Council
Currently, twenty-one Councillors constitute the RNA Council and
guide every aspect of the RNA's operation and development. An
executive team of seven Councillors, including the RNA President,
has the responsibility of ensuring the ongoing viability of the
Association and the RNA Showgrounds.
The RNA Council represents almost 5,000 RNA
Members throughout Queensland and Australia and meet on a
monthly basis.
All Councillors act in an honorary capacity and are assisted by
Council Stewards, who similarly receive no remuneration for their
work. The members of the RNA Council provide a range of expertise
to the Association, with diverse backgrounds in the rural, private
and public sectors.
Members of the RNA Council also sit on various committees which
meet on a regular basis to assist with the direction and
administration of Royal Queensland Show competitions and Ekka
exhibits.
David Thomas
RNA President
BCom LLB Hons Qld
David Thomas became the RNA President in 2011 after serving on
the Council for nine years, the last two as Senior Vice-President.
He is Chair of the RNA's Development and Planning; Woodchop; and
Entries Committees and is a member of the Appeals and Disciplinary;
Space and Letting; Veterinary; Catering and House; and Industry
Committees. He is a Member and the alternate Chair of the Joint
Management Committee for the RNA Showgrounds Regeneration
Project.
A solicitor by profession, he is senior partner at Minter
Ellison Lawyers in Brisbane and has more than 25 years experience
as a dispute resolution lawyer with a broad ranging commercial
practice. He is Chair of the Queensland Maritime Museum, a member
of the Lord Mayor of Brisbane's Business Round Table, a judge of
the Premier of Queensland's Export Awards, the Chair of the Higher
Education Academic Board of Study Group Australia, a Director of
Artisan, and a Director of The Society of The Sacred Advent Schools
Pty Ltd, which is the trustee of St Margaret's and St Aidan's
Anglican Girls Schools. He is an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch
University.
Daniel (Dan) L O’Connor
Senior Vice-President
DipTchng BCAE BEdSt Qld LLB QUT LLM Qld FAIM MAICD
Dan O'Connor is a Barrister-at-Law, Chief Executive of the Bar
Association of Queensland and Secretary of the Australian Bar
Association. He has been an RNA Councillor since 2000, has served
as Honorary Treasurer and Junior Vice-President and was elected
Senior Vice-President in September 2011.
He is actively involved in the RNA and oversees many aspects of
Show planning including: Chairman of Space and Letting;
Entertainment; and Appeals and Disciplinary Committees and a member
of Horse and Arena; Joint Stock; and Woodchop Committees. He is a
Trustee of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth.
In addition, he is involved in a number of charitable
organisations, in particular he is Chairman of the Residential
Committee of the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal, is a Trustee of
the Edinburgh Declaration Trust and is a member of the Council
of the Anglican Church Grammar School.
Angus G Adnam
Junior Vice-President
Managing Director of AAA Livestock Services Pty Ltd, Angus Adnam
has brought a wealth of experience and energy to the RNA Council
since his appointment in November 2005.
A RNA Steward and Honorary Council Steward since 1978, he was
elected Junior Vice-President in September 2011 and is a member on
the Executive; Beef Cattle; Joint Stock; and Agricultural Hall; and
Industry Committees. He is Chairman of the Food and Wine; Meat
Hall; and Catering and House Committees.
Catherine Sinclair
Honorary Treasurer
BSc MA Illinois FAICD FAIM
Management consultant Catherine Sinclair joined the RNA Council
in 2007 and in March 2010 was elected to the position of Honorary
Treasurer. She brings extensive professional experience in
corporate sector strategic planning, systems and human resource
development.
She has specific experience as a Board Director in Transport and
the Arts and as a tribunal member in the Primary Industry Sector.
Current positions include Director, Southern Regional Water
Pipeline; Director, Queensland Bulk Water Authority; Director,
Frontline Defence Services; and Director of The Consultancy Bureau
Pty Ltd.
Philip S Harpham
BVSc Qld
A veterinarian and grazier by profession, Philip Harpham has
been an RNA Councillor since 2001. He is a member of the Executive
Committee and chairs the Dairy Cattle, Goat and Pig; Beef Cattle
and Boer Goats; and the Veterinary Committee. He is also a member
of the Development and Planning; Meat Hall; Food and Wine and QCAS
National Finals Committees.
