IN GOOD HANDS

IN GOOD HANDS: MEET THE NEW QJA BOARD

The tenure of the current QJA Board expires on 6 November. Nominations were called for Board positions with an original closing date of 30 July. When nominations at that time were short of the optimum number, the returning officer extended the closing date to 9th August.

In the final analysis, the number of valid nominations for each Board position did not exceed the number of available positions and the returning officer declared all such nominees successfully elected without the need for a poll.

The incoming Board comprises a healthy blend of experience (four directors with previous QJA board service) and the injection of fresh and unconstrained thinking (six new directors). The gender distribution is 50:50 and there is a diverse geographic distribution with representation from North Queensland, the Fraser Coast, the Sunshine Coast, the Moreton Bay region, Brisbane, Logan and South West Queensland.

Led by an enthusiastic new President and Vice President, the incoming team is well placed to guide the ongoing evolution of the QJA business. It is particularly pleasing to see the board-elect includes the 2020 QJA Member of the Year and the 2020 QJA Emerging Leader award winners. As well, several have been the recipients of awards for their distinguished achievement in other fields.

The new Board assumes office on 6 November. In the meantime, we’d like to introduce the members – so you can see why the leadership of QJA remains in very sound hands.

Planning Committee.

PRESIDENT: ANDREA REYNOLDS JP(QUAL)

Andrea Reynolds has been a Justice of the Peace (Qualified) since 2011 and joined the QJA the same year. She was elected to the QJA Board of Directors in 2019. The QJA business benefitted from Andrea’s leadership of the QJA Image and Publication Refresh Project, which culminated in the introduction of the much improved, new-look QJA Quarterly. She was very active in the development and implementation of the Member Accreditation Program and State Conference

Andrea’s work experience spans nearly ten years in the oil and gas industry as well as a number of years at the Townsville Magistrates Court. She spent time at a busy law firm and currently looks after quality control and warranty claims within a large Australian air conditioning company.

An active Member and Alumni of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Andrea recently received the AICD Award after completing the Foundations of Directors course. She is a strong believer in ongoing learning and continually undertakes professional development courses in her own time.

In the coming two-year term, Andrea aims to attract a younger cohort to the QJA by streamlining processes and resources, making membership increasingly rewarding to our members both working and retired.

An avid runner, Andrea calls Townsville ‘home’ with her husband Chris and their staffy, Guinness.

VICE PRESIDENT: PETER SELLECK

Peter Selleck is a vastly experienced senior manager with over 40 years business experience in a wide variety of settings. He is retired and has been a JP (Qual) and Treasurer of the Maroochydore Branch since 2018.

He possesses specialised knowledge of marketing, planning, quality systems, business processes, the application of technology, plus high-level general management and administration skills. In business, he reached the ‘top 50’ at Caltex at the age of 38 with roles that included Service Station Manager with 40 staff, Sales Manager for half of Victorian Retail, Retail Property Manager for NSW, Manager Development – Marketing Technology and Systems for Australia. He was the leading trainer and expert in the MPSI retail network planning model and trained all departments in the use of the SAP budget module.

He was appointed Executive General Manager of MPSI Systems in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, he was responsible for retail outlet surveys, network planning, database construction and delivery and managed a budget in excess of $US5 million and a staff of over 80. He initially held responsibility for all Pacific Rim operations including negotiations with senior oil company executives in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia. He was considered the best presenter in the company.

Outside of business, he has been President, General Secretary and Treasurer of the Melbourne University Football Club (founded in 1859) and achieved Life Membership at the youngest age. He will bring unique skills to the QJA in the area of operations of a branch structure, business processes and the benefits of assessing personality types. He is an INTJ, for whom it has been said is a cunning strategist who spends most of the time planning how to avoid idiots.

IN GOOD HANDS: MEET THE NEW QJA BOARD

BOARD MEMBER: JULIE ARTHUR, OAM, JP(QUAL)

My name is Julie Arthur, I was born and continue to live in Maryborough.

In 1979 I applied to be appointed as a Justice of the Peace, then in 1995 following a series of training workshops and subsequent exam, I was appointed as a Justice of the Peace (Qualified) and I have continued to practice in this role.

A former public servant with a long and distinguished career with 21 years experience in local government as an Alderman, Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Acting Mayor with the Maryborough City Council, then following amalgamation serving as Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Acting Mayor of the Fraser Coast Regional Council, together with 12 years experience as a Non-Executive Director serving on Local, State and National Boards, including Health, Water Supply, Local Government and an ASX listed company.

I have continued the philosophy of lifelong learning and hold a Diploma in Local Government Administration; A Diploma in Front Line Management and a Certificate 4 in Workplace Training Assessment. I am a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, undertaking this course to give me the skills to ensure I am kept informed of changes to ensure relevancy in my role as a Board Director. Australia Day 2020, I was bestowed a Medal of the Order of Australia for my service to local government and the Fraser Coast Community.

I was appointed to the Queensland Justices Association Board to fill a casual vacancy in March 2020 and was allocated the Chair of the inaugural Governance and Advocacy Committee, a position I was happy to accept as I saw this as an opportunity to put my professional expertise to work and actively contribute as a Board Director of the Queensland Justices Association.

