State Recovery Coordinators
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About the State Recovery Coordinator role
The State Recovery Coordinator (SRC) works with communities affected by disaster events. Usually appointed by the Premier of Queensland for specific events, the SRC engages and supports impacted communities throughout recovery.
The State Recovery Coordinator:
- Coordinates the disaster recovery operations for the state group
- Reports regularly to the state group about disaster recovery operations
- Ensures, as far as reasonably practicable, that any strategic decisions about disaster recovery operations are implemented
- Provides strategic advice on disaster recovery operations to government agencies
QRA's recovery team supports the SRC.
State Recovery Coordinator Guide
Current State Recovery Coordinator
The State Recovery Policy and Planning Coordinator (SRPPC) responsibilities include standing as State Recovery Coordinator (SRC) until the Premier of Queensland appoints the next SRC for a specific disaster event.
Previous State Recovery Coordinator profiles
Major General Jake Ellwood (Retd): State Recovery Coordinator for the 2021-22 Southern Queensland Floods
Major General Jake Ellwood (Retd) was appointed by the Premier on 8 March 2022 as the State Recovery Coordinator for the South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding event. This flood event stretches across 23 local government areas and eight cities in Queensland. Major General Ellwood has previously served as Deputy Chief of Army and Commander of the 1st Division based in Brisbane, and on tours of Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor. He was national coordinator for the Australian Defence Force’s response to the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20.
Media statement:
Former Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey: State Recovery Coordinator for the Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth flooding event 2022
Former Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey was appointed as State Recovery Coordinator by the Premier on 12 January 2022 in response to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth flooding event that has caused devastation through the Wide Bay and Burnett region. QRA worked alongside Mr de Jersey who coordinated locally-led recovery planning and recovery operations, in consultation with local governments, state agencies and the Commonwealth to help identify suitable grant programs and advise on applications for funding to support recovery and resilience.
Ian Stewart: State Recovery Coordinator for the Southern Queensland Bushfires 2019 and the Eastern Queensland Bushfires 2019
Ian Stewart was appointed on 18 September 2019 as the State Recovery Coordinator for the Southern Queensland Bushfires 2019 and the Eastern Queensland Bushfires 2019 and lead recovery, focusing on supporting communities, restoring essential infrastructure and building community resilience towards drought and future natural disasters.
Major General Stuart Smith (Retd): State Recovery Coordinator for the Central Queensland Bushfires 2018 & North and Far North Monsoon Trough 2019
Major General Stuart Smith (Retd) was appointed on 9 December 2018 as the State Recovery Coordinator for the Central Queensland Bushfires 2018 and lead a recovery that focused the recovery and the reconnecting of communities by prioritising health, the wellbeing of people, repair of property, restoration of small business, primary producers and the environment. He was then extended as the State Recovery Coordinator for the North and Far North Monsoon Trough 2019. He worked with local leaders from different local government areas to design a State Recovery Plan that focused on a long term approach to recovery to make communities more resilient to withstand future disasters.
Media statements:
- 10 February 2019: Townsville no longer a “disaster” but still a long way to go
- 08 February 2019: Premier extends role of Major-General Stuart Smith to include flood emergency recovery
- 09 December 2018:Bushfires State Recovery Coordinator appointed
Brendan Moon: State Recovery Coordinator for Tropical Cyclone Nora & the Cape York Trough and the North Queensland Flooding
CEO of the QRA at the time, Brendan Moon, was appointed State Recovery Coordinator during the 2018-19 disaster season in response to Tropical Cyclone Nora, the Cape York Trough and the North Queensland Flooding.
Brigadier Chris Field: State Recovery Coordinator for Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie
Brigadier Field served as the State Recovery Coordinator following Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie. Brigadier Field was appointed on 29 March 2017 to lead the recovery and to ensure a State Recovery Plan was developed to recover, reconnect and rebuild more resilient Queensland communities.
Media statements
- 03 June 2017: State Recovery Coordinator handing over Debbie recovery reins to QRA
- 28 March 2017: Townsville-based Brigadier appointed State Recovery Coordinator
Brian Codd: State Recovery Coordinator for Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia 2015
Brian Codd was appointed State Recovery Coordinator to the lead the recovery following Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia in 2015, which impacted the Central Coast, Brisbane North Coast and the south east corner, bringing high winds and heavy rainfall.
Kev Guteridge: State Recovery Coordinator for SRC for Tropical Cyclone Oswald 2013
Kev Guteridge was appointed State Recovery Coordinator to lead the recovery of Tropical Cyclone Oswald that crossed the coast between Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama as a Category 1 cyclone on 21 January 2013 and continued to move inland and down the Queensland coast bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to Northwest, Far North and Southeast Queensland.
