Your
Team
GRT is a collective group of voices from community, government, service providers and businesses, working together to serve community in our collaborative efforts to create a thriving future for our region.
As a community-led project, GRT includes everyone in the Gladstone Region.
Individuals that have nominated for regular ongoing involvement make up a number of volunteer teams and one paid support team, called a Backbone Team.
Supporting community in the GRT work is:
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a volunteer Leadership Group
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volunteer Working Groups
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a paid Backbone Team, hosted by CQUniversity
The work and decisions of these groups are directed by community input. The teams listen to the voices of our community to ensure all voices are heard and that the everyday experiences of our community inform priority areas in the design of improvements.
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You can be involved too – there is no eligibility criteria or restrictions, however we do have a community developed set of values and behaviours that we practice when engaging with each other to ensure everyone is heard and respected. If you are interested in supporting community wellbeing to be part of the solution, please get in touch.
Leadership Group
Christopher Ford
Chris has been an Officer of The Salvation Army for seven years and has played a key role in the development of The Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct Partnership, a co-location of social services. He thinks outside the square to find solutions to complex problems and has a heart for community. Chris believes that the only way forward for Gladstone to achieve successful outcomes is a collaborative approach.
Dr Chathu Herath
Chathu is a Specialist Paediatrician at the Gladstone Hospital and has had the opportunity to support families and young children’s health from diverse backgrounds. The experience Chathu brings to the Leadership team has been shaped by having lived and worked in communities in New Zealand and Australia, including in WA and NT. Chathu believes GRT will have the opportunity to redesign the system from a bottom-up approach, allowing us to inform the work through the eyes and experiences of our community.
Aunty Cecelia Eggmolesse
Cecelia is a Byellee Elder, a descendant of our local First Nation Traditional Owner Custodians within the Port Curtis Coral Coast. Cecelia has meaningful links to the local indigenous community built through work in Indigenous Health, both Mainstream and Community Controlled Health Services, and volunteers and holds Director positions in various local indigenous and community groups. Cecelia values her family and indigenous heritage and is passionate about working together towards a common goal that will benefit the whole of the Gladstone Region.
James Lynch
James is a married father of two wonderful teenage daughters and has lived together with his family in Gladstone for the past 10 years. He has spent his working life in the resources and energy sector, most recently leading operations teams on LNG plants in various locations around Australia. Having recently given up the fly in, fly out lifestyle, James now consults to local contractors who provide support services to the LNG industry. James is passionate about family and community and is excited about the opportunity to ‘give back’ to this wonderful region we live in.
Brianna Janson
Bri is the Manager of Community Partnerships with Gladstone Regional Council and plays a key leadership role at the Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct.
As a long-term resident of Gladstone, Bri has seen many changes and impacts on liveability, as well as resilience, camaraderie and pride of the local community.
Bri takes a collaborative and grassroots approach to making a positive difference in the community.
Luke Sinclair
Luke Sinclair is the Associate Vice-President (AVP) of CQUniversity for the Gladstone and Wide Bay Burnett Regions.
In this role he has responsibility for the business development and growth of CQUniversity in these regions, fostering opportunities for regional engagement and research, and overseeing the pastoral care of students and staff.
Luke represents CQUniversity, in support of the Gladstone Region as auspicing partner of the GRT initiative that provides professional support through administrative, financial, and governance elements of the work.
Trish Lisle
With over 13 years of leadership experience in the Not-for-Profit sector, Trish has dedicated her career to making a difference. Trish proudly holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science with Distinction and is currently furthering her education by pursuing a Master of Business Management.
Trish is a true Gladstone native, born and raised in this vibrant community, enjoying local life with her partner, and their five boys, with weekends filled with sports, family, and beach adventures. Her family property, where her mother still resides, is a cherished place full of fond memories.
Trish's love for Gladstone and its people is a constant source of inspiration. She is driven to give back through volunteering with local sports clubs and engaging in community initiatives. This commitment fuels her passion for contributing to the betterment of our community.
