OUR BOARD
CHAIR OF THE BOARD - Karen Tully
Karen is passionate about rural and remote Queensland and is inspired by the inherent potential that exists in our communities. Karen is involved in leadership at both regional and national levels and she currently serves as Deputy Chair of the South West Hospital and Health Board and is a director of Southern Queensland Landscapes.
She was a founding committee member of an arts philanthropic fund known as the Red Ridge Public Fund. Previous directorships have included being Chair of the National Rural Women’s Coalition and a director with the Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Education; Master of Education; Graduate Diploma of Financial Markets; Cert IV in Business (Governance); Cert IV in Training and Assessment and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Director’s Course.
Karen Tully - 07 46 22 5500
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - Jenny Whip
Jenny has lived in the Charleville and Roma regions for all of her life and with her husband has operated a small primary production property on the outskirts of Roma since 1992.
Since September 2006, Jenny has managed the RFCSQ-SW and since April 2017 is the Chief Executive Officer of RFCS-SQ. Previously Jenny coordinated the financial management and administration of several rural financial counselling services since 1996. Jenny has a combination of knowledge and experience across the fields of leadership, human resource management, financial and business management, project management and research and policy development.
Corporate governance training and knowledge is also a necessity for this role and Jenny has completed many governance courses including a Certificate IV in Business Corporate Governance and attended the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Course.
Jenny Whip - 07 46 22 5500
VICE CHAIR AND SECRETARY OF THE BOARD - James Stinson
James has lived on the family property near Roma all of his life and in the last 20 years as a partner in the family operation. James is passionate about rural enterprises and industries and through this passion served as a member of the Roma Saleyards Board from 1999 - 2008.
During 2006, James became the President of the Queensland Saleyards Association. He is a past President of the Australian Livestock Markets Association. James has an extensive knowledge of corporate governance requirements through his involvement in local government and the positions he has held on the Roma, Queensland and Australian Saleyards Boards. Local government and the progression of our rural community has been another passion for James who was elected as a councillor on the Bungil Shire Council from 1994 until March, 2008.
James is responsible for the financial success of his cattle and sheep operation and was the treasurer of the Maranoa Rural Management Centre Inc. for a period of 4 years. During his involvement with local government, James was heavily involved with the financial decision making processes associated with works programs and tenders. James has been a committee member involved with the Rural Financial Counselling Programme delivery for twelve years.
James Stinson
COMMITTEE MEMBER - Andrew Schmidt
Andrew Schmidt has lived on the Warrego River all his life and is considered a a valuable source of knowledge about the river. (He once presented a paper at the Rangelands Conference in Bourke NSW to show where Warrego River flood water flows.)
Andrew, his wife and his son own a property on the Warrego River, north of Cunnamulla where he has been improving the property since they bought it in 1979. Andrew and his wife now live in Charleville and commute to the family property for work.
Andrew has always been interested in the environment and sustainable grazing. "I've noticed hard Mulga country benefits from using low dirt banks to spread and therefore slow water to avoid and repair erosion," he said.
Andrew has been on several committees and boards including the South West Natural Resource Management board for 20 years, the Queensland Murray Darling Committee board for three years, industry representative for the South West Natural Resource Management Committee for seven years and a member of the Fodder Harvesting Guidelines Committee for the Mulga region.
Surveying is a major interest of Andrews, especially soil restoration work and Google Earth mapping.
Andrew has undertaken the Directors Course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Andrew Schmidt
COMMITTEE MEMBER - Scott Patterson
Scott is currently a director of Succession Plus, one of the largest specialist business and transition planning firms in Australia.
He has extensive business and professional experience, including over 20 years as a principal of a successful public accounting and financial planning firm which grew from humble beginnings into a significant regional firm. His passion is working to achieve enhanced business performance that creates a more certain future for his clients and their stakeholders. He has an outstanding track record across a diverse range of business and industry sectors of providing strategic advice and practical solutions that position a business for either more sustainable, profitable performance or transfer of ownership through succession or acquisition.
Recognised by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) for his deep and practical expertise, he has been regularly commissioned to deliver their finance for directors, and risk and strategy courses.
Scott has published many articles and presented at professional and business conferences both in Australia and New Zealand.
His desire to support and develop regional Australia has seen his focus his contribution as a business and community leader around his acknowledged expertise in business management, governance and structuring for growth.
Prior to becoming a professional accountant he grew up on and was involved in the management of family grazing properties in western and south eastern Queensland.
Qualifications: B Bus (Accounting), FCPA, GAICD, Assoc Dep Farm Management.
Scott Patterson
COMMITTEE MEMBER - Megan Devlin
Megan was born and raised in Brisbane, moving west to further her legal career in 2010.
She has developed a wealth of experience and specialist expertise in relation to legal matters which impact rural, regional and remote Queensland, in particular, property law, agribusiness and compensation matters pertaining to mining and gas matters.
She has built a reputation amongst clients, opponents and colleagues alike as a fierce advocate for her clients and is an ardent supporter of sustainable rural and regional development.
Together with her husband, Dan, Megan operates a small grazing property in South West Queensland while continuing their "9 to 5" jobs and raising their family.
Megan holds a Bachelor degree in Law and Psychological Science (Honours), has a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practise and is currently undertaking studies for a Diploma of Governance with the Institute of Community Directors, Australia.
Megan Devlin
COMMITTEE MEMBER - Simone Parker
Simone became a member of the board in May 2020.
Her long standing connection to regional areas is the driving force behind her interest in progressing opportunities in rural communities and agricultural industries. Her career has been focused on extension, business improvement and natural resource management and for the last three years has been the Executive Officer at CHRRUP Limited in Emerald. This role incorporates Company Secretary responsibilities. Simone has developed practical governance knowledge and skills through this role.
Additionally, Simone is a part-time Associate with Bush AgriBusiness in the areas of business planning and training including the Business EDGE course.
Simone holds a Bachelor of Business (Agricultural Commerce) and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Simone Parker
COMMITTEE MEMBER - Leanne Rudd
Leanne is a local Accountant, Wealth and Business Advisor and founder of 'The Money Edge' with a strong background in family and small business.
Leanne has 21 years professional accounting experience to her credit, including a decade as a partner in another practice.
Her passion is to help entrepreneurs of Small and Medium businesses grow and thrive. This led her to open her own Practice in 2005. Today she specialises in the high profile, high profit business sector and relishes nothing more than putting her years of experience and insight to work in guiding entrepreneurs to achieve their maximum potential.
Leanne Rudd