The role of the highly qualified and respected Advisory Board is to support the strategic direction of Queensland Leaders and inspire our Members with valuable insights and connections.
Advisory Board
Maree Adshead is a respected governance and advisory leader, currently serving as Board Chair of Gladstone Ports Corporation and Non‑Executive Director of Turbine Sunshine Coast.
A former Queensland Small Business Commissioner, she has also held CEO roles at Eco‑Markets Australia and the ODI Australian Network, leading initiatives in environmental markets, open data, and innovation.
Previously a Partner at MinterEllison, Maree brings deep expertise in ESG, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement. She has contributed to numerous state and national advisory bodies and holds a Master of Laws from The University of Queensland, a Bachelor of Laws from QUT, and is a GAICD and Certified Chair.
Advisory Board
Vivienne is an experienced management consultant, professional facilitator and mentor to women in business. She was formerly CEO of the Australian Institute of Management and has held executive positions in private education, professional services firms and not for profits.
Vivienne works with private companies to create the conditions and conversations in which people will contribute their best. She sits on a number of Boards including the Victorian Leaders Advisory Board and is Deputy Chair the La Boite Theatre Company. Vivienne holds a Bachelor of Law from ANU, a Graduate Diploma in Education from QUT and an MBA with Distinction from Griffith University.
Advisory Board
Sallyanne started her career as a journalist and went on to become Lord Mayor of Brisbane and Special Representative for South East Asia for the Queensland Government. Sallyanne now holds several non-executive director roles for local and national organisations and companies. She was also previously the Chair of the Museum of Brisbane.
Advisory Board
Peter Birtles is Chair of two ASX listed companies - Metcash, Australia’s leading wholesaler to independent businesses in the grocery, liquor and hardware markets and Brisbane based Universal Store Holdings, a fast growing designer, manufacturer and retailer of youth fashion. Peter is also the chair of the privately owned APG&Co which operates the Sportscraft, Saba and Jag apparel brands. He is a non executive Director of Good360 a not for profit facilitating the distribution of unsold excess goods to those in need.
Prior to his Board career, Peter worked for Super Retail Group for 18 years, initially as CFO and then 13 years as Group MD and CEO. During his time with the Group, sales grew from $150 million to $2.7 billion including the launch of the BCF business and the acquisitions of Rebel and Macpac. In recognition of the performance of the Super Retail team, Peter was recognised for his leadership including Australian CEO of the year and Retail CEO of the year.
Advisory Board
The Honourable Robert Borbidge AO served as the 35th Premier of Queensland and represented Surfers Paradise in State Parliament for nearly 20 years. During his tenure, he held senior roles including Minister, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Opposition, and Premier.
Since leaving Parliament in 2001, Mr Borbidge has held numerous board and advisory positions. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006 and received an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University, where he now chairs the Board of Advice for the Institute for Glycomics.
He chaired LifeFlight Australia from 2013 to 2024 and has contributed to initiatives including the Dreamworld tragedy appeal and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Legacy Committee. In 2020, he led a federal advisory forum addressing Brisbane Airport flight path concerns. Most recently, he chaired Experience Gold Coast, overseeing Destination Gold Coast, Major Events, Study Gold Coast, and HOTA.
Advisory Board
Stephen started his working career as an accountant and CPA. After senior executive positions with Philips and News Corporation. Stephen took on the challenge of a startup that supplied business software to the Media industry that grew to become an international industry leader.
After successfully exiting that company Stephen commenced his continuing career as an angel investor, professional company director, coach and mentor to companies in a variety of industries. Stephen was the founding CEO of I.lab, The Creative Industries Precinct accelerator and was part of the group that founded Brisbane Angels. He is the facilitator of Future Leaders in Queensland.
Advisory Board
Teresa is an experienced company director and chair with strong governance and leadership skills. She has chaired Audit & Risk Committees for ASX-listed companies and government entities.
Teresa has led strategic decision-making and risk management across various sectors, including regulated ones, and have been involved in digital transformation, M&A, and new business models.
