BOARD – 2020
Our Team
QRRRWN’s volunteer board brings together an exceptional group of talented women who are inspired to offer their time, experience, and effort for RRR women of Queensland. They believe in the future of Queensland and in the capacities of women in those communities to make a difference for themselves and others.
The board meets monthly and focuses on strategic portfolios to drive member experience, member personal & professional development, advocacy and rural, regional, remote networks.
QRRRWN’s Board is composed of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Board Members. These positions are completely voluntary and are elected annually by QRRRWN members at the AGM held at the QRRRWN Conference.
Executive Committee

Tracey Martin
P: 1300 795 571
I am a wife and mother living on a cattle station in North Queensland. My husband’s family have owned and operated the grazing property since the 1940’s. I have had a love of rural areas and rural life since my nursing days in Dirranbandi (circa 1998) when I did some relief nursing work, and also explored Central Queensland with a friend from Clermont through visiting various rodeos and properties where she worked.
I am challenged by rural life and also enthusiastic about the different opportunities it presents for my family and me. I am always learning. I am deeply interested in and concerned by social and political issues impacting on the agricultural industry and women in the home and workplace. I see a strong future for women, our families and communities in RRR Australia as we work together.
To find support of my own, last year I started a network of women through the old girl network at my high school in Brisbane focused on old girls and future student in RRR areas. It’s intended to be a source of support and sharing. I am also volunteering with a leadership group of graziers on issues affecting grazing businesses in the Reef catchment. The RRR life has exposed me to the differing needs and challenges, ways of doing things, cultures that vary by region and industry segment, and the deep values and beliefs that drive RRR Australia and its women.
I wish to apply my professional and interpersonal skills and enthusiasm to RRR Australia through an organisation that is committed to the needs of women. I believe working with the Board will be a forum where I can contribute to steering a direction to achieve QRRRWN’s goals and maintaining the strong legacy of QRRRWN. The influence of women in their families and community can be a change agent for all of RRR Australia. Women are crucial, the needs of women are unique, and organisations such as QRRRWN in supporting, educating and guiding us – are essential.

Davida Melksham
P: 1300 795 571
Having grown up on stations in both the Gulf and Central Queensland, she has a love for the bush, and its people and for sustainability of rural and remote communities, and a belief that sometimes focuses on people in addition to systems, leads to equitable and balanced change.
Currently employed in dual roles, Davida works in the Disability sector as an NDIS Support Co-Ordinator for Lifeline Darling Downs and Southwest Qld and also works in Tourism at Charleville’s Cosmos Centre and Observatory. Working to create opportunities for many within the region disadvantaged by their disabilities whilst simultaneously being part of a tourism team whose diversity is taking the edge of the ravages of nearly 8 years of widespread drought keeps her out of mischief and determined.
A teacher by training, it would have been a natural transition for her to be guided to career in the classroom by her love of teaching and learning. She has, however, chosen to apply her study by working in unconventional education roles delivering services and programs in remote areas across the NT and Queensland, and also in Mental Health education and promotion roles with both Lifeline and the RFDS. In a “break from teaching roles”, she relished the opportunity to co-Ordinate a 1300 strong National Volunteer program matching needs with skill Nationally.
Outside work, she has been involved in many volunteer roles in community – organising a variety of events from the first truly remote Early Childhood Conference, to Community Performing Arts events for 400 people, Festivals and almost everything in between. Her passions are many, and start with her husband Lance, and family, but include Performing Arts, Youth, Photography and Art generally, and Education.
She values being a part of the Board, and is looking forward to her another year of connecting with women she has already met and those she hasn’t, and doing her best as part of a Board with a need to realise their needs by offering opportunities to develop. She encourages any members and potential members to phone or email with challenges, questions or ideas.