I am excited to continue to serve as a Board Director of the Queensland Justices Association and look forward to actively contributing to the future of the Association.

BOARD MEMBER: BROOKE BATLEY JP(QUAL)

Brooke joined the training team of QJA approximately seven or eight years ago and has remained in that role continually since those early days. He joined the training team of QJA approximately seven or eight years ago and has remained in that role continually since those early days.

He was elected to the QJA board in 2019 and collaborated with the “training” committee chair, Chris Lancaster in refining the pre-appointment training resources and material, some of which had been altered due to changes to legislation affecting the role of JPs & CDecs in their witnessing duties.

Contact (face to face) courses were interrupted during early to mid-2020 due to COVID restrictions and this led to an increase in the number of on-line students and also saw the implementation of a new initiative to “fill the void” left by the cessation of face to face courses.

This new scheme was labelled as a “blended” course which incorporated “on-line” learning coupled with three Zoom workshops during the period of study. Brooke (and other trainers) have embraced this new program as it is bringing pre-appointment training to a wider cohort of students who are either “time poor” or live in remote or regional areas.

Brooke has been part of QJA’s Accreditation Team which over the past two years has seen the design of a new enterprise to recognize practitioners who have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring their skills are current and their commitment to their own professional development as practicing JPs and CDecs will ensure a level and quality of service, second to none. The member accreditation program was launched at the QJA 2021 Conference and has developed an impressive level of interest in the platform.

Brooke is now the chair of the education committee which has oversight and responsibility for, (as noted) accreditation as well as pre appointment training and provision of professional development programs which will be incorporated into the Learning Management System.

BOARD MEMBER: CLAIRE BROWN JP(QUAL)

Claire Brown has recently retired from a career spanning over 25 years in the tourism industry, having worked in three states and two territories for tourism organisations and operators. Previous experience includes as Executive Director of the Tourism Industry Council (ACT & Region), and as a Company Director of Acme Business and Project Services. Claire has management and finance qualifications, is a registered BAS Agent and a Justice of the Peace (Qualified).

Claire joined QJA in 2014 and has held the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the Caloundra branch since 2019. A firm advocate for ongoing professional development, Claire has been active in organising training and networking opportunities for branch members.

The Caloundra branch was nominated for Branch of the Year in 2020 and Claire was recently awarded the Emerging Leader award at the QJA Conference held on the Gold Coast in May 2021. Claire is a volunteer at the JPs in the Community Caloundra Library signing centre.

Claire lives on the Sunshine Coast where she enjoys the coastal lifestyle, is a judge for the Queensland Tourism Awards and also volunteers with the Sunshine Coast Turtlecare Group, monitoring and maintaining nesting sea turtle populations on the nearby beaches.

BOARD MEMBER: FIORI CRUZ JP(QUAL)

Fiori was appointed Justice of the Peace in 2001 and joined QJA in 2003. She became the President of the QJA Warwick Branch in 2012.

A retired Accountant and Events Organizer, Fiori has held diverse leadership positions for over 25 years and has contributed to the setting up of plans and strategic direction of various associations where she fulfilled her roles with high integrity and accountability particularly focusing on legal, financial, and representational responsibilities.

Fiori staunchly maintains cultural sensitivity in all her dealings and operates from a strong social justice, equity and equality framework.

Her unwavering commitment has not been left unnoticed as reflected by awards and recognitions she has received such as the Queensland Multicultural Service Award and International Women’s Day Celebrating 100 years of Women’s Achievement from the Queensland government; and Filipino-Australian Achiever Award from the Filipino Community Council of Australia, Inc.

As a marriage celebrant, Fiori specializes in bi-cultural marriages and performs bi-lingual ceremonies on occasions. She is also fond of showcasing her cultural dance and choreography skill, performing with her Filipino dance ensemble when invited to local and state events.

Fiori is looking forward to applying her knowledge and experiences in her new role as a QJA Board Member.

IN GOOD HANDS: MEET THE NEW QJA BOARD

BOARD MEMBER: EDDIE FRASER JP(QUAL)

Eddie Fraser was admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 9 April 2018 and holds a Juris Doctor form the University of Southern Queensland in 2017 and a Graduate diploma of Legal Practice from the College of law and has a diverse range of other Legal, Business and other qualifications.

Eddie is employed as a Civilian Prosecutor at the Queensland Police Service based in Brisbane. Prior to his permanent appointment in Brisbane Eddie was based in Toowoomba Prosecutions and Mount Isa Prosecutions, where he was fortunate to experience the Gulf of Carpentaria Circuit. Prior to working with the Queensland Police Service, Eddie was employed at a private criminal law firm, a contractor of The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) amongst other interesting and varied work such as Ministerial Services in the Queensland government and as a paralegal for the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy dealing primarily with Land Valuation disputes. In particular Eddie worked on Suncorp Metway Insurance Pty Ltd v Valuer-General [2017] and GPT RE Limited v Valuer-General [2015].