Mitra Khakbaz
Mitra is CEO of Gladstone Women’s Health Centre. She is committed to positive social change to enhance the quality of life for women and girls globally. With over two decades of experience in senior roles within the non-profit sector, she specialises in navigating the intricate intersection of humanitarian and development initiatives. Her expertise lies in designing and executing impactful projects within complex socio-political landscapes.
Drawing from her extensive background in managing community-led initiatives, Mitra has successfully spearheaded numerous projects. Mitra actively contributes to various boards and organisations committed to fostering inclusivity and social justice, demonstrating her dedication to advancing equitable opportunities for all.
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Emma Sanders
Emma's expertise lies in stakeholder engagement and fostering customer relations within the agriculture sector across regional Australia. She holds qualifications in Animal Science, International Studies, and soon to be Law. Emma has strong ties to the community where she lives with her three children. Originally from a small family in South Australia, Emma joined the Leadership Team with a determination to support community proactively, having witnessed the challenges of past economic cycles. When not working, she cherishes spending time at her farm, energised to drive positive change and opportunities for community.
Jennifer McGuire
Jennifer, a lifelong Boyne Island resident, has been married to Joe for 30 years, raising four children and now her two grandchildren are fortunate to grow up in Boyne Tannum too. With three decades of management experience, she has played a key role in developing NFP House, a peak community organisation. Over the past three years, Jennifer has worked to enhance the capacity of Gladstone Region’s not-for-profit sector through her volunteering efforts. Currently, she serves as the AusIndustry Regional Manager for Central Queensland. Actively involved in her community, Jennifer’s participation in the GRT Leadership Group reflects her commitment to family, community, and business growth.
GRT Community Support Team
Lorna McGinnis
Executive Director
With connections to Central Queensland, Northern Territory, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe, Lorna chose the Gladstone Region in 2005, as the ‘right place’ to raise her children and feels extremely privileged to support this work for our community. Post-grad Community Relations and Anthropology studies, and leadership roles in Industry Projects, Government programs, Human Services and Not-for-profit sectors, have provided Lorna with a great appreciation of effective cross-sector partnerships and the power of community-led outcomes. Leveraging her community development, social impact management, project management and business improvement experience, Lorna’s aspiration is to enable our strong community to achieve more with what we have and create amazing futures for our children.
Courtney Morrison
Operations Manager
Courtney brings experience working with people, individually and collectively, to cultivate purposeful and measurable positive change. In community-led,
place-based work Courtney draws from experiences and studies in Human Resource Management, Project Management and Appreciative Inquiry, to uncover deeper system-level conditions and enablers, and facilitate opportunities for improved capacity, connection and culture. Moving to and raising her own family in the Gladstone Region, Courtney is immensely grateful to work closely with the local Social Services Sector and community to build upon strengths and shape the future together for families and children to thrive.
Melanie Ohl
Projects and Partnerships Lead Measurement and Evaluation
Melanie brings a health perspective to the team, with a degree in Health Promotion and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Health Research. Her previous roles have been in Suicide Prevention and service planning for the Gladstone Health Plan. Melanie was a CQUniversity Scholarship representative in 2017 attending the United Nations Conference in New York where she advocated for gender and family equity. Melanie has called the Discovery Coast home for the past 5 years and is passionate about equal opportunities for families in smaller regional towns of the LGA. Melanie is extremely honoured to be part of this work in supporting community partnerships and improving wellbeing outcomes for our region.
Sylvia Morley
RSTO
Implementation Manager
In 2009, Sylvia relocated to Gladstone with her family. She served as a secondary school teacher, specialising in Senior Chemistry, Mathematics, and Learning Enhancement. Prior to her tenure in Gladstone, Sylvia accumulated diverse professional experience in Victoria and Western Australia, holding roles in numeracy, Indigenous education initiatives, and support for students with disabilities.
She completed a Bachelor of Science, Post-Graduate qualifications in Education, and Learning Support. Sylvia also contributed to charitable efforts in Victoria, collaborating with organisations to enhance outcomes for the disadvantaged, including refugees.
