QCF Organisation

The Hon Mike Ahern AO

The Hon Mike Ahern AO is a former Queensland Premier and over time held the Ministries of Primary Industries, Industry and Technology, and Health.

Since retiring from politics, Mike has undertaken consulting work with technology companies. He is Chairman of Intrapower Ltd, Family Care Medical Services Ltd, McIntosh Financial Planning and the Indue Group of Companies. He is a Director of Brisbane Markets Ltd.

Mike is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences and Engineering, a Member of the Board of Governors of the ATSE Clunies Ross Foundation and has been appointed Special Representative of the Queensland Government for Africa, The Middle East and India.
 

Dr John de Groot (Chair) BA, LLB, PhD

Dr John de Groot is a leading specialist in Wills and Estate Law and author of a number of definitive publications on the subject.  These include Wills Probate & Administration Practice (Queensland) and Family Provision in Australia (an estate litigation text), of which he is co-author with Mr Bruce Nickel.

John is Chairman of the Queensland Law Society's Succession Law Committee and of its Advisory Committee on Specialist Accreditation (Succession Law), Adjunct Professor at the T. C. Beirne School of Law at the University of Queensland and a regular presenter at seminars dealing with Succession Law issues. 

Dr Betty Byrne Henderson AM D.UniGriff, D.UniQUT, FAIM, FAICD, Director, BJ Byrne Nominees Pty Ltd

Dr Betty Byrne Henderson is past owner and director of Byrne Ford which was established in 1969 when Betty's late husband was granted the Ford Dealership for northern Brisbane.  Betty became Governing Director in 1977.  Rapid expansion resulted in its growth into a successful enterprise. By 1997, Byrne Ford ranked 29th in Queensland's Top 400 privately owned companies.

Betty was appointed an ‘Honorary Ambassador’ for the City of Brisbane in 1996.  She was made Queenslander of the Year in 1998 for her commitment to community affairs and public life, for enhancing the role and status of Women in Business and outstanding contribution to Queensland and Queenslanders. 

Mr Tim Feely LLB, Grad Cert Philanthropy and Non-Profit Studies

Tim Feely is a lawyer with more than 30 years experience in the Trust Industry.  He has worked with private trustee organisations, including two years in the United Kingdom. Tim is Deputy Director, Client Services, Public Trustee of Queensland and is their representative on a number of Government Committees involving disability, ageing and financial management for people with disabilities.

Tim is an original member of the Foundation, and has been responsible to the Public Trustee for the operational requirements of the Foundation since its establishment. He is also responsible for the operation of the Forde Foundation, Lady Bowen Trust and the Disaster Appeals Fund.

Leneen Forde AC LLB Qld DipMed Tech Ottawa DUniv Griff DUniv QUT DLitt Qld DUniv ACU DUniv USC

Leneen Forde was elected Chancellor of Griffith University in June 2000.  She is currently Vice President of Scouts Australia and Board Member of the Queensland Ballet Board and All Hallows School Council. Leneen is currently Patron of Rosies, Karuna Hospice Service, National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame (Alice Springs), Alzheimer's Association of Australia (Darling Downs and South West Inc) and the Forde Foundation.

Leneen served as the former Governor of the State of Queensland and was awarded Queenslander of the Year in 1991.  She was the Founding President of Queensland Women Lawyers’ Association and Queensland Representative of the Australian Women Lawyers’ Forum.

Seamus French BE (Chem)

Seamus French is Chief Executive Officer of Anglo Coal Australia Pty Ltd.  Born and educated in Ireland, he obtained an Engineering (Chemical) Degree before working in Germany for seven years.  Since 1993, Seamus has worked in various senior management and operational positions with Western Mining Corporation and BHP Billiton.

Prior to commencing with Anglo Coal Australia, Seamus was Vice President, Business Excellence of BHP Billiton. He also held various positions with Western Mining Corporation including as Executive General Manager Copper-Uranium Business Unit, General Manager Operations Nickel Business Unit, General Manager Kwinana Nickel Refinery and General Manager St Ives Gold Mine.  

