Chair

Stephen Beckett, Head of Public Affairs at Brisbane Airport Corporation

Stephen is a member of Brisbane Airport Corporation’s Business Leadership team, and is responsible for public relations, media, corporate communications, regulatory affairs, government relations, community and customer engagement. He is also a company spokesperson for BAC.

Stephen is an experienced corporate affairs and advocacy specialist who has worked in senior roles in government, the not-for-profit sector, and as an adviser to a range of high-profile Australian companies. This includes serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Queensland Premiers Anna Bligh and Peter Beattie.

He is skilled in shaping public policy and guiding complex commercial projects through the sometimes-challenging eco-system of political, legislative, and bureaucratic decision-making.

As a professional communications and issues manager, Stephen has led responses to several catastrophic natural disasters and high-profile corporate tragedies, and teaches Issues and Stakeholder Engagement at the University of Queensland. He is a member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia’s State Council (Qld).

Stephen holds a Masters of Business from Queensland University of Technology, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Board Members

Graham Billinghurst
Graham Billinghurst is Chief Executive officer of Colhurst Consulting Services. He is a Director of Group Companies of the Lewis Land Group and Director of Junior Mining Group Rimfire Pacific NL.

With extensive experience in investment banking, development and the housing sector, Graham has represented governments in off-shore development negotiations with the Overseas Property Group. He has consulted for the Queensland Industry Development Corporation and the Queensland Department of Trade.

During 18 years as Vice President of Citibank Ltd, Graham managed a $750 million real estate portfolio and gained a comprehensive knowledge of compliance, financial structuring and corporate governance.

Graham’s committee membership experience includes terms with the government’s Housing Advisory Committee, President of the Urban Development Institute of Queensland and committee member of the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Graham was an integral member of the board of Brisbane City Mission, a homelessness support initiative which has since integrated with Mission Australia.

Chris Chappell

Chris has over 45 years experience in the human services sector – in roles ranging from direct service provider, to policy researcher and advocate in State and national peak bodies in the youth and welfare sectors, national social policy and program executive, advisor to State and Federal Ministers, senior operations manager in the government and private sectors and, mast recently, independent consultant to not-for-profits, governments and communities.

First engaging with homelessness as a volunteer youth worker when in his teens, Chris has remained passionate about and engaged in the issue throughout his career – from his early work on housing cooperative models in Tasmania and WA, through to reviewing service responses to the needs of ‘at risk’ social housing tenants in Indigenous communities and developing an integrated case management model and protocols for homelessness services working with rough sleepers in Townsville.

Chris has worked Nationally and across all States and Territories and has considerable experience in, and understanding of, service delivery across North Australia including in the remote Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander communities of the region.

Vanessa Fabre

Vanessa Fabre is an Executive Manager at Multicultural Australia Ltd leading on communications, major events, cultural training, partnerships and external relations. Vanessa has over 20 years experience in community and government sectors, joining Multicultural Australia in 2015.

Vanessa holds a Master of Health Science and Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Health) and has held previous executive roles at Brisbane City Council.  Through her career she has led the development and delivery of services and programs in areas of employment and training, social and health promotion services for vulnerable communities, community safety, community development, partnerships, sport and recreation and disaster management.

As an advocate for social justice and human rights, Vanessa has also been responsible for the development and implementation of significant social policies in the areas such as homelessness, access and inclusion and equity and diversity. This work has been a motivating factor for Vanessa working in the government and community sectors.

Petria Forwood

Petria has over 25 years experience in property development and infrastructure delivery across the private, government and not for profit sectors.
Petria began her career as a solicitor in the Property and Projects division of Gadens Lawyers, before transitioning to her then client, Multiplex, as a development manager with a key focus on managing project acquisitions, planning approvals, project feasibility and finance. In 2005, Petria pursued an independent contracting career working on some of Queensland’s larges infrastructure and property projects, and subsequently became a director at KPMG (Infrastructure and Projects Group).
Following four years as a senior executive in the Queensland Government Petria is currently the Project Director of the Victoria Park Project being at Brisbane City Council, working to deliver Brisbane’s largest park in 50 years, as well as a world-class equestrian cross country venue for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. Petria has previously been a Director and Deputy Chair of the Board of bric housing company a not for profit community housing provider and is passionate about the long term sustainable delivery of affordable housing.

Rachel Langford- Ely 

Rachel is a highly experienced manager, with expertise in corporate strategy, investment analysis, project management and commercial risk management. Rachel has worked with a broad range of communities on projects of economic and social significance and has a strong commitment and passion for the development of local communities and ensuring positive outcomes for all – particularly the most vulnerable.
As a solicitor with Clayton Utz, Rachel was an active participant in pro bono programs, and provided many hours of assistance to the Pindari legal clinic. During her time with the Queensland Government, Rachel worked with remote communities on projects for economic development based on the unique characteristics of each community, as well as on ensuring fairer and more secure access to fresh food in remote locations. Rachel currently works in the energy sector, with the aim of strengthening communities through the delivery of responsible, sustainable energy. With broad experience across the private and public sectors, Rachel brings a passion for economic empowerment and ensuring equality of access to basic services for all.
Rachel holds Bachelor of Laws (Hons) / Bachelor of Business and Masters of Law degrees from Queensland University of Technology.

Michael Linnan

Michael Linnan has over 46 years’ experience in a diverse range of industries and extensive experience in community and sector leadership to confidently delivery business priorities.
Michael has a key strength in leveraging public value for the benefit of the organisation and has extensive expertise in regional and remote delivery of government services.

Michael is experienced in land administration, land tenure, water resource allocation and management, forestry resource management, titling, land valuation, trade, investment, industry development, housing allocation and management, native title as well as the complete range of human and social services. He is also expert in cultural competency and has a genuine commitment to Indigenous people’s welfare and closing the gap on life expectancy and social outcomes.

Darryl R Seccombe OAM

Darryl was Chair of the Board of Advice of the Trust from its inception in 2006 until August 2020, and remains a valued member of the Board of Advice.

Darryl was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (post-nominal OAM) in the Queen’s Birthday Australian Honours on 13 June 2011 in recognition of his “service to the community through a range of charitable organisations”.  He is the Regional Groups Coordinator, past Membership Officer and a current committee member of the Order of Australia Association of Queensland.

Darryl was Managing Director and had been the Principal of DSA Financial Pty. Ltd. a successful Estate and Financial Planning practice of 44 years prior to his retirement from this industry in January 2017. He was a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Insurance Professional. Darryl is a former Director of the AFA Investment Fund Pty. Ltd. an Investment Trust for the Association of Financial Advisers of which he was the Queensland Trustee, and is also a Past Vice President and former Director of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Incorporated and former President of the Valley Business Club.
He is a Past President of the Association of Financial Planners Queensland. Darryl was the Founder and Managing Director of Charitable Bequest Services (Australia) Pty. Ltd. which specialised in deferred bequests through the donations of life insurance. Through its Australian network, it was successful in assisting various not-for-profit organisations and other foundations to raise long – term deferred bequests. With extensive experience in charitable fundraising Darryl has been a past Secretary of The Australasian Institute of Fundraising (Qld Chapter). He has also written various articles on Charitable Life Insurance for the “Fundraising Australasia Journal”.
Darryl assisted in introducing the Make- A- Wish Foundation to Australia after seeing a presentation by Make- A- Wish in San Francisco USA in 1985. He established Make – A -Wish Foundation in Queensland in 1986 and for the first 7 years was run from his office in the “Mansions” in Brisbane.