Jan M McMillan
A Thoroughbred breeder, national and international horse judge,
owner of racehorses and many show horses, Jan McMillan has brought
considerable expertise to the RNA Council since her election in
1997. In 2007, She became the first female ringmaster in the
history of the RNA.
She is currently a member of the Executive Committee and also
chairs the Horse and Arena, and Quilts Across Queensland
Committees. She is a member of the Entertainment; Entries;
Veterinary; Food and Wine; and Joint Stock Committees.
She is Proprietor of the Australian Show Horse Hall of Fame and
is a member of the Queensland Racehorse Owners Association,
Sunshine Coast Turf Club, Brisbane Racing Club, Deputy Chairman of
the Licenses Assistance Association and is a committee member of
the Gympie Turf Club.
Alastair D Bassingthwaighte
A grazier and RNA Stud Cattle Exhibitor from Yarrawonga-Waco
Santa Gertrudis Stud, Alastair Bassingthwaighte has served on the
RNA Council since 1981. He is an active member of the Beef Cattle
and Boer Goats; Joint Stock; and Meat Hall Committees.
Lionel J Blumel
Lionel Blumel has been involved with the RNA as a Steward since
1986 and was elected to the RNA Council in November 2006. He is
Chairman of the Canine Committee and in 2009 managed the newly
established Feline Competition.
He is a member of the RNA Council as a member of the Animal
Boulevard; Joint Stock; Development and Veterinary Committees. He
is also a Councillor of the Canine Control Council (Queensland)
which services the Dog World of Queensland. He is a working member
of the Samford Show Society and past President of the National
Dalmatian Council of Australia.
Tony M Carew
Tony Carew is a Business Improvement Consultant and was elected
to the RNA Council in February 2004. A Ring Councillor and Member
of the Catering and House; Space and Letting; Food and Wine; Joint
Stock; and Horse and Arena Committees, he is also co-convenor of
the Future Directions Committee.
Ross H Douglas
An RNA Councillor since 2004, retired grazier Ross Douglas is
Chairman of the Animal Boulevard; and Horse Breeds Expo Committees.
He is a member of the Appeals and Disciplinary; Finance; Audit;
Education and the Future; and Joint Stock Committees.
Tim Fairfax AM
FAICD
Tim Fairfax joined the RNA Council in 2004 and is Chairman of
the Flower and Garden and Pisciculture Committees and is a member
of the Appeals and Disciplinary; and Audit Committees.
A grazier and philanthropist, he is Trustee of the Queensland
Art Gallery, President of the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation,
Chairman of the Salvation Army Brisbane Advisory Board, Chairman of
the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, Chairman of the Tim Fairfax
Family Foundation, Director of the Foundation for Rural and
Regional Renewal and Councillor of Philanthropy Australia.
Ian Ferguson
BA Qld JP (Qual)
Ian Ferguson is a longstanding member of the RNA, who has
previously served as an Honorary Ring Steward and Honorary Council
Steward. He stewarded in the horse section and assisted the running
of the night program for a number of years.
An RNA Councillor since 2007, he currently serves on the
Entertainment; Young Judges; and Horse and Arena Committees. He
retired as an Inspector of Police at the Ethical Standards Command
and now undertakes a range of community, hobby and study
activities.
He has a broad background of community involvement, currently as
a member of the PCYC State Board and Chairperson of Carindale
PCYC.
Michael N Grieve
BEd NT DipEd BCAE
Michael Grieve was elected to the RNA Council in September 2006.
An education professional and Thoroughbred breeder, his roles
inside the RNA include being a member of the Horse and Arena
Committee and Finance and Audit Committee. Outside the RNA he is a
Committee Member and Ringmaster of the Ipswich Show Society.
Susan J Hennessey
Susan Hennessey brings to the RNA Council considerable expertise
in the area of fine arts and management. As an RNA exhibitor and
Steward for many years, she was elected to the RNA Council in 2001.
The first female RNA Councillor elected to the Executive Committee,
serving on this committee from 2006 to 2010, she is also a past
member of the Budget and Finance and Marketing and Sponsorship
Committees.
