Queensland’s Rural Regional and Remote Women network announced election of a refreshed board in December, adding new skills and experiences while marking 30 years of connecting, developing and inspiring Queensland women.
A new president, treasurer and board member were elected to join the existing board members, together positioning the independent not-for-profit organisation to continue supporting members in 2024 and beyond.
Media and public policy professional Emma Clarke was voted into the president role after holding a non-executive board director role for the past year, while Michelle McVeigh also moved from a non-executive director role to treasurer.
Agricultural and retail business owner Patrea George, from the Banana Shire, was elected to a non-executive director role from a pool of 16 nominations.
Bundaberg is well represented on the board with Melissa Brooke being voted in as vice president.
Melissa was particularly proud to see at the AGM that there were a record number of members in attendance and that Queensland’s Rural Regional and Remote Women Network currently have the highest membership numbers that they have ever had, with 18 applicants apply for vacant board positions with the calibre of these applicants exceptional.
Melissa herself brings extensive experience in public sector leadership within state and federal government departments across corporate affairs, public policy, business profess improvement, stakeholder management and customer relations with her strengths including a commitment to lead, challenge and mentor.
Melissa is committed to her community and is a lifelong learner focusing on self-development to enhance her ability to motivate and drive economic growth, inclusiveness and resilience in regional communities.
Employed by Department of State Development Local Government and Planning working with Local Governments, affords Melissa the opportunity to travel throughout the West, Central and Wide Bay Burnett Regions.
Born and raised in Longreach, Melissa first joined QRRRWN in 1997 and is a passionate advocate for fairness, women and injustice.
Asked how she was focused on making a difference as vice president, Melissa said being in leadership and on boards was about embracing opportunities and having a seat at the table. “Crafting, shaping and influencing policy and strategies for the betterment of your members and communities and I personally find board work to be very rewarding and pride myself on volunteering,” she said.
“RRR Women is an amazing independent not for profit organisation dedicated to building a vibrant and strong community of women across Queensland.
“Our purpose is to provide a platform to connect, develop, inspire and support each other in our individual and collective pursuit for better and brighter futures.”
Having first joined the organisation at the age of 21, in the remote town of Longreach while working for the Department of Primary Industries in 1997, Melissa could never have dreamed 26 years later she would be their vice president.
“This again highlights for me the importance of leadership, mentoring and building connections for one another as you never know what the impact or the outcome of these key introductions will have or could be.
“I hold extensive experience in public sector leadership within state and federal government departments across corporate affairs, public policy, business process improvement, stakeholder management and customer relations that has contributed to building better infrastructure, emergency response care, local government governance, funding and compliance and now I’m working in the sustainable futures portfolio with innovation, climate, sustainability and first nations.
“I love a challenge and the opportunity to work on wicked problems.
“I am a full-time working mum of two children and have held numerous board positions which include an appointment by the Premier for a two-year seat in the Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast Regional Community Forums, a current board member at Shalom College, a current committee member with National Strengthening Rural Communities Program Advisory for Foundation of Rural and Regional Renewal (FRR), previously on Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services Consumers reference group, the vice president for the Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce, and on the Community Reference Group member for Paradise Dam.
“I am committed to community and a lifelong learner focusing on self-development to enhance my abilities to motivate and drive economic growth, inclusiveness and resilience.
“I am passionate advocate for fairness, women and injustice.“
Looking to 2024, Melissa will make it her mission to assist the board in growing their membership and obtaining further grants and funding so that they can continue to hold future events for their members to come together and workshop, be educate and have a space to craft bespoke solutions that they can apply across Queensland.
“The youth are our future and I would love to attract further diversity of minority groups and a younger age demographics.
“We all need to sell the dream of living and working regionally and do our bit to protect this legacy.
“As woman we celebrate the accomplishments of everyone – our children, our partners, our communities.
“But we often downplay our ability to juggle career, family, community, volunteer work, friendship, and accomplishments.
“After all it was not that long ago in history that women were told that they could not be a good mother and hold a full-time job.
“Well, we sure showed them, didn’t we?”
The RRR Women Board for the coming year is made up of inspiring women from across the state.
