QLD Regional Council

Frances Hudson, President

Frances developed her interest in the industry from school sporting achievements and holiday employment. With earlier gained qualifications of an Associate Diploma in Community Recreation and Graduate Diploma in Leisure and Tourism, Frances now has achieved over 30 years of experience, primarily in Queensland state and local government, with a few years in consultancy. Frances' passion and professional experiences crosses many areas and includes parks, recreation and sports planning, asset management, program services planning and implementation, capital project delivery coordination, open space policy and strategy development, land use planning and financial management.

Tony Butler, Regional Councillor

Tony is a highly motivated, energetic and dedicated facility infrastructure, recreation and open space specialist with a passion for leadership and loves to create innovative solutions to overcome complex challenges. Currently Tony leads the Parks and Operations team at Southern Downs Regional Council, encompassing the Facility Maintenance, Cemeteries, Parks and Fleet and Workshop teams across the two major bases of Stanthorpe and Warwick in Queensland. Previous career experiences have included being the project lead in a transition of a leisure business from outsourced to in-house facility management; a multi-stage stadium redevelopment and the management and growth of facilities including children's farms, botanic gardens, historical homestead, libraries, youth centres, aquatics, and stadiums. Tony rounds out his experience across three states being formally educated with management skills and has pursued his interests in project management, process improvement and facility infrastructure through a Masters of Engineering. Tony is very excited to be part of the Regional Council for PLA QLD, having been a previous Regional Council Member for PLA WA and presenting at the WA State Conference in 2018.

Kylie Crocker, Treasurer

Kylie Crocker is an experienced Regional Councillor for Park and Leisure Australia (Qld). She is very passionate about the importance of the sport and recreation industry and helping Queenslanders get active. Kylie has worked both in local and state government roles and has more than 20 plus years of professional experience. Kylie has a Bachelor of Arts in Leisure Management from Griffith University. Her love for outdoor recreation and recreation planning has stemmed from her childhood camping and 4wding family holidays in Queensland. Kylie is currently employed by Qld Government in sport and recreation regional service delivery and is a senior member of the south coast team. Kylie has a keen interest in leisure research, mentoring and training for the industry. She is very grateful and privileged to be one of the professionals 'the people behind the places' serving the Queensland's sport and recreation community.

Allison Fergusson, Regional Councillor

Allison Fergusson is the Senior Adviser - Asset Management for civic and open spaces within Redland City Council. Allison began her career as an Environmental Engineer working for a private consultancy, undertaking flood mitigation studies for various clients across Australia. After working in this space for several years, Allison quickly realised her passion lies within strategic thinking on broad and multidisciplinary topics, alongside key stakeholders to benefit the whole community. Allison commenced working for Council in 2008, gaining skills and knowledge within asset management, open space planning and strategy development. Having three very active and boisterous sons on her hands, with different abilities and needs, Allison's vision is to build inclusive, equitable and exciting open spaces that are sustainable for future generations to enjoy.

Meaghan Rowe, Regional Councillor

Meaghan Rowe is the Team Leader of Community Facilities Operations at Brisbane City Council. After graduating in Recreation Planning and Management in Adelaide, Meaghan began her career in recreation centre management and developing recreation programs. Meaghan has over 30 years' experience in the sport and recreation industry in private, community based and local government roles. Meaghan's knowledge extends to sport and recreation planning, community development principles, infrastructure and facility development, asset management and event planning. She is dedicated to delivering enhanced facilities and experiences for the community through collaboration.

Luke Waterhouse, Regional Councillor

Luke has been in the landscaping industry for over 20 years and his experience has stretched from high end domestic landscaping and working with designers, to commercial landscaping with tier one builders. Luke has a proactive approach to problem solving and is a great communicator which gives him the opportunity to work well with clients and designers, to find the best way to produce a quality finish in a cost-effective and productive manner.