Helen Warnock
P: 1300 795 571
Helen Warnock is a partner at Kennas Chartered Accountants located in Rockhampton. She has worked with the firm since leaving university helping rural clients with their taxation, business improvement and succession issues. She has a Bachelor of Business, a Graduate Diploma of Taxation and is a Fellow member of the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.
Helen lives on a beef cattle property at Morinish 50 km North West of Rockhampton with her husband and son, so fully understands the issues and challenges faced by rural women. She enjoys visiting client’s properties and meeting with the family groups to discuss their business issues.
She recently completed RSC’s Grazing for Profit and Next Steps programs.
Helen is looking forward to continuing with the QRRRWN board for another year.

Marie Cameron
P: 1300 795 571
Marie Cameronhas a background working for state and localgovernments in regional and rural North Queensland and remotelocations in North West of Western Australia. She also has a longcareer working in community development in the resources sectorpreviously with Hail Creek Mine supporting the Mackay and Isaacregions, and currently with Origin supporting the Western Downs.
Marie has served in various positionson many Committees andBoards within the not-for-profit sector and community organisationsregionally, and at state and international levels. In 2019 she wasawarded a scholarship through the Australian Institute of CompanyDirectors and has successfully completed directorship trainingthrough this agency.
Marie holds a Bachelor of Business(Distinction), along with anAssociate Diploma (Accounting) and Diploma of Business (HR). Shehas recently completed post graduate studies in sustainabledevelopment and is currently working towards completing herMasters

Gail Russell
P: 1300 795 571
Gail Russell, GAICD, has a diverse working and volunteer career. Born and raised on a farm in Mackay, and attending an all girl’s boarding school in Rockhampton, she originally qualified and worked in the sugar industry as a sugar chemist around the Mackay region. Changing direction later on saw her work in the finance sector – from a small loans outlet to manage the money market desk of a large merchant bank in Sydney and then to a credit union after moving back to Queensland. She has always held high level administrative positions for employers and their clients, and this has included, board support, events organisation and management, and general administrative functions.
Now living in Cairns, she is a director (voluntary) of the Cairns RSL Club Ltd and member of one of the committees assessing applications for their Community Benefit Fund. She is also secretary and everything coordinator to a busy sports club that has hosted large sporting and other fundraising events.
She is a Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors, holds Diplomas of Events and of Management. She also has Sugar Technology and Securities Institute Certificates.

Julie Mayne
P: 1300 795 571
QRRRWN has held a special role in my life over the last couple of years. It has kept me informed, involved and connected with other likeminded women in our ever-changing world. I first become involved with QRRRWN as a part of the History Project with Cecily, transcribing interviews, doing book reviews, and interviewing members from which I gained an immense appreciation for the strong history and achievements of many amazing women. Gosh, did they have some stories to tell!
I have worked in the rural industry for 30 years, mostly remotely, as a single mother with two children (now grown and gone). I am a beef breeder and producer situated in central Western Queensland and am slowly expanding my enterprise, and value adding to my business through various creative endeavours.
My skillset is large and varied; a horse trainer, contract musterer, dozer operator, truck driver through to station manager, branded beef marketing and business management, all in a male dominated arena… My strengths are Project Management, visionary and futuristic outlooks for our industry and I consult with various media channels to best promote our rural identity. I have been featured in Graziher magazine, Wander of the West campaign with Edwina Robertson, Channel 7’s Queensland Weekender program and the Queensland Country Life. My story has also been used a brand ambassador for various organisations like RB Sellars, and Ergon Electricity.
I feel strongly that QRRRWN’s remote members need as much support as possible. There are a great many remarkable, talented, resilient women who are forging careers, businesses and creating strong focus on community and family, and do it with very little resources. I would love to have these women onboard, growing the organisation and diversifying QRRRWN into more remote areas through networking, knowledge, creativity and upskilling.
I am a passionate advocate, contributor and participant in the rural industry and would love to contribute to this amazing organisation.

