Meet the Trade and Investment Queensland board
The Hon. Ros Bates MP, Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training
Ros Bates MP is the Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, bringing nearly 40 years of leadership in healthcare, business and community advocacy. A results-driven leader, she is focused on fiscal stability, stronger trade partnerships and job creation.
With experience as a nurse, senior hospital administrator and health policy leader, Minister Bates understands financial leadership and has received awards including the Telstra Queensland Businesswoman of the Year and the Prime Minister’s Centenary of Federation Medal.
Her small-town upbringing instilled a deep respect for community, shaping her commitment to local businesses, workforce growth and long-term economic resilience. She remains dedicated to strengthening trade and delivering real results for Queenslanders.
The Hon. Will Hodgman – Chair
Will Hodgman brings a rare combination of government, diplomatic, legal, and commercial leadership experience.
Will was Premier of Tasmania from 2014 to 2020, leading a government that transformed the State’s economy from the worst performing in the nation to the best.
After retiring as a Member of Parliament, Will was appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Australian Business Growth Fund, launching a $540 million fund backed by the Commonwealth Government and Australia’s major banks to provide equity funding for SMEs.
In 2020, Will was appointed as Australia’s top diplomat to Singapore at the height of the global pandemic, leading a team that strengthened trade, the green and digital economies, defence and public health care.
Will is a lawyer and practised for seven years in Australia and the United Kingdom in civil and commercial litigation, criminal law and prosecuting cases of child abuse.
In 2024 he was appointed as the inaugural Chair of Invest Gold Coast, and lives with his wife, Nicky, at Burleigh Heads.
Delvene Cockatoo-Collins
Delvene is a proud Quandamooka woman from North Stradbroke Island in Queensland’s Southeast who expresses the stories of her family’s lived experience on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and responds artistically to historical images and texts.
She was the designer of a suite of artworks and design including the winners and commemorative medals for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018.
She recently designed the Brisbane Broncos 2024 NRL Indigenous Round Jersey and artwork at the Brisbane International Terminal and working with the US travel company Avanti Destinations through the launch of their Australian and Pacific Itineraries.
Delvene is the founder of Minjerribah Art Studio and is exporting original artworks, ceramics and clothing.
She was also a foundation member of Trade and Investment Queensland’s First Nations Advisory Committee.
Peter McKay
Peter is the Director-General for the Department of Trade, Employment and Training. He previously served as the Director-General for the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training.
Peter brings over 25 years public sector experience where he has led service delivery, policy, corporate and regulatory functions across a broad range of Queensland Government agencies.
Delivering more impactful public services through improved leadership has been a strong focus of his recent work, including development of new public employment laws for a fair and responsive public sector.
Peter believes that working in partnerships is the pathway to better services. His most recent role as Deputy Director-General of the Office of Industrial Relations has focused on improving the performance and reputation of their important regulatory functions.
Peter sees the importance of our functions in supporting Queenslanders to improve their social and economic circumstances by connecting their hopes with the opportunities that our programs provide.
John Sosso
John is the Director-General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning.
He graduated from the University of Queensland with Honours Degrees in Law and Public Administration.
After serving as a private solicitor, he joined the Queensland Department of Justice in 1984 in the Policy and Legislation Division. Subsequently, he served in senior roles in the Department of Justice, Department of Consumers Affairs, and Department of Emergency Services.
He served as Deputy Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet between 1996 and 1998. During that time, he acted as both Director-General and Coordinator-General on a number of occasions.
As a Member and Deputy President of the National Native Title Tribunal between 2000 and 2012, he mediated, arbitrated, and negotiated native title claims and litigation throughout Australia.
Jack Reis
Jack has proud Badulaig heritage, stemming from Badu Island in the Torres Strait. He is the inaugural 2022 Supply Nation Indigenous Entrepreneur of Australia and is 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.
Jack is a founding member and appointed Chairperson of Trade and Investment Queensland’s First Nations Advisory Committee.
Professor Scott Sheppard
Scott is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International and External Relations) at QUT. Scott previously held positions as Minister-Counsellor Education and Science at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, Consul Economic in Hong Kong and Queensland Commissioner to China.
He has lived and worked in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing for more than 12 years.
Scott is the Deputy Chair of the Trade and Investment Queensland Board, the Chair of the Queensland Health Services Export Consortia, a Co-Chair for the national University Foreign Interference Taskforce Working Group and several other advisory roles.