Sean Winterflood, Regional Councillor

Sean is a General Manager for Skyline landscape Service which has over 30 years as a specialist landscape management company. With a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Sean started Marsupial landscape services in Queensland, and has been consulted by several Councils on the increasing salinity issues. Sean's focus now is the long-term maintenance of the landscape to ensure completed projects remain viable, practical, sustainable, and affordable for the community. Delivering projects throughout Australia, Sean has a wealth of experience understanding a diverse range of horticultural challenges that face those tasked with providing public spaces, sporting fields, playgrounds, streetscapes even down to delivery for each residents' front yards.

Nicholas Matthews, Regional Councillor

Nicholas is a Chartered Engineer with Australia's leading sport field of play specialist, SPORTENG. He has a decade of experience across sport and recreation facilities in both private and public sectors. Prior to SPORTENG, Nicholas worked with Australia's largest local government contributing to sustainable land development. He has a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Queensland and a keen interest in working with individuals from adjacent industries.

Margaret Barrett, National Board Member

Margaret has been part of the sport, recreation leisure industry for over 30 years. She is currently a Senior Consultant with Otium Planning Group, with previous professional experience in state and local government working in Queensland metropolitan and regional communities. Margaret's professional experience is in open space planning, sport and recreation planning and development, policy and strategy research and formulation, community facility planning, community development and organisational development and asset management. Margaret has a Bachelor Arts (Geography, Community Studies and Leisure Behaviour) and a Graduate Diploma in Recreation Planning.

Steph McCallum-Keily, Regional Councillor

Following a career start in local government in North West Queensland, Steph has been employed with Sport and Recreation in the Queensland Government for 6 years with experience in partnerships, strategy and policy, research, end to end program design and service delivery. Steph completed a Bachelor of Business (Sport Management/Politics and Government) from Griffith University in 2011, and a Masters in Governance and Public Policy from the University of Queensland in 2017. Steph is also a member of the PLA Advisory Research Working Group.

Josh Geraghty, Regional Councillor

Josh is a Consultant at Otium Planning Group. He has worked in the sport and recreation industry for 6 years, alongside some of the industry's leaders and is also an executive committee member for Generate Network - Australia. He completed his Bachelor of Planning with Honours at James Cook University in Cairns in 2014. Josh has spent the last 6 years working with regional communities and councils and understands the unique circumstances that impact the delivery of sport and recreation in these areas.

Adrian Burns, Regional Councillor

Adrian Burns is the Director Community Sustainability at Gympie Regional Council. After graduating in Sports Science in 1986 and being a foundation member of the British Association of Sports Scientists, Adrian commenced his working career as a PT and Group Fitness Instructor in Oxford UK. A couple of years later Adrian commenced what is an extended local government journey. Over 30 years in three countries and three Australian States, Adrian has worked in most areas of the Parks and Leisure arena. Initially specialising in facility management and service outsourcing, Adrian's career moved through major event management into city design and open space planning before settling in parks and recreation operations. With a passion for building 'exciting stuff' Adrian is committed to sound community engagement and delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Amy Ahchay, Regional Councillor

Amy Ahchay is the Landscape Maintenance Coordinator - East Shores, with the Gladstone Ports Corporation Ltd. Amy began her career in the parks and recreation industry in 2005 as a horticulture trainee. Now employed as the Landscape Coordinator- East Shores at the Port of Gladstone, Amy has extensive knowledge and field experience, with a particular focus on irrigation design and maintenance. Amy's knowledgebase further extends to parkland planning, parkland and facilities management. Amy holds a Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Service, for which she was awarded the Queensland SPASA Training of Excellence Award. Amy's passion for East Shores, including the Water Park, and ultimately the parks and recreation industry, is most certainly represented in the award-winning parklands at the Port of Gladstone. Amy is an emerging leader in the Parks and Recreation field and is passionate about the development and ongoing maintenance of active and passive parklands. Her vision includes the creation of equitable, resilient communities through public parkland spaces.


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