Events

DAVID MUIR AM

David Muir is a retired legal practitioner and former partner of the national firm HWL Ebsworth having first being admitted to practice as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1979.

Apart from David’s law profession, he is a founding and current director of Foodbank Queensland Limited which was established in 1995.

  David currently holds directorships in the Clem Jones Group of Companies. He is the Chair of the Executors of the Estate of the late Dr Clem    Jones OA and Chair of the Clem Jones Group and Chair of the Clem Jones Foundation.

  David is Chair of the Real Republic Limited.He was an elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention held in Canberra in 1998.

  He is a founding director and former Chairman of Crime Stoppers Queensland Limited.David is an honorary life member of the Queensland        Association of Fire Investigators Inc.

  He is a former President of Amnesty International Queensland Inc and Vice President of Amnesty International Australia Limited. He is a           former President and current member of the Lions Club of Brisbane Metropolitan Inc.

  David has been invested as a Knight of Honour of the Order of St John of Jerusalem for his services to the community. In 2020 he was made    a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Nigel has specialist skills in property and major infrastructure projects, together with several decades experience as a Chair and Company Director.

His particular skill sets include leading, positioning and adding value to large complex property and infrastructure opportunities. He has driven some of Australia’s most successful property outcomes including The Riverside Centre and Central Plaza buildings in Brisbane. The latter was, at the time, the largest office transaction in Australia.

All of the major projects Nigel has been involved in have included comprehensive indigenous engagement and interface with leaders from all levels of government and across the political spectrum. Additionally, he has had significant global experience working alongside politicians and members of the Royal Families through his roles as Honorary Swedish Consul and as Chair of the Commonwealth Games.

Following two highly successful decades with JLL, culminating in roles as Joint Managing Director in Queensland and on the Executive running the Asia Pacific operations, Nigel has undertaken a wide range of roles including Chair of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation and Chair of the Commonwealth Games Infrastructure Authority. The delivery models and infrastructure for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, including the Games Village, was delivered well ahead of time and on budget.

Nigel was a director of Queensland Airports Limited for 5 years, a director of South Bank Corporation and chair of the highly acclaimed $215m restoration of Brisbane City Hall, as well as ANZAC Square.

His current roles include Chair of Brisbane Sustainability Agency (wholly owned by Brisbane City Council)  and Chair of the Brisbane Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group.

Recent responsibilities include Director, Deputy Chair and Chair Audit and Risk of the ACT City Renewal Authority; Chair of South Bank Finance and Commercial Committee; and Chair of The Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University

Nigel, the former Queensland Honorary Consul for Sweden for 18 years, is a Retired Fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, The Australian Property Institute and a Graduate and Fellow of The Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Nigel has an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University.

A former Past President of the Queensland Division of The Property Council of Australia, Nigel was awarded an OAM in 1994 for services to the property industry and an AM in 2017 for his contribution to economic development programs and the preservation of historic buildings. He was also made a Commander of The Royal Order of The Polar Star by the King of Sweden.

Rachel Healy is the Chief Executive of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane, Queensland.

Rachel has worked in senior roles in the cultural sector for more twenty years including as Director of Performing Arts for Sydney Opera House, General Manager of Belvoir St Theatre and Executive Manager Culture for the City of Sydney.

With Neil Armfield, Rachel served as Joint Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival from 2015 - 2022. Their tenure as Adelaide Festival’s longest serving Artistic Directors was marked by unprecedented critical acclaim and growth, in which box office doubled, private giving reached 40 times previous levels, attendances increased by 54%, and the number of major events secured exclusively for SA significantly increased visitation and generated gross expenditure of $386.6M.

Rachel has served on more than 30 arts boards and government/industry advisory bodies including the Sydney Opera House Trust, Live Performance Australia, and the Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council (now Creative Australia). Rachel served as Chair of the Australian Government’s Creative Economy Taskforce in 2021-22 and prior to her move to Queensland was Joint Chair of Adelaide University’s Creativity and Culture Industry Advisory Board, Chair of Carclew (SA), and non-executive director of Performing Arts Connections Australia.

