GAPDL Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors are responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the organisation. The Board is comprised of 10 volunteers from a range of business and industry sectors. The Directors are guided by GAPDL's constitution, by-laws and policies and for the duration of their appointment, must be a financial member or a representative of a financial members business.
GAPDL EXECUTIVE
Peter Corones AM
Chairman
Helping found GAPDL in 1983, Peter served as a Director for several years and later as its General Manager (1985 to 1994), advancing and expanding its regional presence.
An enthusiastic promoter and advocate for the Gladstone Region, Peter has lengthy involvement in economic and industry development; tourism administration and promotion; together with project and community facilitation. This is reflected in his many years in local government, which included 14 years as the city’s Mayor. His civic duties included membership of a number of key Boards and Authorities.
Peter is keen to continue his voluntary commitment to GAPDL as it seeks to strengthen its key roles in this region- a successful centre for industrial development, tourism interests and community progress.
Maxine Brushe
Deputy Chairperson
Maxine Brushe has been a Director of GAPDL since 1991 and Chair from 2000-2007, 2007-08. Maxine was a Calliope Shire Councillor for 13 years (5 as Deputy Mayor) and now holds a position as Councillor for the Gladstone Regional Council.
Maxine has extensive community involvement as Secretary Bindaree Lodge Management Board Inc, President Boyne Tannum Arts Business Community (BTABC) Assoc Inc, Secretary Schools and Industry Network Inc, Patron of Boyne Tannum Swim Club, and a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.
Judy Whicker
Secretary
Judy has over 30 years experience in event management, and most recently held the position of General Manager of Gladstone Festivals and Events. Judy continues her community work as a well-known civil celebrant, and is heavily involved with the RSPCA. Judy is the longest-serving Director of GAPDL, and has held the executive position of Board Secretary for many years.
Peter Odgers
Treasurer
Peter is currently the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary for Queensland Alumina Limited. He has spent the past 30 years in the finance roles within the Resources sector. He has a Bachelor of Finance Administration and is a Certified Practicing Accountant.
Appointed in 2002 Peter is keen to continue his involvement with GAPDL to advance the Gladstone Region.
ELECTED DIRECTORS
Chris Brooker
Elected Director
Chris Brooker holds the position of Community Liaison Officer with QGC in Gladstone. Prior to commencing his current role, he was the QantasLink Area Sales Manager for the Gladstone Region which brought him in contact with members of the tourism industry, local government and industry.
Born in New Zealand (please don't hold this against him) he studied marketing at Otago University before setting off to London to work as a travel agent on a working holiday for 2 years. Chris has recently relocated to Gladstone with his family for his position with QGC.
Darryl 'Dags' Branthwaite
Elected Director
Grant Cooper
Elected Director
It is very rare in radio circles that one announcer stays put for any length of time however Grant found his new home in Gladstone after accepting a job at 4CC from South Australia in 1988. From the creative department, program manager & senior sales staff, Grant always kept the Breakfast Show humming with an emphasis on local events & civic pride. After only a couple of short stints away from the microphone, Grant retired from 4CC after 15 years and a total of 20 years in radio in 2006 and put his marketing & creative knowledge into building Gladstone’s first full service Advertising Agency.
Teaming up with Jamie McKenzie and his wife Natalie, the three created Cooper McKenzie Marketing in Oct 2005 with an impressive list of local clientele willing to be onboard from day one. Since then the company has grown to manage the marketing needs of national, state wide & local retailers and service orientated businesses.
Leigh Zimmerlie
Elected Director
Leigh has over 18 years experience in the finance industry and holds an Associate Diploma in financial services and is an Associate of the Australian Institute of Finance.
Leigh has involved herself in the Gladstone community and worked with several committees such as Gladstone Chamber of Commerce and Roseberry Community Services Men's Shelter.
Leigh has held the position of Deputy Chairperson at GAPDL since 2004 and prior to this was an elected board member.
APPOINTED DIRECTORS
Kurt Heidecker
Industry Representative
Kurt Heidecker is the inaugural CEO of the Gladstone Industry Leadership Group. The Group was established in January 2009 to collectively resolve issues of mutual regional concern in Gladstone. The group's six members are major Gladstone-based industries which employ over 4,000 people and each year contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the Queensland economy.
Prior to taking up this role, Kurt spent 17 years in the Australian Defence Forces as a project manager and construction engineer. He then worked as a Technology Project Manager at the Sydney Olympics and was then a telecommunications Project and Service Director. Most recently he was the Chief Operations Officer for a small Australian based multinational technology company.
Kurt is also a Director of the Fitzroy Basin Association.
Matt Burnett
Gladstone Regional Council Representative
Gladstone born and bred, Matt was first elected to Gladstone City Council in March 2000 and returned in 2004. Following the 2008 election Matt was appointed as the Gladstone Regional Council representative on the GAPDL Board, Traffic & Environment Advisory Committee, Urban Local Government Association and the Queensland Statewide Health Service Plan 2007-2012 Reference Group.
Matt is also the Portfolio Spokesman for Gladstone Regional Council’s Infrastructure Services Department. He has previously represented Council on The Civic Beautification Committee, the Gladstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gladstone Calliope Aerodrome Board and the Municipal Band Committee.
Matt also represents the Gladstone region as a member of the local Health Community Council and the Central Committee on the Ageing.