The Trade and Investment Queensland Board has increased First Nations representation with two recent additions.
State Deputy Premier Cameron Dick announced last week that Indigenous business leaders Jack Reis and Delvene Cockatoo-Collins would join the seven-member board.
Deputy Premier Dick said Mr Reis was a proud Badulaig man with heritage stemming from Badu Island in the Torres Strait, while Ms Cockatoo-Collins was a proud Quandamooka woman from North Stradbroke Island, in Queensland’s south-east.
He said Mr Reis was the inaugural 2022 Supply nation Indigenous Entrepreneur of Australia and also the 2023 Indigenous cyber security executive of Australia.
“He is the son of a cattle farmer from Chinchilla and is an avid fan of rugby league, signing his first NRL contract when just 17 years old.
“Jack is a founding member and the CEO of cyber security firm, Baidam Solutions.”
Deputy Premier Dick said Ms Cockatoo-Collins expressed the stories of her family’s lived experience on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and responded artistically to historical images and texts.
He said she was the designer of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 prize-winners’ medals and recently designed the Brisbane Broncos Indigenous Round jersey used in the National Rugby League in May.
“Ms Cockatoo-Collins is the founder of Minjerribah Art Studio and is exporting original artworks, ceramics and clothing.”
Deputy Premier Dick said both were foundation members of Trade and Investment Queensland’s First Nations Advisory Committee.
He said in other Board movements, Deputy Chair Kate Hynes had concluded her term after a number of years on the board, as had Michele Fleming.
“Professor Scott Sheppard’s tenure on the TIQ Board has been extended for a further two years.
“He has been Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, International and External Relations at the Queensland University of Technology for 15 years.”
Deputy Premier Dick said Trade and Investment Queensland was the government’s dedicated global business agency with a network of 21 international and eight Queensland regional offices.
“The agency assists Queensland businesses export goods and works in-market to attract investment to the state,” he said.
