Our board

The Hon. Cameron Dick MP

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment

Cameron Dick is the Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, and has represented the state electorate of Woodridge in the Queensland Parliament since 2015.

As Treasurer and a member of the Palaszczuk Government's leadership team, Cameron is responsible for driving economic growth and job creation across the state.

He wants to help local businesses reach their full potential and attract more interstate and overseas investment to Queensland.

With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games secured, he is focused on Queensland's rise to become a showpiece for the world.

Cameron is leading Queensland's economic recovery during the pandemic, overseeing delivery of the government's $14.5 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.

This includes supporting small business operators, easing cost-of-living pressures on Queensland households, and assisting first-homeowners achieve their property aspirations.

By helping secure the government's $50 billion infrastructure pipeline guarantee, Cameron created certainty for the building and construction industry and secure work for families statewide.

He's also committed to the success of Queensland's emerging industries like renewables, hydrogen and defence, while continuing to support traditional industry strengths such as tourism and manufacturing.

Cameron has previously served Queensland as the state's Attorney-General, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Minister for State Development, Minister for Manufacturing, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Minister for Education, and Minister for Industrial Relations.

He is proud to live with his wife and two teenage boys in the City of Logan where he enjoys supporting local community and sporting groups, particularly the area's rugby league and cricket clubs.

The Hon. Steve Bredhauer – Chair

Steve was appointed Chair of Trade and Investment Queensland in December 2015. He is also the Deputy Chair of the International Education and Training Advisory Group. Steve was Trade and Investment Queensland’s Special Trade Representative to China, Vietnam and Mongolia from 2008 to 2012, during which time he led 14 trade missions. In various capacities for the Queensland Government and private sector, Steve has now led or participated in more than 25 trade missions to markets across the globe. From 1989 to 2004, Steve was a member of the Queensland Parliament. He served as Minister for Transport and Main Roads from 1998 to 2004.

Steve has also run a successful consulting business since 2004.

Kate Hynes – Deputy Chair

Kate is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Federal Court of Australia and High Court of Australia. Kate is currently Head of Legal & Business Affairs at Brisbane film and television production company Hoodlum.

She holds a Certificate in Information Privacy Management (International Association of Privacy Professionals), a Bachelor of Laws (QUT), a Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice (QUT) and a Bachelor of Arts (University of Queensland). Kate has worked as a legal advisor in Brisbane, Melbourne, Dubai and Jakarta, and has a particular interest in international law and trade.

Leon Allen

Leon was appointed Under Treasurer of Queensland Treasury in September 2021. Leon joined as Deputy Under Treasurer, Queensland Treasury in May 2020 with responsibility for economic, fiscal and commercial policy. Leon’s appointment came after 13 years with the Institutional Banking and Markets division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where he held senior leadership positions both domestically and internationally. His resume also includes periods with the Australian Government’s Department of Finance, Queensland Treasury and Ergon Energy. He is a Director of Queensland Treasury Corporation and Chair of the State Investment Advisory Board.

Damien Walker

As Director-General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Damien is a key leader of the Queensland Government’s agenda to drive economic growth and create jobs for Queenslanders.

His responsibilities extend to supporting the portfolio work in relation to the Digital Economy.

Damien is a former Director-General of the Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation and prior to that, the Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games, where he successfully led the Queensland Government’s delivery of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Department of Tourism, Major Events and Small Business from October 2016.

Damien has the following roles on several key boards:

• Economic Development Queensland Board – Chair
• Townsville Industrial Development Board – Chair
• Trade and Investment Queensland Board – Member
• Southbank Corporation Board – Member

Before leaving Adelaide to live in Queensland, Damien held senior executive roles in the South Australian Government in infrastructure planning and delivery, investment facilitation, contract management and reform implementation.

Damien holds academic qualifications in public policy and planning, and has broad experience, particularly in the economic development and strategic planning arena.

Damien is a champion for gender equity in the workplace and the prevention of domestic and family violence in all our communities. He is also passionate about delivering initiatives to create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Michele Fleming

Michele has been a Board member of Trade and Investment Queensland since October 2016.

She is also Associate Principal and Head of Government Relations at Populous, a global specialist architecture firm and the 2019 Australian Exporter of the Year.

Michele has more than 20 years’ experience as a senior Government Relations and Strategic Marketing Executive and Board Member with a strong focus on export strategies and high-level stakeholder engagement with Federal, State and Local Government.

With the increasing importance of Services Industries to the Australian economy and their potential for export growth, Michele has valuable skills in developing and encouraging the export capabilities of Services firms.

Michele has provided executive advice to a number of business and government organisations developing business with Asia, including 9 years on the Queensland Executive of the Australia China Business Council. Michele completed the Federal Government’s Asialink Leaders Program in 2016.

She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jim Varghese AM

Jim is the National Chair of the Australia India Business Council and owner and Chairman of The Leadership Company, which specialises in change and transformation. He is also Executive Director of the Springfield City Group and was its Chief Executive Officer from 2008 to 2012.

Prior to 2008, Jim had a distinguished 30-year career in the public sector, which included roles as the chief executive in leading government agencies in both Victoria and Queensland. He has an outstanding track record as a chief executive running multifaceted businesses, with a proven ability to deliver excellent, innovative results in challenging and changing environments.

In 2001, Jim received the Centenary Medal for services to the public sector. In 2009, he was awarded the Order of Australia for services to the public sector and the community. He joined the board in October 2019.

Professor Scott Sheppard

Scott is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International) at QUT. Scott previously held positions as Minister-Counsellor Education and Science at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, Consul Economic in Hong Kong and Queensland Commissioner to China.

He has lived and worked in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing for more than 12 years.

Scott is a member of the Trade and Investment Queensland Board, the Chair of the Queensland Health Services Export Consortia, a Co-Chair for the national University Foreign Interference Taskforce Working Group and several other advisory roles.