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.

Daniel Gschwind – Chair

Daniel Gschwind is Professor of Practice in the Griffith Institute for Tourism at Griffith University since August 2022. He was the CEO of Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) from 2001 to 2022, representing the industry in numerous committees and forums. He is an Adjunct Professor at University of Queensland since 2002. 

Daniel is also the Chair of the Tourism Reef Advisory Committee of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), the Chair of QMF: Queensland Music Trails, a Director and founding member of the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC), a Director of Tourism Whitsundays and a board member of the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival. 

He previously served as a member of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) from 2009 to 2013 and the board of Jobs Queensland. He is the Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Queensland.

Earlier in his career Daniel was involved in yacht charter operations in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean before relocating to Australia where he completed an Honours Degree in Economics at the University of Queensland. 

He worked as a Senior Economist for the Queensland Treasury for six years before taking on his tourism roles.

Delvene Cockatoo-Collins 

Peter McKay

Peter McKay 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 a long-serving Queensland and Commonwealth public servant.

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.  

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.

Angela Young

As a consultant providing strategic business growth advice to high-growth startups and SMEs, Angela brings over 20 years' experience in entrepreneurship and business development to the table. In her role as Director of BDO for Startups, Angela has facilitated programs and provided tailored advice to founders of high-growth businesses, helping them unlock their potential and achieve their business goals. 

Prior to her work as a consultant, Angela co-founded a private equity firm that scaled to an international consumer electronics group. Through this experience, Angela gained firsthand knowledge of the complexities and challenges involved in running a high-growth business, including the potential for collapse. Her passion for sharing her experiences and helping others navigate these complexities has led her to her current role as a consultant. 

By employing a tailored approach to each founder, Angela delivers practical outcomes that founders can implement in their businesses. She is committed to openly sharing her lived experiences and expertise to help others achieve success and build exceptional companies.