He has extensive experience working across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and has delivered value and impact for a broad range of stakeholders.
Alister holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc. Hons) degree in Geology and a Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Applied Geophysics, both from the University of Birmingham, UK. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and an accredited Australian Certified Economic Developer (ACEcD).
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
Ex Officio Member
Professor Helen Bartlett is an experienced leader and passionate advocate for regional education.
As Vice-Chancellor and President of USC, Professor Bartlett is leading the university during a time of unprecedented growth and expansion across the South-East Queensland corridor – a period that is expected to bring a wealth of opportunities for the university to increase its impact and engagement across the region.
Prior to starting as USC’s third Vice-Chancellor and President in August 2020, Professor Bartlett led a period of transformation at Federation University Australia, enhancing its profile as a multi-campus institution, its innovative approach to regional higher education and focus on responding to the needs of its communities.
During Professor Bartlett’s time as Vice-Chancellor and President of Federation University from 2017 to 2020, she was also Chair of the Regional Universities Network – a role in which she was able to use her experience to successfully advocate for regional universities when it came to issues of funding, research and policy development. Professor Bartlett was also Chair of the Victorian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee in the year prior to her move to Queensland and worked closely with the Victorian Government as universities shaped their response to the COVID-91 pandemic.
She is passionate about the role regional universities play in helping shape communities and enhancing economic, social and environmental outcomes through education, research and community engagement.
On the international stage, Professor Bartlett has held leadership roles in universities across Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Malaysia – where she was President and Chief Executive of Monash University Malaysia from 2013 to 2017.
Professor Bartlett’s diverse experience and expertise are sought after when it comes to higher education policy and development, having contributed to several key advisory bodies such as the Higher Education Standards Panel, the Australian Government Council for International Education, and the National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund Working Group.
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.
Scott Waters
Ex Officio Member
Scott Waters is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Noosa Council. He is a highly skilled, commercially focused Senior Government Executive with strong Organisational Development, Innovation, Relationship Management and Governance experience both Nationally and Globally; driving growth, organisational change and collaboration, at a Government, Financial and Key stakeholder level.
Through Scott’s experience he is able deliver government and commercial solutions that are creatively minded and result’s driven. As a demonstrated leader and stakeholder manager who is commercially astute, Scott is able to combine these key elements to ensure a high level of measurable deliverables, exceptional people management, leadership of high performing teams and success across the organisation’s objectives. Further skills attained during Scott’s career are the execution, negotiation and implementation of complex contracts.
One of Scott’s strongest attributes is his focus on team leadership and development, with a deep and personal commitment to people management and customer service excellence, leading by example at all levels of the organisation, through governance and financial responsibility. As a strategically focused government professional delivering exceptional elected member advice, Scott is able to ensure the organisation is commercially and politically focused, innovative and agile, through corporate, strategic and operational planning. During Scott’s career he has had a high level of exposure to the overseas investment environment representing Local Government to achieve growth and development outcomes, particularly via International investors, focused upon Tourism, Infrastructure and CBD investments
Join the RDASC Committee
Making 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 currently being sought from business and community leaders who have a proven track record of achieving meaningful outcomes in a complex environment for Deputy Chair and Committee members.
Women, people from Indigenous and diverse cultural backgrounds, and people with disability are encouraged to apply.
An Applicant Information Pack, including the application form, on each of the roles can be found by clicking on the links below:
RDASC Deputy Chair Information Pack and Application Form
RDASC Committee Members Information Pack and Application Form
For further information, project@rdasunshinecoast.org.au