Has deep experience in ESG factors, including climate reporting and circular economy developments, and significant board experience in energy sectors. Promotes equity, diversity, and sustainability in leadership roles, progressing improvements across taxation, investment, and governance from start-ups to mature entities.
Advisory Board
Mr Mactaggart’s experience spans industries such as agriculture, agri-tech, manufacturing and software. He co-founded the Australian Association of Angel Investors Limited, is a co-founder of Brisbane Angels and was the Australian representative of the World Business Angels Association. Mr Mactaggart played an integral role in the creation, funding, and development of TechnologyOne and remains a major shareholder. Mr Mactaggart has been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 1991.
Meili
Advisory Board
Marc Meili founded Protech in 2006, drawing on a powerful blend of commercial and technical expertise, including an MBA, an Industrial Engineering degree, and a mechanical trade qualification. His background in quality, reliability, and precision established Protech’s core values, which continue to underpin the organisation’s culture. Marc is also deeply committed to workplace safety and ensures that every employee returns home safely each day.
As the founder of several companies and CEO of the Protech Group, Marc leads an entrepreneurial and fast‑growing collection of businesses across recruitment, temporary staffing, neuromeric mental wellness, and workplace safety, employing more than 4,000 people. Passionate about exploration and personal growth, he believes in taking initiative that sparks positive change in people’s lives and drives meaningful impact across the organisations he leads.
Advisory Board
James initially worked in investment banking and private equity for several years assisting private companies access new opportunities, capital and exit strategies. He also founded Enterprise Angels, one of the first cloud-based business angel networks in Australia. In 2006 he founded Queensland Leaders, a platform based business initiative to work with leading private companies to assist them become national and international market leaders.
After the success in Queensland, he established the Leaders business platform across Australia, New Zealand and the UK through the International Leaders business. James studied accounting at QUT and then completed an MBA with Bond University. His focus for the last 25 years has been to assist private business owners achieve their best through access to expertise, experience and inspiration.
Advisory Board
Experienced business strategist with a demonstrated history of creating value and delivering commercially focussed solutions. Passionate about partnering with Government, clients and Industry bodies to design community centred strategies with real commercial attributes that deliver sustainable legacy outcomes.
Marty has assisted firms achieve their growth objectives by delivering on strategic plans, partnering with his extensive network and taking a holistic approach to delivering strong commercial outcomes.
Advisory Board
Ian Runge is a mining engineer and economist and the founder of Runge Limited—now ASX listed company RPM Global Holdings Ltd which he started in 1977—the world’s largest publicly traded mining technology services companies. He retired from the board in 2018 after 41 years.
Ian Runge has had active involvement in more than 120 mining projects in 10 different countries. Ian believes that if you have achieved some modicum of success then you have an obligation to pass along what you have learnt for the next generation. So, along with dozens of articles and papers on economics and technology he has subsequently written two books. His book Mining Economics and Strategy is the world’s largest selling mining textbook.
He has been on the advisory board of Queensland Leaders for 12 years, and has honorary positions as Industry Fellow in the School of Economics and Adjunct Professor in the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering at The University of Queensland.
As well-renowned companies with headquarters in Queensland, our Industry Partners provide the Leaders community with access to proven leadership and extensive experience.
Our panel of Industry Experts represent leading professional services firms and provide Members with specialist knowledge, experience and mentoring support across key business disciplines.
To drive personal, professional and business growth, more established companies participate in the Executive Leaders Series, followed by ongoing involvement as part of the Alumni community.
To build capability and accelerate business development, earlier-stage companies participate in the Future Leaders Series, followed by ongoing involvement as part of the Alumni community.
To ensure ongoing personal and professional development as well as networking opportunities, Members have the opportunity to stay connected through the ever-growing Alumni Series.
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Queensland Leaders is part of the International Leaders Group, which was established back in 2006. Our Members enjoy reciprocal rights to all International Leaders Series.
