Our functions
The Queensland Veterans’ Council is an independent statutory body established to provide advice to the Queensland Government on veterans’ matters, to hold and manage Anzac Square and its Memorial Galleries and to administer the Anzac Day Trust Fund.
Our members
The six appointed members of the Queensland Veterans’ Council are:
Quentin Masson DSM
Chairperson
Quentin Masson DSM
Quentin has strong credentials in executive leadership and commercial roles driving exponential growth, operations and management, integrated supply chain solutions, business development, portfolio and program management, capital infrastructure delivery, health, management consulting, defence, governance and compliance, security, risk, data centres, cyber threat, aviation, and State and Federal Government sectors. Quentin is recognised globally by domestic and overseas enterprise customers for outstanding successes in strategic and operational leadership roles driving exponential growth, organisational change across large-scale complex companies and programs.
Quentin has 20+ years’ strategic and operational leadership experience developing commercial, private, government and not for profit business including start-ups, SMEs, and multinationals. He possesses globally recognised credentials in leadership, operations and management, business development, revenue growth, business intelligence, governance and compliance, cyber risk and response operations, integrated supply chain solutions (including 3PL and 4PL ICT enterprise solutions). Developed a local and international business network from broad commercial cross-functional operational roles performed in over 20 countries, including extensive work within Southeast Asia, Asia, Europe, United States of America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Miriam Dwyer
Member
Miriam Dwyer
Miriam Dwyer is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation (a not-for-profit research facility dedicated to addressing the burden of disease in the veteran community) having served in this role for over 12 years . This role enabled Miriam to combine her passion for the operational practicalities of medical research with the accomplished discipline of sound corporate governance to ensure the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation’s enduring commitment to the community it serves.
Miriam’s steadfast loyalty to improving the lives of current and former serving members of the Australian Defence Force has been further reinforced by her directorial contribution to Mates4Mates from 2013 to 2020, the Board of Trustees of the Commando Welfare Trust commencing in 2019 and the Board of Cor Infinitus commencing in 2020.
Miriam grew up and was educated in Ireland before moving to Australia in 1989. Post-graduate studies in science and education illustrate Miriam’s enthusiastic quest for knowledge and dedication to a range of topics including leadership, corporate governance, compliance, clinical research, strategy and planning and risk mitigation.
Miriam completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Board Directors Course in 2019. She is in high demand both nationally and internationally as a public speaker, providing a trusted expert opinion across the primary healthcare spectrum, with a deliberate leaning towards clinical research and veteran health and wellbeing.
Miriam is the Chairperson of the Queensland Veterans’ Council Advisory Committee for the Anzac Day Trust Fund.
Christopher Hamilton
Member
Christopher Hamilton
Chris served in the Australian Army and the Army Reserve for over 40 years. He held senior leadership positions on operations and in project management, training and infrastructure development in Canberra, Brisbane, Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific. He acted in a representative capacity as the Colonel Commandant of the North West Mobile Force in Darwin and the Pilbara Regiment in Karratha and remains an Honorary Aide de Camp to the Governor General.
Chris is currently the Chief Executive Officer of RESQ Plus Pty Ltd in Longreach. Chris has served as President and Chair of the Legacy Club of Brisbane Ltd, Director of Legacy Australia and a member of the former Queensland Veterans’ Advisory Council. He currently serves on the South-West Queensland Hospital and Health Board, the Boards of Returned and Services League (RSL) Australia, RSL Queensland and Jobs Australia Ltd.
Chris has an Masters of Business Administration (MBA) majoring in Human Resource Management and Marketing, a Bachelor and Diploma of Applied Science, a Diploma in Leadership and Management, an Associate Diploma in Horticulture. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Lorraine Hatton OAM
Member
Lorraine Hatton OAM
Lorraine Hatton OAM is formally recognised as an Indigenous Quandamooka Woman and Elder, born in Brisbane in 1966. She is from the Ngughi (Moreton Island)/Nunukul tribes (North Stradbroke Island).