Eddie plays an active role within his community and aspires to enhance his legal education through practice in various legal disciplines and has interest in Criminal Law, Industrial Relations & Employment Law. His dedication, willingness to learn and enthusiasm are attributes that resonate within the profession with a strong passion for social justice.

Eddie’s previous volunteering includes The Multicultural Association of Caboolture and Surrounds, the Moreton Bay Regional Community Legal Service as well as donations to KYC Youth to support the values he has with respect to youth and education. Eddie is a confirmed PhD candidate with the University of Southern Queensland and is working on this project part-time as he balances, his fulltime role, young family and other commitments.

Eddie was awarded USQ Young Outstanding Alumnus of 2020 and in 2021 was a finalist of Lawyers under 30 in the community legal centre category for his volunteer work with the Moreton Bay Regional Community Legal Centre.

Eddie has a young family and when not working enjoys quality family time with his 2 young daughters and son and wife. Eddie holds strong family values and attributes much of his daily success to his wife and children.

BOARD MEMBER: SARA GAULT JP(QUAL)

Sara Gault has been a JP (Qual) for 27 years and a member of QJA for 11, currently serving as Secretary of Caboolture & Districts Branch. When the Site Coordinator for the Burpengary Library had to step down due to moving away from the area, Sara didn’t hesitate to step up and take over the role, increasing the service from 2 days to 6 days a week. She has recently turned the reigns over to a fellow JP after 6 years as Site Coordinator of the Burpengary Library

Having worked for NAB for 21 years in various roles Sara has been a self-employed Mortgage Broker for 19 years, her company Smile Home Loans Pty Ltd. She has a Bachelor of Business majoring in Banking and Finance, a Diploma of Finance & Mortgage Broking Management and a Cert IV Financial Services

She is passionate about helping others and in advancing the status of women and girls. As a member of Zonta for 18 years she held numerous executive positions including Director, Treasurer, President and Chair of Fundraising. .

Sara has been a member of Business & Professional Women (BPW) North Lakes for 5 years and served on the committee as Secretary, Vice President Policy and is the current President. She has a passion for fundraising and giving back to her community and has been successful in obtaining numerous grants from various sources to fund equipment, projects and workshops that benefit women.

At the recent QJA National Conference she was voted QJA member of the Year for 2020 and regards this as a career highlight. She says one of her passions is fishing but hasn’t had the time to cast a line for a while. Can’t understand why!

BOARD MEMBER:

SCOTT PATTERSON JP(QUAL)

Scott has served as a Justice of the Peace since 1984. He successfully completed his upgrade qualification in 2015. Scott has provided a JP service throughout his careers, firstly whilst working for members of Parliament and Government Ministers and secondly during his second career as a business owner, vocational trainer and university tutor. Scott’s business positions have included Migration Agent and Education Agent.

Most recently he has been providing a reliable JP service to the Queensland Police which included during our COVID lockdowns. With heightened WHS provisions, Scott provided JP assistance throughout this most difficult time. Coupled with regular community assistance as required, Scott’s experience has been appreciated by individuals, businesses and the Police for many years.

Scott is a post graduate qualified trainer, tutor and qualified education agent counsellor. He has taught in vocational colleges, TAFE, universities and within Queensland’s correctional education environment. His experience in training will provide the QJA with a new set of eyes to assist to develop the organisation’s training arm to new heights. Communications between people from all walks of life has been a mainstay of Scott’s professional development; firstly, as a public servant then as an educator and business owner. His communication agility has allowed him to build bridges for people from many walks of life including Indigenous Australians, refugee applicants and communities across the South Pacific.

The business qualifications Scott holds have allowed him to not only build his skills base but also enable him to advise others on successfully traversing the sometimes-difficult path of business development. His management dexterity is complemented by his diplomatic approach to all business activity.

His qualifications include a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law & Practice, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts along with a number of vocational qualifications in business, management, leadership and training. Scott’s community service history will inform his role as Director and help develop the QJA and its members to be the best they can be.

More information: Can’t attend the AGM but want to vote by proxy? Download a proxy form here

IN GOOD HANDS: MEET THE NEW BOARD (CONT’D)

BOARD MEMBER: RAJESH SHARMA JP(QUAL)

Rajesh Sharma is originally from Fiji Islands and migrated to Australia in March 2011. He has a background in operations, finance, accounting, retail and business administration and has held several senior executive roles in Fiji as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer and in addition being Director/Company Secretary of private companies. He is currently a Director of Operations within the Primary Healthcare sector.

He has worked in retail and finance sectors overseas and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Southern Queensland (Australia), Masters in Business Administration from Bath University (United Kingdom) and Masters in Business Administration from University of the South Pacific.

He is also a Certified Practicing Accountant with CPA Australia, a Chartered Accountant with Fiji Institute of Accountants, a Fellow of FINSIA Australia, a Fellow of Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia and a Justice of Peace (Qual) for Queensland.

He has previously served on the Board of the Fiji Institute of Accountants including a term as President. He has also served as Treasurer for the Fiji Red Cross and a member of the Finance Committee for Fiji Football Association. More information: Meet the new board in person at the 2021 QJA AGM 12pm Saturday 6th November Pullman King George Square Register below