Jessica Goldie
P: 1300 795 571
Jessica Goldie is a barrister at the private bar in Toowoomba. She practices predominately in criminal and family law. Jessica was born and raised in Toowoomba and has worked all throughout regional Queensland.
Jessica has extensive advocacy and legal experience, having worked for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2009 to 2018. Jessica was first called to the bar in February 2012, and shortly thereafter was appointed as a Crown Prosecutor for the State at the age of 23.
As a Crown Prosecutor, Jessica appeared as lead counsel in over a hundred serious and complex criminal jury trials across regional Queensland, including Toowoomba, Cairns, Townsville, Ipswich, Roma, Dalby, Warwick, Mount Isa, Bowen, Charters Towers and Gladstone. Jessica has also circuited to Mornington Island, Doomadgee and Normanton for Court cases involving serious criminal allegations.
Jessica went to the private bar at the beginning of 2018 after completing her Masters in Family Law. She continues to represent clients all over Queensland, particularly in remote and regional areas. Jessica has a keen interest in ensuring access to justice for those living in remote and regional Queensland. That experience has allowed her to become familiar with the struggles that women often face in regional communities and plans to bring this knowledge to her work on the Board of QRRRWN.

Jo Best
P: 1300 795 571
Jo is a Bundaberg girl – born & raised with hern3 sisters in the cane growing district. Her husband hails from Rockhampton & they lived & worked in Mount Isa for three years, before returning to Brisbane to continue their corporate careers and raise their family.
Jo works at Hastings Deering (Caterpillar) as a General Manager and has more than 20 years’industry experience in several companies including Aurizon, Glencore and Amcor Ltd. Her expertise includes business strategy, commercial performance, transformational change, digitalisation and organisational development.
Jo is passionate about helping women create their own paths and reach their potential. She worked part-time for 17 years in senior leadership positions, raised 3 boys, assisted others through mentoring and coaching and created workplace programs to drive flexibility, diversity and inclusion. Her efforts were recognized when she won the 2020 Exceptional Woman in Queensland Resources award.
Jo holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Central Queensland and a Bachelor of Applied Science from the Queensland University of Technology. She is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a certified member of the Australian Human Resources Institute

Erika Entz
P: 1300 795 571
Erika Entz has always been very passionate about people, customers and businesses. Learning & Development and improving Business Processes is the core values of how she lives. Not only she enjoys gaining knowledge, but she always quotes… Gain to Share.. You have to gain knowledge to be able to share knowledge. Certainly something Erika has been doing for decades.
Currently employed as Head of Implementation & Professional Services at simPRO Software as a global role covering AU, NZ, UK and US implementations operations. simPRO is a global operations management software for trade services industries. Working in the ever changing and hyper growth SaaS industry Erika accustomed to change, and delivering exceptional service to internal and external customers. Other strengths include business operations and systems efficiency and deployment, learning & development, leadership lunch & learn and development program and high performance teams program.
Her core role is to create strategy, tools, resources and deploy them globally allowing to hire, onboard, educate the Implementation Consultants and also played an inherent role in the development of the customer education program.
The passion to learn and passion to share the knowledge and support organisation lead Erika to wanting to contribute to organisations such as AIOP as Committee Member and President QLD Division in the past and now to QRRRWN. She hopes to bring value and benefits to the members and partners by understanding the needs, collaborating with fellow Board Members and Members and Partners.
Board Advisors

Melissa Barnett
P: 1300 795 571
Melissa and her husband are partners in a cattle property at Haly Creek in the South Burnett. She also manages a farmstay business and a vineyard on the property.
Melissa began her career as a nurse before gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Post-Graduate degree in Library and Information Management and a Graduate Diploma in Writing, Editing and Publishing. She has been the senior journalist for online business-to-business website, Forkliftaction since 2009 and also writes freelance.
After living in Brisbane for 29 years, Melissa returned to the family property with her husband and son in 2011 and has since concentrated on re-branding the farmstay and wine businesses as well as building stock numbers and improving the property. She is the immediate past-president of the Barambah branch of QRRRWN and feels that it is vital that people involve themselves in the community and lend whatever skills they have to making their community a better place for everyone.
Melissa believes that QRRRWN has the power to make a difference in rural, regional and remote women’s lives through connecting women with the skills and people that can help them make informed decisions about their careers, their business and their personal development.
The paddock to plate movement and the arts are her passions and she would love to be more involved in bringing those two aspects of rural and regional Australia to a wider audience.