In 2019 the University of Adelaide awarded Rachel the honorary degree of Doctor of the University for her ‘exceptional dedication and service to the Arts in Australia’ and the following year Rachel was awarded the Arts Leadership Award by Creative Partnerships Australia.

Before being appointed Chief Executive of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Rachel worked as a cultural industries contractor and consultant, including as Curator of Ideas and Special Events for the 2024 Vivid Sydney Festival.

Billie is an educator and experienced General Manager, bringing close to a decade of experience in not-for-profit.

She has travelled the world as General Manager of SolarBuddy, providing clean, renewable lighting solutions to communities in some of the most developing countries.

Billie is passionate about social impact and supporting communities in need, Billie felt drawn to Coffee Brigade’s legacy and hands-on impact when she took the role 6 months ago. Billie is committed to delivering exceptional service and impactful programs with Coffee Brigade. She believes in the power of education to inspire others to become changemakers and create a positive difference in the world.

Billie has a Bachelor of Biological Sciences and a Master of Education from The University of Leeds.

"It doesn't just happen. A lot of work goes into it. It's all about the art of story-telling and the pictures and video to back that up."

MARK SYMONS

Education - Bachelor of Business – Communication, Double major – Journalism and PR, Queensland Institute of Technology

Employment

• Network 10 Brisbane – 1984 to 2000

Started as a cadet reporter in 1984. After general reporting for some years was assigned the court round and covered newsworthy trials including the corruption trial of former police commissioner Terry Lewis and the perjury trial of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Became political editor and covered the 1995 and 1998 Queensland State Elections

• Seven Network Sydney – 2000 to 2003

Started as a senior reporter in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics. Covered the dawn service at Gallipoli, the Bali bombing and returned for the start of proceedings against the first terrorist to go on trial, Amrozi the so-called “smiling bomber”.

• Senior media advisor for various ministers in the Queensland State Government - 2003 to 2009

Worked for Tony McGrady, Desley Boyle, Tim Mulherin and Judy Spence across a wide range of portfolios including Police, Environment, Primary Industries, State Development and Child Safety.

• A senior media advisors for Premier Anna Bligh - 2010 to March 2012

Organised the media for the Premier’s trips to the regions and organised media across all portfolios for cabinet meetings held in the regions.

• WWF-Australia - Feb 2013 to Present

As senior media advisor my job is to get WWF in the news on our priority issues

Dr Amy Cahill is the Acting Services Manager at 3rd Space, Brisbane’s longest standing drop-in centre for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

With a background in clinical rehabilitation and a PhD in Psychology, Amy brings a wealth of experience in therapeutic practice, policy development, and frontline service delivery. She leads a team of coaches and practitioners, provides direct support to clients with complex needs, and is pioneering a variety of onsite workshops and initiatives.

Prior to her current role, Amy spent five years in New Zealand’s criminal justice sector, where she specialised in culturally responsive interventions for Indigenous peoples and delivered evidence-based therapies including CBT, DBT, and motivational interviewing. Her PhD research, published internationally, explored public attitudes toward individuals with a sexual interest in children, contributing to innovative, preventative strategies to reduce harm and stigma.

Amy is passionate about creating meaningful change through compassionate, evidence-informed practice. She’s known for her analytical mind, approachable leadership style, and unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable communities.

BIO

Dr Darryl Gauld OAM works in educational leadership and management roles and is currently the Deputy Chair of a Higher Education provider in Sydney.  In addition to having worked as a School Principal, he has taught learners from most countries at primary, secondary, and tertiary schools, RTOs/TAFEs, universities, ELICOS, through to large corporations.  He has established and founded multiple Schools in Australia.