She also Chairs the Fine Arts Committee which includes painting
and drawing, sculpture, cookery, creative art and craft and
photography. She is currently a member of the Catering and House
and the Leasing Committees.
Professor Peter Little
LLB LLM Qld PhD Bond FAIM FCPA
Peter Little was elected to the RNA Council in March 2009, is a
member of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the Education and
the Future Committee. He is also a member of the Finance; Audit;
and Development and Planning Committees and is co-convenor of the
Future Directions Committee.
The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business at the Queensland
University of Technology, he holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of
Laws from the University of Queensland and PhD from Bond University
Law School. He is a Fellow, Australian Institute of Management;
Fellow, CPA Australia; and Fellow, Queensland Academy of Arts
and Sciences.
He is a Director of Ormiston College, consultant to McCullough
Robertson Lawyers Brisbane, is a Director of the RACQ Foundation
Pty Ltd and is a member of the Governing Committee of the
Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
Gary Noller
A respected beef seed stock producer from the Darling Downs,
Gary Noller was elected to the RNA Council in March 2010.
Before becoming an RNA Councillor he was an active supporter of
the association having judged the Led Steer Competition at a number
of Royal Queensland Shows and as a member of the RNA Beef Cattle
and Boer Goats Committee, of which he is still a member. He is also
a member of the Entries; Joint Stock; Meat Hall and Young Judges
Committees.
Dr Bill Ryan
MB BS Qld FRACS RFD
Dr Bill Ryan is an orthopaedic spinal surgeon and has served as
an RNA Councillor since 2000. He is Chairman of the Poultry; and
Wine and Brandy Committees and a member of the Catering and House;
Fine Foods; Joint Stock; and Animal Boulevard Committees.
He has championed the development, growth and continued success
of the popular food and wine show stage, which showcases
Queensland's best produce. Prior to joining the RNA Council, he was
an Honorary Council Steward for the Royal Queensland Wine Show.
Joan F Scott
BA Qld JP (Qual)
As an active member of the RNA Council since 1996, Joan Scott
has also served on the Bungil Shire Council and Rural Lands
Protection Board and co-authored In Champagne Country and Fight for
a Just Cause.
She chairs the Fleece Breeds Committee and is a member of the
Appeals and Disciplinary; Entertainment; Catering and House;
Education and the Future; Young Judges; Joint Stock; Meat Hall; and
Animal Boulevard Committees.
Phil Kesby
CertConst Hons, Licensed Builder (NSW & QLD) GAICD
Phil Kesby was elected to the RNA Council in October 2011 after
serving as an Honorary Council Steward and Steward in the woodchop
section for more than six years.
He has more than 33 years experience in infrastructure delivery
and property related industries, across a wide range of complex
projects. He holds close associations with the business community
and is Chairman of the Brisbane Infrastructure Council, Board
Member of Queensland Urban Utilities, Director of Invest Logan,
Board Member of Field Services Group, Executive Member of the
Brisbane Development Association and Abu Dhabi representative for
Brisbane's Sister Cities program.
He is also a proud member of the Salvation Army Red Shield
Appeal Coordination Committee for Brisbane and Hear and Say
Foundation Leadership Committee.
William Roberts
William Roberts is a stud merino sheep and cattle producer and
joined the RNA Council in November 2011 following years of
involvement at the Charleville Show and the Sheep Spectacular in
Goondiwindi and Toowoomba.
He operates his property, Victoria Downs in Morven, and has been
actively involved in committees including AgForce and the Leading
Sheep Committee for South West Queensland.
He is a serving Councillor and former Past President of the
Queensland Merino Stud Sheepbreeders' Association Incorporated;
Past President of the Australian Association of Stud Merino
Breeders and Past Chairman of Wool Poll.
Duncan McInnes
Duncan McInnes brings extensive knowledge of the dairy farming
industry to his newly elected position on the RNA Council. He runs
a large dairy property, Inverclyde, in Harrisville and also has
interests in a lucerne and cropping farm. He is heavily involved
with local committees and also a Director of Dairy Farmers Milk
Co-operative which represents 700 members across Australia, and a
Past Director of Australian Co-operative Foods (Dairy Farmers) for
12 years.