Our executive leadership

Mike Kaiser is Director-General and Coordinator-General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. He leads the department which oversees the Queensland Government’s agenda to drive economic growth and enhance the state’s lifestyle through good infrastructure and planning outcomes.

He brings more than 30 years’ experience to the role, having built a successful career in private and public sector leadership and consultancy.

Most recently, Mike was Director-General of the Department of Resources. Other public sector experiences include working as chief of staff to premiers in both Queensland and New South Wales.

In the private sector, Mike was a partner at KPMG and contributed to the Queensland COVID-19 Taskforce Economic Recovery Plan in that capacity.

Known as a strategic thinker and inclusive leader, Mike demonstrated strong customer focus throughout his time at NBN Co, where he led the business change and improvement function and introduced processes to measure and enhance customer satisfaction.

Mike completed his academic qualifications at the University of Queensland, earning bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and economics as well as a Graduate Certificate in Management.

Natalie Wilde is Deputy Director-General of Strategy, Insights and Advisory, coordinating key matters across the Deputy Premier’s portfolio responsibilities. She supports all touch points between the Deputy Premier’s Office and the department. Natalie is responsible for leading the portfolio work of the Director-General’s Office, South Bank, cabinet and parliamentary services, economic policy, and strategic communications, investment transactions, performance and delivery.

Natalie has more than 20 years’ experience in the public service at both state and local government levels. During this time, Natalie has specialised in leading policy and legislation in the areas of local government, planning, building, infrastructure and property.

As the previous Deputy Director-General, Local Government, Natalie led the government’s commitment to deliver positive and sustainable outcomes for local governments and their communities.

Natalie has qualifications in public health and business and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.

Michael has more than 15 years' experience working in senior roles within the public sector. His strengths and interests include organisational development, corporate governance, strategy, operations and business partnering.

Michael’s career spans statutory bodies, commercialised business units, councils, and various government agencies. He has also worked in the private sector with a large chartered accounting firm.

Michael believes in the importance of developing strong client services. He leads the department with an emphasis on engagement.

Debbie McNamara, General Manager of Economic Development Queensland is a specialist executive leader across the public and private sector within an infrastructure environment including development of large-scale retail, commercial, education and health facilities.

An Adjunct Professor, Debbie recently led the development and opening of the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) for Metro North Hospital and Health Service, from inception to being an operational, specialist public health facility.

Having held Chief Executive and non-Executive Director roles in public private organisations in Glasgow, Debbie brings international experience in building lasting partnerships with statutory authorities, tenants, investors and key business and community organisations.

Jae’s experience includes over 25 years in the public sector with a stint in consultancy. The last 15 years have been with various iterations of the State Development, Infrastructure and Local Government portfolios.

Her recent years in the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning involved working with the Regional Organisation of Councils, Local Government Association of Queensland, Remote Area Boards and various regional economic development organisations. This work is dedicated to delivering regional economic development strategies, the State Infrastructure Strategy and Regional Infrastructure Plans.

Jae also has extensive experience working in Queensland’s State Disaster Management Framework leading the economic recovery function. This experience saw Jae called upon to lead bespoke teams such as the Binna Burra Recovery Taskforce and the economic recovery function within the COVID-19 Taskforce.

Michele is a senior executive with extensive experience in economic development portfolios with a focus on industry development, investment attraction and regional infrastructure programs. She has a background in the Office of the Coordinator-General leading complex environmental impact assessments, land acquisitions and negotiating agreements with major infrastructure providers and private sector investors.

Michele's career has included whole-of-government infrastructure planning for mineral processing and industrial development in North-West and North Queensland. Within her industry development roles, Michele has also led international trade and investment activities for state and commonwealth initiatives. Michele is experienced in policy development to support government priorities, including priority industries such as hydrogen, Biofutures, resource recovery, biomedical, defence and aerospace, METS, beef processing as well as advanced manufacturing.

Throughout her various roles Michele promotes stakeholder relationships and has extensive networks across regional Queensland and within government agencies. Michele is energetic and values-led, delivering outcomes through high levels of engagement and collaboration.

Graeme is responsible for driving the infrastructure agenda for Queensland with a focus on achieving robust capital planning, quality investment decisions and regional economic development. His team plays a lead role in coordinating the Infrastructure Cabinet Committee forward program, the State government’s economic recovery response to COVID-19, natural disasters and the Brisbane 2032 infrastructure program.

Graeme brings over 25 years’ experience in infrastructure planning, assessment, procurement and the negotiation of commercial transactions. He was a former Deputy Under Treasurer, Commercial Group and a Project Director in Projects Queensland, responsible for governance oversight and strategic direction of investment evaluation and procurement of major infrastructure and services.

More recently, as an Executive Director of Building Queensland, Graeme was responsible for the development of business cases for major public infrastructure proposals. Since January 2022, Graeme has been a member of the department’s Executive Team of the Infrastructure and Regional Strategy group.

Graeme is the independent chair of the Department of Education’s Infrastructure Investment Board.

Graeme holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Arts (Modern Asian Studies) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Tess Pickering is the Deputy Director-General of Planning.

Tess is a proud planner having worked on projects like the Queensland Planning Act 2016, the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017 and Victoria’s new Precinct Structure Planning Guidelines 2021.

In Victoria, Tess has been responsible for maintaining a pipeline of 15 years supply of zoned land for new communities across Melbourne.

Tess also led the introduction of new standards for greenfields planning that focus on creating walkable 20-minute neighborhoods with greener and cooler streets and more diverse housing – which we want to see more and more here in Queensland.