In 1986, Lorraine embarked on a highly successful military career which spanned for over 21 years, providing loyal and dedicated service to the Australian Army. She has served on peacekeeping, humanitarian, peace-monitoring and war operations, in various theaters and campaigns and she has been identified by the Australian War Memorial as the first Aboriginal female to be promoted to Warrant Officer in the Australian Army’s history. Lorraine retired from the Australian Army in 2007.
Lorraine was appointed as the Indigenous Elder of the Australian Army in May 2020 and reports directly to the Chief of Army on a broad range of Indigenous issues.
Her recent highlights include:
- being selected as a Queen’s Baton Relay Runner for the 2018 Commonwealth Games
- being a finalist for Queensland Australian of the Year for 2019
- being awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2019
- unveiling the Queensland Indigenous Memorial in Anzac Square on 27 May 2022.
Lorraine currently holds positions on many boards and forums including: Australian Army Indigenous Cultural Advisory Board, University of Southern Queensland, Indigenous Advisory Group for the Australian War Memorial, Corporate Protection, Queensland Legacy Cabinet, various RSLs, Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dedicated Memorial Committee Queensland.
Lorraine is a member of the Queensland Veterans’ Council Advisory Committee for the Anzac Day Trust Fund.
Nicole Hayes
Representing Northern Queensland Legacy
Nicole Hayes
Nicole is the Chief Executive Officer of Northern Queensland Legacy and a member of the Townsville Hospital and Health Board. Over the last six years, Nicole has worked closely with veterans, Australian Defence Force members and community volunteers to provide care to hundreds of veterans’ families living across northern Queensland.
Nicole has extensive experience in governance, management and stakeholder engagement, having worked in several sectors including education, health, not-for-profit and consultancy.
Nicole’s previous positions include roles in the Department of Education including eight years as the Teacher in Charge of the Townsville Hospital School, A/Principal and Deputy Principal appointments and Senior Project Officer for a major youth suicide prevention pilot project for Queensland Health and the Department of Education. Nicole managed Ronald McDonald House Charities’ Education Program in Northern Queensland and led the Federal Government-funded Higher Education Participation and Partnership Program for James Cook University. Nicole was also the Marketing and Business Development leader for AECOM across Northern Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Nicole holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Education and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Robert Skoda
Representing RSL Queensland
Robert Skoda
Robert Skoda commenced his career as a Ground Defence Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force and has deployed to Afghanistan, the Middle East and Timor Leste. Robert has extensive domestic and international experience in the private sector, with a focus on risk for remote construction projects and operations management of professional services.
Since 2016 Robert has demonstrated commitment to the military family through growing and enhancing RSL QLD services. Robert is currently the CEO of RSL Queensland and a Director of the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation.
The Queensland Veterans’ Council also includes two other members; the Director-General, Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts and a nominee of the Chief Executive Officer, Brisbane City Council:
David Chick
Brisbane City Council
David Chick
David is an Ex Officio Council member, a nominee of the Chief Executive Officer, Brisbane City Council. David leads and manages the City Planning and Sustainability division at Brisbane City Council, which supports the future planning, design and development of Brisbane, along with the current care and management of ANZAC Square.
His divisional portfolio includes - development services, planning, environment, parks and sustainability, economic development, Brisbane 2032 Host City and international relations and multicultural affairs. David has a long career in public service, focusing on public policy and engagement, including the administration and development of community programs and grants. David also serves as a Board Director of the Brisbane Sustainability Agency and City Parklands Services Pty Ltd.
David holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Tasmania and a Graduate Diploma Landscape Architecture from the Queensland University of Technology. David is a member of the Queensland Veterans’ Council Advisory Committee for the Anzac Day Trust Fund.
Clare O’Connor
Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts
Clare O’Connor
Clare O’Connor is the Director-General of the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts.
Clare has driven significant strategic policy, program and service delivery reforms across the human services sector, having led four Queensland Government departments as Director-General since 2015.
Clare is committed to improving outcomes for Queenslanders, the veterans’ community and their families. Clare also led the establishment of The Oasis Townsville, Queensland’s first one-stop support shop for veterans and their families, which was officially opened by the Premier of Queensland in 2021.
- Last updated:
- 26 March, 2024
- Last reviewed:
- 26 March, 2024