Management Group

Because every child deserves every chance to reach their full potential

Maxine Brushe

President

“By engaging whole of community to be true partners in improving the wellbeing of CQ children, now and into the future, we can bring about positive systemic change, where children are able to achieve, thrive and lead happy and fulfilling lives in the CQ region.”

With a strong interest in community well-being for over 50 years, Maxine Brushe has concentrated her efforts on improving the communities of Central Queensland, where she has worked, recreated and, most importantly, raised a family. She has extensive experience in governance and community leadership, serving as a Councillor with the Calliope Shire Council for 13 years, five years as Deputy Mayor, eight years as a Councillor with Gladstone Regional Council. Also, initiated and chaired group that built Bindaree Lodge Aged Care facility.

It is impossible to list all the activities that Maxine is involved in but her connection and passion for community is extremely evident.

Geoff Lee

Treasurer

FMBM and JP (Qual), has had a 40 year career in banking and lending experience in small business, corporate and agribusiness. All of his experience has been in rural and regional areas of Queensland, NSW and the Northern Territory. As a result, he has a deep understanding of the needs of rural and regional communities. He has been based in Rockhampton for the last 16 years where he has continued to be an active part of the Central Queensland community. He is currently the Treasurer of the Capricorn Chamber of Commerce as well as volunteering as a Justice of the Peace (Qual) at the JP signing centre at Stockland in North Rockhampton.

Wallace Taylor OAM

Secretary

Dr. Wallace Taylor OAM has a 45-year career which demonstrates a well-developed base of leadership skills in regional/rural socio-economic development with collaborative initiatives, policy development, monitoring and evaluation. His PhD is in the social appropriation of ICT for socio-economic development and he has published widely in this field as well as in rural and regional development. His experience is diverse and spans Education (universities), Government, Business and Civil Society resulting in improved socio-economic outcomes and sustainable impact across communities, locations, institutions & industries in both developed and developing economies. His efforts in these fields have been recognised by being awarded an OAM, a University of Queensland Gatton Gold Medal and Rockhampton Citizen of the Year.

Currently Dr. Taylor holds positions as the Founding Director & Chairman of The Information Society Institute (TISI; a not-for profit – registered in South Africa that consults in policy development, structural establishment and praxis) and as an Emeritus Governor on the Board of the Informing Science Institute (ISI; a global academic body that publishes 14 academic journals and academic books on transdisciplinary approaches for harnessing modern ICT to improve education, research and policy to address inequity). He is an Adjunct Professor, CQUniversity, an Honorary Professor at the University of the West Indies.

Dr Taylor is also a long-term Rotarian with a particular interest in multi-agency approaches for youth development and he serves on the Rockhampton Community Police Board.

Josh Ariens

Research and Partnerships

Josh currently works within the Research Division at CQUniversity where his chief responsibility is to develop and broker research partnerships with industry, supporting the strategic goals of the University by developing university-business collaboration to increase research engagement and impact. His role brings him into contact with a wide range of government and non-government organisations as well as social change agents and entrepreneurs in communities across CQU’s national footprint.

Josh brings a wealth of local and international experience to the Management Group of Every Child CQ, specifically in the areas of education and training, community development, program management and cross-sector partnering. Previously, as Program Manager for a federally-funded local program, Gladstone Communities for Children, Josh was instrumental in facilitating a more joined-up approach to addressing challenges for service providers and brokered commitment to a charter to improve outcomes for local children and their families by strengthening collaboration between a range of NFP, community, government and corporate stakeholders. He has worked in PNG, Japan and Spain.

Cultural Inclusion and Learning Communities

Currently being filled

Community Leadership Group Presentative

To be elected by community leaders

Jenny Archer

Volunteer Coordinator

Jenny Archer is a retired principal who has held leadership positions, advisory roles and teaching positions over her forty-year career in education. She worked in the primary school sector in both regional and rural areas, and predominately in schools in low socioeconomic communities with diverse needs and strengths and complex demographics.

Within these roles, Jenny created opportunities to engage the local and wider community in developing strategic direction for schools and their communities. This collective approach created

space, opportunity and capacity for parents, students and staff to actively engage in school life and learning for their mutual wellbeing and success.

Jenny now volunteers her time to Every Child CQ Inc., as Volunteer Coordinator and Vice President of the Management Group. She also volunteers at a local health facility and is a member of their Consumer Partnership Committee.

Mick Shearer

Mick is the Regional Executive Director of Central Queensland, Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women. He has worked in the social services sector for 30 years delivering direct child protection and juvenile justice services, managing multi-disciplinary teams and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Mick’s experience will provide the CLG with government perspectives but more importantly Mick is a father of two and is extremely passionate about the community of Central Queensland particularly our children and youth.

Bronwyn Fenech

Bronwyn Fenech is the Managing and Artistic Director of FMSTUDIOS, Rockhampton. She is a founding member of several business networking groups including the Regional Women’s Network CQ, the Museum of Central Qld Inc. and the Capricorn Launch Pad Young Professionals. She has been a finalist in the TELSTRA Business Awards, mentors new business owners and entrepreneurs and regularly speaks to businesses and community groups about challenges and opportunities.

Bronwyn is a member of Rockhampton Art Gallery Philanthropy Board and a mother of two.

Karen Abrahams

Karen Abrahams is the Regional Director Youth Justice Services for Central Queensland. She has a background of working in child protection and has championed the opportunity for Youth Justice to undertake groundbreaking initiatives supporting Justice Reinvestment. Karen is a member of the Rockhampton Community Policing board and has recently been involved in developing a concept and framework collective impact approach within the Youth Justice Service.

Josh Donovan

Josh Donovan has worked in various roles in the state government for 18 years, in roles including Residential Care Office, Direct Service Team Leader and Service Advisor. He is currently the Transition Officer – Disability out-posted consultant for Rockhampton Child Safety. He is also a Public Sector LGBTIQ Steering Committee member.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this country and recognise their connection to land, wind, water and community. We pay our respect to them, their cultures, and to the Elders both past and present.