In August 2005, the Governor was appointed to the role of Chief Health Officer for Queensland, with responsibility for leading the State’s preventative health and public health agendas, including response to public health emergencies. In January 2020, when the COVID-19 virus outbreak was declared a pandemic, the Governor became the State Health Incident Controller.

Her Excellency was sworn-in as the 27th Governor of Queensland on 1 November 2021.

He was awarded an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) on Australia Day 2019, for distinguished service to the financial and stockbroking sectors, and to the community through a range of organisations.

Karl is Chairman of the Brisbane Broncos Ltd, Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham) Council of Governors in Queensland and Patron of the Mary MacKillop Brisbane Catholic School Access Fund. His other Board memberships include Australian Catholic University Senate and J.P. Morgan Australia Advisory Council. He is a Master Member (and former Chair 2012-2018) of the Stockbrokers and Financial Advisers Association of Australia, and former Chairman of QSuper (2013-2019). He also sits on the Investment Committees of the Catholic Archdioceses of Brisbane and Sydney.

Vanessa’s passion for business and commercialising products has seen her ranked in Australia’s Top 30 Female Entrepreneurs list 5 years running and she was named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year for Industry, Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year, and more recently, Vanessa was named in the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence. With over 25 years’ experience in building businesses across Australia, China, the UK, Europe and the US, Vanessa understands what it takes to build and grow a global business.

Andrew is well connected in the domestic and Japanese business communities after spending a number of years practising in Tokyo; he currently leads top tier law firm, Clayton Utz’s Japan practice group nationally and is the Immediate Past President of the Australia-Japan Society (Queensland) Inc. He is a trusted advisor to many leading Japanese and Australian companies. Andrew also heads the corporate advisory team for Clayton Utz in Brisbane and the Agribusiness group nationally.

Andrew is deeply passionate when it comes to engaging those within our society that need assistance. This is evident from his long involvement in programs and organisations that provide community care such as his current role as Chairman of the Adam Scott Foundation, which provides life opportunities for Australian youth; and his previous trustee role with the Children’s Cancer Institute. Andrew is also the Honorary Consul General for Austria in Queensland and a Board member of the University of Queensland Rugby Football Club.

He lives on the Gold Coast not far from where he grew up in Southport. He has four sons.

Rob has worked in government, retail, broadcasting, media, wholesaling, entertainment, sport and development.

Elected to Gold Coast City Council in 2004, he chaired the Finance & Internal Services Committee overseeing the city’s finances, human resources, capital works, infrastructure planning & development.

Rob has a passion for community service, he has been involved with Bravehearts for almost a decade. He was the founding Chairman of the Gold Coast Community Fund and a foundation Director of the Gold Coast NRL Titans. He has also served on many other community boards and maintains a keen interest in Community Radio.

Between his commitments to Southport and his portfolio responsibilities, he spends any spare time with his family, surfing, learning Mandarin and enjoying the enviable Gold Coast lifestyle.

An experienced leader, strategist and advocate, Cassandra joined the Bravehearts National Board in 2022 and also serves as Deputy Chair on Amnesty International Australia’s National Board. She is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Dist) / Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Deakin University, a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Leo Cussen Centre for Law and a Master of Laws (specialising in international and human rights law) from the University of Melbourne.

Kelly’s research focuses on better understanding and responding to both victim/survivors and perpetrators of sexual violence. She has led numerous funded research grants and published widely on this and other related topics. In 2010 she was awarded the ACT Government Office for Women Audrey Fagan Churchill Fellowship, and in 2020 she was named a Senior Fulbright Scholar. Kelly established and Chairs the After Prison Network (Queensland) and is a Committee Member of Restorative Practices International (Queensland branch). In her spare time she enjoys hiking, dance and pub trivia.

John is a Business and Law graduate of the Queensland University of Technology, holds a Master of Administration from the University of Southern Queensland and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.