Megan Woodward
P: 1300 795 571
Megan is a Queensland based media consultant with more than 15 years’ experience as a journalist, PR professional and public speaker. Born and bred in Mackay between the cane fields, cattle yards and coal mines, she went on to graduate from Townsville’s James Cook University with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2003.
Megan has since enjoyed a career that’s included life on the road as a rural and regional television reporter for ABC News covering north and north-west Queensland for nearly a decade, a contributor and staff journalist for rural current affairs program, ‘Landline’, and more recently working across the university, local government and not-for-profit sectors.
She is now running her own business as an independent media consultant and freelance journalist, following years as a Senior Account Director for a large agri-PR firm. A ‘media all-rounder’, she’s earned a reputation as a reliable, people focused communications professional, a trusted storyteller and an advocate for rural Australia.
Megan’s greatest interest lies in remote, rural and regional Australia – specifically the agricultural and indigenous sectors – and helping to share the stories of people, products and powerhouses who are bridging the bush to big smoke divide.
Now based at Yandina Creek on the Sunshine Coast, Megan is married with two sons and an ageing brown Labrador (crossed with something!) named Ollie.
Board Executive Support

Megan Sidebottom previously Megan Kuhn
P: 1300 795 571
Megan Sidebottom provides executive support to the QRRRWN board, is a great networker and connector of people, and loves witnessing the amazing things that can happen when people come together.
A passionate business woman, wife and mother to three children, Megan has always lived in rural Queensland.
Megan enjoys juggling multiple interests in particular her love for helping rural women create opportunities for themselves through online business, her love for community and connections through QRRRWN.
Weekends you might find her in the garden, enjoying a walk to the river or spending time with her family.

Carrie Wilson
P: 0488 801 618
E: carrie@scenicrimdesign.com.au
Carrie-Ann Wilson has extensive experience in delivering and managing IT services, websites and digital solutions.
Carrie founded and manages a Digital Design business, Scenic Rim Design, which provides website, graphic design and digital solutions for small businesses and organisations. With a Masters Degree in Digital Design and a Bachelor of Built Environment (Industrial Design), Carrie has a strong background in design thinking and uses human-centered design methodologies to ensure that people remain at the heart of every project.
Formerly an IT specialist at Griffith University, she developed a range of innovative technology solutions as the lead Mac technician. She is well versed in all levels of technical support, including helpdesk support, onsite support, specialist support, training, solutions development and team co-ordination.
Carrie is passionate about supporting rural, regional and remote communities, and is a volunteer and sponsor for several community groups. She believes that digital technologies are opening up powerful opportunities for people in RRR areas, and have considerable potential to help overcome some of the unique challenges that we face.
Past Presidents
The QRRRWN has been ably led by a variety of committed, enthusiastic women since it was founded in 1993.
YEAR | NAME |
---|---|
2017-2019 | Melissa Barnett |
2014-2017 | Alison Mobbs |
2010-2014 | Georgie Somerset |
2009-2010 | Georgie Somerset and Wendy Agar (joint presidents) |
2007-2009 | Linda Silburn |
2006-2007 | Andrea Middleton |
2004-2006 | Di Gresham |
2001-2004 | Moya Sandow |
2000-2001 | Lillian Lever |
1999-2000 | Rosemary Burnett |
1997-1999 | Barbara Anderson |
1996-1997 | Myra Dingle |
1993-1996 | Jan Darlington |