Martin Griffin B.Bus(Acct), Grad.Dip.Adv. Acct, CPA, FTIA

Martin Griffin is currently Head of Property Finance at QIC.  Since joining QIC in 1990, Martin has been involved in a variety of corporate finance and accounting roles including taxation and financial systems.

As Head of Property Finance, Martin is responsible for all facets of accounting, debt funding and financial risk management, trust administration and corporate accounting for QIC’s Private Capital Products.

Martin is a Certified Practising Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) (with distinction) and a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Accounting from the Queensland University of Technology.  

George Higgs

George Higgs has been a builder and property developer on the Gold Coast since 1967.  George and his late wife, Jean, have an established sub fund with Queensland Community Foundation.

George is the former International Director of Lions Clubs International, representing Lions Clubs of Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Islands of the South Pacific.  In 2004, George was inducted into the Australian Lions Foundation Hall of Fame and has received the highest award in Lionism, Ambassador of Goodwill.  

Prof Myles McGregor-Lowndes OAM

Dr Myles McGregor-Lowndes is a Professor in the Faculty of Business at Queensland University of Technology and Director of the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies.

Myles' has written journal articles, book chapters and instructional manuals on law, regulation and taxation of nonprofit corporations.  He is a member of the ATO Charities Consultative Committee, and an advisor to the Board of Taxation.

Myles has held board positions for many nonprofit organisations over 25 years and is Chair of the Australian Council of International Development Code of Conduct Committee.  He is also a member of the Queensland Community Gambling Benefit Fund which distributes up to $35million annually.  

Dr Doug McTaggart B Econ (Hons), MA, PhD, FAICD, FAIM

Dr Doug McTaggart is Chief Executive of QIC.  QIC manages more than $80 billion in assets for the Queensland Government and private and public sector clients.

Doug was Professor of Economics and Associate Dean at Bond University and prior to joining QIC, he was Under Treasurer and Under Secretary of Queensland Treasury.

He is a Councillor on the National Competition Council, a member of the Council of Australian Governments Reform Council, a Council Member of QUT and a Director of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. 

Doug has been published extensively in academic journals and is the author of several economics textbooks.  

Linsey Plante B.Bus, MPET

Linsey Plante has had broad experience as a director on boards in both the public and private sectors and various community groups. These have included Greening Australia, Breakwater Casino Community Benefit Trust, Dance North, Queensland Government Roundtable on Training and Employment, Queensland Performing Arts Trust, Relationships Australia, Rural Industry Training & Extension Board, and Townsville Enterprise.

Linsey established three businesses in Townsville addressing needs in human resource development, business administration and horticulture.  Linsey is now a professional development and workplace learning consultant to government, manufacturing and mining industries in Australia.  

Ron Monaghan BA

Ron is general secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions. He was formerly employed by the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union for 28 years, and Secretary of the Queensland Branch of the LHMU for 7 years. 

Prof Margaret Steinberg AM PhD (Child Health and Education), MPhty (Research), BPhty (Hons), Dip Phty, University of Queensland

Professor Margaret Steinberg is Assistant Commissioner (Consumer) of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission and Chair of the Consumer Advisory Committee.  She is a former Commissioner of the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Police Services Review Commission.

Margaret is Adjunct Professor at QUT’s Centre for Philanthropy and Non Profit Studies.  She has undertaken innovative work on complex, contemporary matters involving health, education, social policy and services intersecting with discrimination, HIV/AIDS, telecommunications, mature-age work, ageing and disability.

She was formerly Deputy-President of the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal and establishment Director of the Healthy Ageing Unit at UQ.  

Margaret Sugden M.App.Fin, MFTA, AFAIM, GAICD

Margaret is General Manager, Client Services for QIC. Her role encompasses client relationship management, business development, marketing, product management, performance and reporting.

Prior to joining QIC, Margaret was the Administration Manager for News Ltd’s Melbourne Metropolitan Newspapers Group with responsibility for all advertising administration, with a particular focus on change and product management. 

Margaret has a Masters in Applied Finance, is a Member of the Finance and Treasury Association, an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.