Appointments usher in new era for the QRA Board

The Queensland Government has announced four new appointments to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) Board, reinforcing its focus on building stronger communities and disaster preparedness across the state.

Now chaired by former Mayor of Flinders Shire Jane McNamara, the board also welcomes Brigadier Cris Anstey (Retd), Gail Godwin-Smith, and Dr Kaylee Boccalatte as members. 

They join Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy, who has been reappointed to the board in his role as State Disaster Coordinator. 

The incoming board provides broad representation of Queensland’s diverse geography, and acknowledges the distinct needs of rural, regional and urban communities. 

These appointments are effective till 31 August 2028 and come at a time of heightened demand for robust disaster recovery and resilience measures, following a record 17 separate disaster events for Queensland during the 2024-25 season.

Key outcomes of QRA’s ongoing work include:

• Delivery of resilient infrastructure projects, emphasising preparedness for extreme weather events.
• Enhanced recovery processes to reduce disruption for residents and businesses.
• Integration of innovative solutions into disaster resilience strategies.

With this strong leadership team in place, QRA is well-positioned to guide Queensland through the state’s ongoing recovery efforts and implement proactive measures for future resilience.

QRA wishes to thank and acknowledge the contributions of outgoing Chair Katarina Carroll and members Dr Robert Glasser, Dr Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes, Greg Hallam, and Lynette McLaughlin.

QRA is Queensland's lead agency for disaster recovery and resilience, and is recognised as a benchmark agency, both domestically and abroad, in the emergency management space.

Since being established in early 2011, QRA has managed more than $29 billion in disaster recovery and resilience works, including a current active program of around $14.2 billion.