Our executive leadership

As Director-General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Damien Walker is a key leader of the Queensland Government’s agenda to drive economic growth and create jobs for Queenslanders.

His responsibilities extend to supporting the portfolio work in relation to the Digital Economy.

Damien is a former Director-General of the Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation and prior to that, the Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games, where he successfully led the Queensland Government’s delivery of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Department of Tourism, Major Events and Small Business from October 2016.

Damien has the following roles on several key boards:

• Economic Development Queensland Board – Chair
• Townsville Industrial Development Board – Chair
• Cross River Rail Delivery Authority – Chair
• Trade and Investment Queensland Board – Member
• Southbank Corporation Board – Member
• Building Queensland Board – Member

Before leaving Adelaide to live in Queensland, Damien held senior executive roles in the South Australian Government in infrastructure planning and delivery, investment facilitation, contract management and reform implementation.

Damien holds academic qualifications in public policy and planning, and has broad experience, particularly in the economic development and strategic planning arena.

Damien is a champion for gender equity in the workplace and the prevention of domestic and family violence in all our communities. He is also passionate about delivering initiatives to create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Toni is a senior executive with 25 years' experience in the public sector at commonwealth and state levels. In addition to executive roles, Toni has held senior roles within several other departments.

Toni has a professional background in government property management, commercialised business services and corporate services. Toni's experience in program and project management and leading organisations through transition and major change has created her strong relationship-based leadership style with a focus on achieving real outcomes for the department.

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 McNarama, 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.

Natalie Wilde has over 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 reform in the areas of local government, planning, building, infrastructure and property.

Since being appointed as the Deputy Director-General, Local Government in 2018, Natalie has led the government’s commitment to deliver positive and sustainable outcomes for local governments and their communities.

Natalie has also held General Manager positions in Property Queensland and in Infrastructure Policy and Planning in the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning. Natalie has qualifications in public health and business and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.

Kerry has over 30 years of senior leadership experience in a diverse range of roles in state and local government and as a private consultant.

He joined the Queensland Government in late 2017, where he is responsible for managing planning legislation, an ongoing process of planning reform, regional planning, managing the State Assessment & Referral Agency, planning policy and strategy development and advice on planning matters across the state and to Queensland's 77 Local Government Authorities.

Kerry is a Fellow and Registered Planner of the Planning Institute of Australia, a Griffith University Adjunct Industry Fellow and member of the South Bank Board. He holds qualifications in coastal management, urban and regional planning, business management and project management.

Maree has worked in regional and economic development for the past 15 years across a number of Queensland Government agencies. Her approach is characterised by forming strong partnerships with regional and other organisations to deliver on economic priorities.

Previously, Maree led the delivery of the Queensland Government's Building our Regions Program to bring funding to critical regional infrastructure projects across the state.

Maree has also led a number of other strategic programs and activities including implementation of the North West Minerals Province Economic Diversification Strategy, the North Stradbroke Island Economic Transition Strategy, Economic Recovery work following natural disasters, and funding for Remote Area Boards.

She is an active contributor to national policy forums, including the Regional Australia Institute policy group, and is also a member of the RAI Research Advisory Committee.

Maree's career has included extensive policy experience including national, state and local initiatives. She led development of the Governing for Growth initiative which laid out the Queensland Government's approach to economic growth.

Maree began her working life as a teacher and later worked on professional development initiatives in the Department of Education. She has a Bachelor of Education and a research master's degree in policy analysis.

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 strong 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, most recently, new legislation to ensure that residents of communities near large resource projects benefit from those projects.

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 and innovation through high levels of engagement and collaboration.