He has consistently been a leader and pioneer, in multi-sectoral international education, and is revered for his contribution in Australia and around the world.  Dr Gauld has also been the CEO of Education Groups, across Australia; the CEO of Charles Darwin University’s, Sydney Campus; the Campus Manager of the University of New England’s, Sydney Campus; and a Lead Lecturer at the Sydney Campus of Central Queensland University, Federation University Australia, and James Cook University.  He is widely published on educational leadership.

Dr Gauld’s award-winning Doctorate produced an Effective Teacher Model that has been published and presented, nationally and internationally.  A decade later, his updated version was published by Wiley-Blackwell’s Handbook of the Psychology of Training, Development and E-learning, by invitation.  It also formed part of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, 11 years later. 

His peer-reviewed publications have also featured in prestigious Journals, such as the Journal of European Industrial Training.  He has consulted to educational, security and financial organisations, including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Sydney.

Dr Gauld has been a Director of Independent Secondary Schools, Treasurer of Sydney’s Regency Hyde Park, on the Executive of Chambers of Commerce, Regional Tourism Boards, the Sydney-San Francisco Sister City Committee (the oldest in Australia), President of Team Sydney Sports, a Fellow and Director of MBA Australasia Ltd, and the Federation of Gay Games Governance Committee.

On 26 January 2017, Dr Gauld was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, in the Australia Day 2017 Honours List:  “For service to education, and to social justice and human rights”.

Madonna King is an award-winning journalist and author, whose understanding of teenage lives is valued through speaking and writing engagements across the nation.

As a journalist and commentator, she works across TV, radio and online and all her books are based on hundreds of expert interviews.

Her best-selling parenting books give a voice to tween and teens aged 8-18 and include Out of the Box, Ten-Ager, Being 14, Fathers and Daughters, L Platers and Saving our kids.

Her next book, a guide for parents and grandparents around social media use, will be released next year. She also has a weekly column in The Sunday Mail.

Nick Mair MHFAi, B.Aviation
With over 20 years of experience in corporate training, mental health advocacy, and professional development, I empower individuals and businesses to thrive through effective mental health leadership, psychosocial strategies, and digital presence enhancement.

• Trainer & Speaker: Delivering Mental Health First Aid, corporate well-being workshops, and Psychosocial Hazard awareness to help professionals stand out and succeed.
• Background in Leadership & Training: My expertise spans corporate coaching, people development, and high-impact training for professionals across industries, helping them build confidence, adaptability, and career growth strategies.
• Podcast Host: The Wolf in The Room – Unpacking mental resilience, wellness, positivity, and personal growth.
• Pack Mentality Approach: Success is built through strong networks - whether in mental health, wellness, or LinkedIn visibility, I help professionals and businesses build their wellness, resilience, and influence.

Partnering with businesses like Mi-Training, Port of Brisbane, Bright People, Kone Elevators, Appoint, University of Queensland, and AAT, I deliver tailored, results-driven training programs designed to enhance workplace well-being, engagement, and mental health awareness.

Let’s connect and explore how I can support your team’s mental health, leadership, and online presence!
Mobile 0402 403 286
Email nick@mhpack.com.au Website www.mhpack.com.au
LinkedIn Profile www.linkedin.com/in/nick-mair-mental-health LinkedIn Company https://www.linkedin.com/company/mental-health-pack

TOPIC: Unity and Goodwill: A Woodfordian Invitation

Amanda Jackes shares how Woodfordia and the Woodford Folk Festival embody the spirit of unity and goodwill—values aligned with Rotary’s own ethos of service and community. More than just a festival, Woodfordia is a 500-acre cultural parkland regenerated through decades of collaboration, creativity, and volunteer dedication.

The upcoming 38th Woodford Folk Festival (27 Dec 2025 – 1 Jan 2026) welcomes over 1,800 artists and thousands of participants in a temporary village built on kindness, storytelling, and shared imagination. Amanda introduces the Forest of Goodwill—a campaign to secure Woodfordia’s land in trust for future generations—inviting Rotary members to be part of a legacy of cultural and environmental stewardship.

