Councillor Jo McNally was first elected to Southern Downs Regional Council in February 2010 and holds the Finance and Governance Portfolio. Cr McNally has resided in Warwick since 1990 and lives there with her husband and two sons. Before being elected to Council, Cr McNally worked in Administration and the Financial Sector and she also served as a Queensland Police Officer at Toowoomba and Warwick Police Stations. Cr McNally is currently studying externally through the University of South Australia for a Bachelor of Accounting.
Samantha is the General Counsel for Ausbuild. Samantha is a multidisciplinary lawyer who specialises in planning, infrastructure, government, environmental and property development law. Samantha has worked with many Queensland local governments, providing advice in respect of governance, infrastructure and environment matters, planning documents, local laws and many types of agreements and deeds for local governments in south east and rural Queensland.
Cr Fran Mann is a second-term councillor and has a passion for the region’s heritage and history, and chairs Mackay Regional Council’s Heritage Reference Group, and is a member of the Combined Museums Committee. Cr Mann is the Chair of the Regional Arts Development Fund Advisory Committee, a member of the Sarina Field of Dreams Advisory Committee, and serves on boards and committees such as Mackay Regional Housing Company, Better Together Housing Advisory, Whitsunday Regional Roads and Transport Group, volunteer Secretary of Pioneer Catchment & Landcare Group (PCL), volunteer Secretary of the Youth Information Referral Service (YIRS), Treasurer of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) Qld Branch and is a member of Sister Cities Mackay Group. As a long-term resident, Cr Mann attended primary and secondary schools in the Pioneer Valley and is a passionate advocate for all parts of our region. Prior to joining council as an employee in 2006, Cr Mann held roles in retail and real estate. She actively participates with many Not For Profit groups, including Zonta Mackay as a member and Treasurer, volunteer Secretary / Treasurer of Special Olympics Mackay, Friends of Morag McNichol Reserve, Shed Happens International Men’s Day Committee and is a Patron of the Trudy Crowley Foundation.
Karen has worked in local government for approximately 20 years predominately in the Governance area overseeing Council meetings and legislative requirements. She has also had the opportunity to work across numerous sections of Council including a period in the Community Development area for 18 months looking after the health and wellbeing and school holiday programs. Karen's professional qualifications include Advanced Diplomas in Business and Management, Diplomas of Local Government Administration and Project Management and IAP2 Engagement Essentials. Karen has been involved with ALGWA since 2006, first joining the Management Committee in 2011 as the Secretary.
Councillor Natalia Muszkat is an experienced manager, facilitator and community development professional. She migrated to Australia in 1999 from Argentina, moving to Gladstone in 2007 to raise her young family. She has a great passion for community and social and human services. More recently she co-founded not for profit social enterprise, Strong Communities Ltd, to promote wellness for children, parents, families and organisations in regional and remote communities. She is a former member of the Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council and a Fellow of the Institute of Community Directors Australia. Natalia's diverse cultural and professional experience has taught her to always conduct herself with empathy, compassion and respect for all people’s ideas and experiences.
Sue Blom has worked and lived in the Northern Beaches of Townsville since 1976, prior to this Sue grew up in Currajong. Sue served 2 terms as a Councillor in Local Government from 2008 until 2016, representing the then Division 1 area of the Northern Beaches of Townsville.
Sue is a third generation Townsvillian and loves the city she lives, works and plays in. Sue is committed to her community and is looking forward to achieving outcomes as the Councillor for Division 2.
Sue is married to Derek, has two adult children, and has 8 grandchildren.
Councillor Jan Clifford has been an elected member with Whitsunday Regional Council since 2008. Jan’s current portfolio includes Planning & Development, Major Developments and Business, Housing and Airlie Tourism. Jan also sits on a number of boards and committees including the Police Citizen’s Youth Club as well as being a patron of the Whitsunday Crisis and Counseling Service. Jan has completed the Australian Institute of Directors "In the Boardroom" course and also has a Diploma of Management.
Megan O’Hara Sullivan was first elected to Toowoomba Regional Council in 2016. Megan spent her early years in Tara where her parents farmed and additionally her mother worked as a primary school teacher. She and her husband Dean moved to the Darling Downs in 2004 and are currently raising their five sons at their family home in Greenmount.
Megan graduated from the Queensland University of Technology as an optometrist in 1987. For 11 years prior to being elected to Council in 2016, she owned and operated a
practice at Pittsworth.
Megan started her career in local government at the Clifton Shire Council in 2005. She served there until the Shire was amalgamated into the Toowoomba Regional Council in 2008. Currently Megan is the Chair of the Planning and Development Portfolio.
Megan is an active member of the community in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs and currently serves as the chair of the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation Research Grants Committee. Megan’s hobbies include, gardening, bushwalking with family and restoring their 126 year old home.
Cheryl was appointed as a Councillor in 2016 after working as Manager of Finance and Administration and Executive Administrator – Community Services in local government for over 30 years. Cheryl possesses a great understanding of this level of government and is proud to be involved with communities and businesses at this grass root level. Following university studies based around communication, Cheryl welcomes strong communication practices and encourages active listening and open feedback. In 2015 she received the Somerset Australia Day Citizen of the Year award for her voluntary involvement in various community groups and organisations across the region since 1987. Cheryl is an avid horse rider and enjoys keeping fit by visiting gyms and recreational areas located in our great region.