In her current role, Sylvia is dedicated to supporting the community through information-driven improvements for all.
Lauren Fawcett
Projects and Sector
Partnerships Lead
As a community development practitioner Lauren has extensive experience in building relationships and developing partnerships to collectively work on changing systems.
Having recently relocated from Sydney for a quieter life, Lauren brings with her a wealth of experience working across community and stakeholder engagement, project management and communications.
Lauren is passionate about harnessing the right tools to facilitate a group to connect. Having completed her Master’s in Social Change and Development, Lauren is skilled at bringing diverse groups of people together to collectively think, reflect, envision, and work for a more equitable and thriving future. Lauren follows the principle, ‘nothing about us, without us’ and uses the frameworks of Asset Based Community Development to drive community-led change.
Bree Cook-Watkins
Projects and Community
Engagement Lead
Bree is a long-term Gladstone Region resident who has established connections, created memories, and built her family here, cementing our community as her true home. Bree holds qualifications in Behavioural Science and the Community Sector. She draws from broad experience in social services, assisting people in areas of Child Protection, Alcohol and Other Drugs and Crimes Prevention. Bree uses a trauma-informed lens in her engagements and believes that every person is valuable. Bree hopes to facilitate community interactions that allow the voice of the Gladstone Region community to be heard to shape our region to thrive now and for generations to come.
Annette Coleborn
Project Lead
Annette is a lifelong resident of Gladstone with a robust background in healthcare, having worked in General Practice for 17 years. She has played a pivotal role in advocating for rural health services, and training future leaders in healthcare management. Her extensive experience includes participation in local working groups and national committees, where she developed strategies for health improvement. Annette is a proud mother of two adult children and is excited to work in a community support team to foster a sustainable future for Gladstone. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children and loved ones whilst balancing life with self-care activities.
Kylie Williams
Communications and Engagement Coordinator
​Kylie is a mother of two and a long-term, proud Gladstone local. With qualifications in Marketing and a strong background in Community Engagement, Social Performance and Communications,
Kylie brings experience working collaboratively with the Gladstone community, industry and social sector. Kylie understands the importance of communication and engagement in bringing community together through listening to all voices and sharing stories and ideas. Kylie is grateful to be part of a team with a whole-of-community approach for improved wellbeing. She is honoured to contribute towards a thriving future for the Gladstone Region where children and their families live happier and healthier lives.
Kylie King
Project
Support Officer
Kylie has a background in supporting teams in busy environments. She holds a Diploma in Management and has worked in the leisure, construction, sales and human resources sectors. Kylie has lived most of her adult life in Gladstone and has raised her children here over the last 11 years. During this time she has participated in community life through several volunteer positions and maintains her strong community connections through family and sporting clubs. Kylie actively pursues a healthy lifestyle through fitness and yoga in between work and family life. Kylie is excited to be a part of such a passionate team and looks forward in continuing to strengthen positive possibilities for the
Gladstone region.
Giaan Eggmolesse
Community Engagement
Support Officer
Giaan is a Gladstone local and young Byellee and South Sea Islander woman who strives to give back to the Gladstone community.
Currently studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science at CQUniversity, Giaan aspires to use her skills locally post graduation.
With a background in retail and customer service, Giaan understands the importance of empathy and is passionate about helping others.
In her role at GRT, she hopes to have a positive effect on the wellbeing of individuals and the community overall.
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Brent Meinberg
Project Support
Data and Evaluation
Brent, a seasoned leader with 12 years in senior roles, has extensive experience in operations, planning, scheduling, and procurement in Gladstone. A resident for 29 years, he cherishes the region's family-focused environment. A dedicated husband and father, Brent's family is his inspiration. His commitment extends to supporting non-profit organisations, reflecting his belief in community service and mental wellbeing. Brent's professional expertise, coupled with his passion for family and community, drives his dedication to making a positive impact in Gladstone. His love for the region fuels his commitment to its growth and development.