Council Appoints First MILLovate Board of Directors

Published 05 August 2020

The search for a team of visionary leaders to drive investment at The Mill PDA is over, with Council today unanimously appointing the inaugural board of directors for MILLovate Pty Ltd.

The new board will consist of seven talented and experienced individuals including Nigel Chamier AM, John Aitken, Sarah Zeljko, Toni Thornton, Patrice Sherrie, Jim Walker and Moreton Bay Regional Council CEO Greg Chemello.

Moreton Bay Region Mayor Peter Flannery said the team brought with them expertise covering precinct development, marketing, investment promotion, tourism, law, finance, innovation and banking.

“We had an extremely high calibre of candidates apply with 187 applications submitted including 22 for the Chair position, which is promising to know that so many people are interested in getting involved in the future of Moreton Bay,” Mayor Flannery said.

“This inspirational group of talented and motivated individuals is now responsible for turning our planning into action for the Moreton Bay community.

“Technology and innovation investment at The Mill PDA is going to differentiate our region from everyone else in South East Queensland and help drive economic recovery on the other side of COVID-19.

“To ensure this wave of investment delivers for locals, I’d also like to announce the creation of a new Stakeholder Reference Group.

“This newly formed stakeholder group will include key representatives from USC, Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism and RDA Moreton Bay and will work strategically with the board on the precinct’s master planning, investment attraction and maximising community and environmental outcomes.”

MILLovate Chair Nigel Chamier AM said he would bring his passion for serving the community to his new role.

“I’m honoured to be part of shaping Moreton Bay’s bright future and look forward to bringing my expertise in property, economic  development, governance and global events to the role of Chair,” he said.

“My personal connections to the region run deep, from watching my children grow up in Kallangur and Bray Park to attending Bray Park State School in Moreton Bay. My parents lived in Morayfield for many years and my 97 year old mother is now in the RSL nursing home in Kallangur.

“I look forward to working with the board of directors to create a thriving new precinct in the region that will generate thousands of job opportunities for locals in the years ahead.”

Inaugural MILLovate Board of Directors:

• Nigel Chamier (Chair) - Nigel has specialist skills in property and major infrastructure projects, together with  several decades experience as a chair and company director. Following two decades with JLL he has undertaken a wide range of roles including as chair of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation and Chair of the Games Infrastructure Authority.  Nigel was a director of Queensland Airports Limited for 5 years , a director of South Bank Corporation and chair of the highly acclaimed  $215 million restoration of Brisbane City Hall. His current roles include chair of Oxley Creek Transformation and The Menzies Health Institute of Queensland and deputy chair of the ACT City Renewal Authority.

• John Aitken - John is a respected Board member and one of Australia’s leaders in economic development and placemaking for Cities. For nearly ten years, John was CEO of Brisbane Marketing, responsible for shaping Brisbane’s full suite economic development board into one of the world’s most respected city based economic development agencies (2008 - 2017). Following his tenure at Brisbane Marketing, John went on to found Brisbane- based consultancy Inspiring Cities. In this current role, John has worked on city building strategic plans and placemaking projects for ATEED (Auckland), Star Brisbane‘s Queens Wharf, Howard Smith Wharves, Toondah Harbour PDA and North Harbour. John currently sits on Tourism Transport Forum Advisory Board, Mackay Waterfront PDA Advisory Committee and Queensland Community Foundation Board of Governors. 

• Sarah Zeljko - Sarah is currently on the Board of Energy Super, an Industry Superannuation Fund with $7.5 billion in funds under management where she Chairs their Investment Committee. She is an Expert Member on the Ministerial Advisory Council for Flood Mitigation Manuals, and is also on the board of Powerlink, Queensland’s electricity transmission business, where she Chairs their People and Culture Committee. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an admitted Legal Practitioner in the NSW and QLD Supreme Court. She is a Governance Consultant, professional mentor and has previously held roles as General Counsel and Company Secretary for G8 Education an ASX200 listed entity, the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET), and Cement Australia.

• Toni Thornton - Toni is a successful businesswoman who has worked in corporate finance agencies for more than 15 years. Toni brings a strategic commercial focus having previously held senior positions with both JBWere and Goldman Sachs. Her current directorships include CS Energy, Devcorp, Habitat Early Learning & Triathlon Queensland. Toni was previously a Board member of South Bank Corporation, chair of the strategic advisory group to RSL Queensland and a director of the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation.

• Patrice Sherrie - Patrice has spent three decades in chartered accounting and commerce including PWC, Queensland Ballet and CEO of Paridian Property Development Fund. Patrice is currently a Director of SunWater, City of Brisbane Investment Corporation, Premise Engineering Consultants and Andersens Floor Coverings. Her previous directorships include Bentleys Chartered Accountants, the UDIA and Women's College within the University of Queensland. 

• James (Jim) Walker - Jim is a senior executive with significant corporate leadership and management experience, both nationally and globally.  He has held senior executive positions with United Technologies, Rockwell Collins and Boeing leading and building businesses across Australia and the Asia Pacific. He also has significant board and governance experience, both in Australia and Asia. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has director experience with listed company, joint venture, not-for-profit and advisory boards.

• Greg Chemello - Greg has 35 years’ experience in the property development, project delivery, economic development, stakeholder/community engagement and governance. Greg has held senior professional, management and leadership roles with public and private sector property asset owners and private sector development advisory/consulting businesses. Over the last 20 years, his leadership has focused on organisations experiencing substantial transformation including Ipswich City Council as Interim Administrator following a dissolution of council.