Overseeing the activities and functions of QLD’s building industry regulator, the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), a new board has been appointed to transition the commission into a customer-focused and insights-driven regulator.
The new board, to be headed by lawyer Michelle James, is one of the steps in modernising and developing the QBCC, as Minister for Public Works, Mick de Brenni, said.
“The new board brings with it a wealth of leadership and expertise to support the QBCC in implementing the recommendations of the QBCC Governance Review, carried out by Jim Varghese AM,” de Brenni said.
“It has a crucial role to play in overseeing the financial wellbeing of the industry and there is a clear expectation that it will also properly regulate and support the economic underpinning of a sector that’s critical to the State’s economy.
Queensland’s building and construction industry directly and indirectly employs around 230,000 people and is worth an estimated $47 billion to the national economy annually.
In line with recommendations of the review the board has been downsized from ten to seven, de Brenni said that James was the ideal person to be leading the new board, as they have previously held the deputy chair role.
“James is a board member of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and a director of Australian Lawyers Alliance, has held a number of respected committee positions within the legal community and holds professional qualifications in business and governance,” de Brenni said.
“James and deputy chair John Anderson have extensive combined experience in building and construction, insurance, consumer advocacy and awareness, corporate governance and risk and public sector governance.
Thanking the outgoing board, the Minister made note of the experience and benefits the previous board have made to the industry.
“The expertise of the previous board has guided the QBCC in overseeing significant nation-leading reforms under the Queensland Building Plan, such as security of payment and non-conforming building product legislation.”
The appointments for incoming board members will run from 1 December 2022 to 20 November 2025, with the new board comprising of the following members:
New Queensland Building and Construction Board
Chair Michelle James; James is the former deputy chairperson and board member of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and a director of Australian Lawyers Alliance. They have held a number of respected committee positions within the legal community and holds professional qualifications in business and governance.
Deputy Chair John Anderson; Anderson is a respected and tertiary qualified First Nations elder with extensive board and leadership experience, they are the executive director of Pi-CaTS and board member of Health Consumers Queensland.
Other board members:
Robyn Petrou; Petrou possesses over 15 years of experience as a non-executive director and committee member and over 25 years experience as a senior executive in the financial services industry. They are currently a non-executive director with QInsure and Executive Performance Partner with Performance Partners, a business and executive performance firm.
Christopher Edwards; Edwards is a member on the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland and holds positions on committees for Racing Queensland and Metro South Hospital and Health Board.
Suzanne Baker; Baker is a non-executive director with Sustainable Timber Tasmania. Baker’s executive career has been as a financial accountant and advisor.
Colin Cassidy; Cassidy holds positions on the Metro South Hospital and Health Board and has significant board and committee experience. They maintain a long public sector career, including several senior executive roles in the Queensland Government.
Meg Frisby; Frisby is a current board member and has been reappointed for another term. They manage Meg Frisby Consulting, a boutique stakeholder relations and business development consultancy that specialises in working with local councils, indigenous organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the legal and building and construction sectors. Frisby has held roles with Townsville City Council and MMG Century Mine.