Five new board members including former Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart have been appointed to the Stadiums Queensland Board and will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Queensland’s sporting, in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Existing board member John Warn has been appointed the new Chairperson with new board appointees Stephen Moore, Michael Dobbie-Bridges, Debra Rains, Mary-Ann Strelow and Clare Stewart.
Brendan O’Farrell, an existing board member also remains as a director.
“Stadiums Queensland manages some of the most iconic and important sporting venues, across the state,” Sport Minister Tim Mander said.
“The new appointees bring diverse expertise and a shared commitment to ensure Queensland’s iconic venues deliver world-class and host key sporting events experiences leading up to and beyond 2032.
“That experience includes a former Paralympian, a former Wallabies Captain, a former Mayor who was also on the board of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a wealth of business acumen which will hold the future in good stead.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of each of the outgoing Board members, in particular Ms McGuane the outgoing Chairperson.”
New Stadiums Queensland Board appointees:
Paralympian Michael Dobbie-Bridges represented Australia in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and six World Cups in wheelchair tennis. He is the current Head Coach and 3-time All Australian for Queensland in AFL Wheelchair. He was chairman of Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association, a board director at Disability Employment Australia and is a director at Create Advisory.
Stephen Moore is the managing director of BMS Group, a global broker that provides specialist insurance, reinsurance and capital markets advisory services. Prior to his corporate career, Stephen had 15 years in professional rugby and played a total of 129 Tests for the Wallabies including 24 as Captain.
Debra Rains is owner/manager of Gallivanter Travel, a regional travel agency group with stores in Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton. She has been involved in many not-for-profit boards and committees and held roles in the Townsville Chamber of Commerce, Townsville Business Women’s Network, Reconstruction Advisory Board Townsville post-flood recovery, the PNG and Singapore Economic Development Committee and Townsville Port Authority.
Clare Stewart is a former Mayor of Noosa Shire Council and has served on the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She is also a board director of the not-for-profit charity Youngcare and a disability advocate.
Mary-Ann Strelow is the executive director and co-founder of FleetCrew, a 4WD hire business which services Australia’s eastern states in a range of industries including mining, construction, renewables and government. She is a board member of the NOW Business Network.