The talk is a call to connection: an invitation to visit, support, or collaborate, and a reminder that goodwill is a powerful force for shaping the future—together.

Amanda Jackes Bio: Amanda Jackes is the Managing Director and Co-founder of Woodfordia Inc, producers of the iconic Woodford Folk Festival, the innovative festival of The Planting, the national regional touring programme Festival of Small Halls and the holiday camping escape Lake Gkula Camping.  Woodfordia Inc also established the 500 acre venue Woodfordia, a cultural parkland dedicated to the arts and humanities which is underpinned by strong environmental leadership. Woodfordia Inc is a creative and ambitious organisation whose ideology is uniquely expressed in its 500 year plan. Amanda is an enthusiastic leader who achieves through combining creative, practical, optimistic and measurable approaches to community, cultural and environmental engagement.

The Woodford Folk Festival is a vibrant celebration of Australia's rich cultural diversity, featuring over 2,000 local, national, and international artists and musicians across a wide array of genres and art forms. During its six-day run, the festival transforms the rural site of Woodfordia into a bustling hub, effectively becoming the 67th largest town in Australia with an aggregate attendance of around 100,000 people. This significant gathering contributes an estimated $32 million annually to Queensland's economy, underscoring its vital role in the state's cultural and economic landscape. Recognised as the largest assembly of artists and musicians in the country, the festival offers a diverse program that includes music, dance, cabaret, circus, comedy, workshops, debates, street theatre, films, and visual arts, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and creative expression.

Philanthropy: Love or Money

Philanthropy is a word that can be hard to pronounce and even more difficult to explain. The definition is simple - love of people. But often we conflate philanthropy with money, wealth or power. Alternatively, giving or generosity are words associated with philanthropy. So what is philanthropy? Is it about love, money, or something else?

 

Nigel Harris will explore these and other related questions, in discussing philanthropy, philanthropic psychology, the roles of fundraising, volunteering and advocacy, as well as how and why philanthropy plays a critical role in servicing social purpose.

 

He will also explore the landscape of philanthropy, the not for profit sector, and the role of charities in Australia and internationally.

 

And Nigel will answer the question of whether philanthropy is about love or money.

BIO:

Nigel Harris is an established and highly regarded non-profit sector leader specialising in philanthropy and fundraising. With an outstanding track record in organisational growth and development, Nigel has crafted a unique range of experiences and insights in governance, executive leadership and applied fundraising practice. He is also Australia’s leading professional advisor in healthcare philanthropy.

He is Managing Director of Nigel Harris & Associates, an advisory and consulting practice specialising in philanthropy and fundraising leadership. He also has affiliations with other agencies in the non-profit sector where he provides specialist advisory services.

Nigel has held executive leadership roles including as:

• Chief Executive Officer of Mater Foundation (Queensland) for 24 years. Under Nigel’s leadership, revunue gre from $2m to $73m, raising over $750m over that period and establishing the Foundation as one of Australia’s largest health charities and a major funder of medical research and clinical services.
• Board Chair twice with the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA)
• Currently Chair of Act for Kids\
• Serving on boards of Leukaemia Foundation Australia; Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy (UK) and Braille House
• Past President of the Rotary Club of Albany Creek

Clare Blake would love to update you on some amazing new clinical trials happening right now in Brisbane at QIMR Berghofer.

• How we started in a broken down old Army supply Hut after the war and now we have 66 labs.
• Do you have Irish or English heritage? - The Story of “The Celtic Curse.” Is it really a curse?
• I’ll show you our mini brains and mini hearts made to safely test new treatments.
• A game changing new hope for treating Dementia
• Streamlining treatment for Melanoma
• Ways to participate in trials
• Can we outsmart cancer?

Clare Blake is a broadcast media specialist with over 25 years’ experience in both radio and television including Channel Ten QLD and hosting the afternoon show on 4BC. Clare studied sports science at Canberra University and holds accreditation with Medicines Australia from The University of Queensland. At QIMR Berghofer, Clare finds the perfect combination of science and communication.