Corporate Ladder: Your guide to executive appointments in Queensland
Queensland’s executive appointments column tracking the movements of those driving the state’s public and private sectors.
Graduate named new University Vice Chancellor
Griffith University Chancellor the Hon. Andrew Fraser has appointed Professor Jessica Vanderlelie as the University’s 6th and next Vice Chancellor and President.
Vanderleilie replaces Carolyn Evans, who served a Vice Chancellor from early 2019 to August 2026.
Vanderlelie completed her undergraduate and postgraduate study at Griffith and began her academic career teaching biochemistry at the Gold Coast campus.
She has also held senior leadership roles at La Trobe University and Deakin University, including Deputy Vice Chancellor appointments at both Victorian Institutions.
She was the inaugural recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Teacher of the Year Award and, in 2016, the inaugural Innovative Research Universities Vice Chancellors’ Fellow. She is also an Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow and a recipient of the Australian Award for University Teaching.
Professor Vanderlelie will be the first Griffith graduate to lead the University.
Fraser said Professor Vanderlelie would bring a strong record in education leadership to the role.
“Professor Vanderlelie is an outstanding educational leader and is passionate about the opportunity for education to make a difference,” he said.
“Her commitment to students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, has defined her career.”
Professor Vanderlelie said her connection to the University began three decades ago.
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“From the first day I stepped onto the Gold Coast campus 30 years ago, it felt like home,” she said.
“That sense of belonging built my confidence as a first-in-family student and sparked a passion for the student experience that has shaped my career.”
Airport appoints new CEO
Sunshine Coast Airport has appointed Tony Edmondstone as Chief Executive Officer. He will commence in the role in 2027.
Bringing extensive executive leadership experience, Edmondstone has worked across infrastructure, aviation, commercial operations and large-scale transformation, most recently serving as CEO of Airport Development Group for the last seven years.
He has also held multiple roles at Orica, including Global Head of Supply and CFO, as well as worked with Alcoa, Amcor and News Limited.
Sunshine Coast Airport Chair David Ryan welcomed Edmondstone to Sunshine Coast Airport, which is undergoing a $170 million terminal redevelopment.
“Tony’s appointment reflects the board’s focus on securing a leader with the experience to guide both the Airport’s ongoing aviation growth and the delivery of its significant commercial and precinct development opportunities,” Ryan said.
Edmondstone said he was excited to be joining the team.
“The Airport has a strong vision, an experienced team and a number of transformational projects underway, ” he said.
“I am looking forward to working with the Board, Executive Team and employees to build on the strong foundations already in place and help deliver the next phase of growth for the Airport and the Sunshine Coast.”
Statutory Authority announces incoming CEO
Last week, Urban Utilities announced the appointment of David Ryan as the organisation’s next Chief Executive Officer following a comprehensive national recruitment process.
Ryan is currently Chief Executive of SA Water, and has also held senior leadership positions with Melbourne Water and City West Water, with more than two decades of experience across Australia’s water industry.
Urban Utilities Chair Paul Vincent said the Board was pleased to welcome Ryan to the team.
“David brings a compelling combination of values-based leadership experience, strong strategic capability and industry expertise and a genuine passion for serving customers and communities,” said Vincent.
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Ryan said he was honoured to have been appointed as Urban Utilities’ next Chief Executive Officer and is looking forward to making the move to the sunshine state of Queensland.
“I’m joining the Urban Utilities team at a time of significant change as we manage a growing population, increased demand for our services and the need to invest to ensure longevity to service future generations,” said Ryan.
Current CEO Paul Arnold will continue to lead the organisation until the end of his tenure on October 30 2026. Interim arrangements will be confirmed shortly before Ryan joins the Urban Utilities team on January 12 2027.
Gold Coast luxury hotel announced leadership team
Ahead of the opening of Australia’s first Andaz hotel later this year, the lifestyle brand has unveiled the leadership team that will guide its delivery.
The team includes Saraid Carey as General Manger, Jane Strangman as Director of Sales and Marketing, Stacey Plaine as Marketing Specialist and Steven Rhodes as Director of Food and Beverage.
Carey, General Manager, brings more than 22 years of leadership experience with Hyatt Hotels Corporation to her role, having worked across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, as well as Melbourne, Bangkok and Koh Sumui.
Carey said she was pleased to be a part of the team.
“As Australia’s first Andaz, we have an incredible opportunity to showcase the Gold Coast in a completely different way. If people leave having discovered a side of the Gold Coast they hadn’t experienced before, then I think we’ve done what Andaz is here to do,” Carey said.
Strangman, Director of Sales and Marketing, is an accomplished hospitality leader with more than three decades of experience spanning luxury hotels, resorts, travel and tourism, having worked at Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa Gold Coast, The Westin Sydney, Sydney Marriott Hotel and Radisson Hotels Australia Asia Pacific.
Plaine, Marketing Specialist, brings more than 14 years of international experience shaping luxury and lifestyle hospitality brands across Australia, the UK, Europe, the Maldives and Japan, where she worked with JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels and Mondrian Hotels.
Rhodes, Director of Food & Beverage, will oversee Andaz Gold Coast’s restaurant collection, including Nova Restaurant and Bar, Vista Lounge, Verde Bar and Andaz Pool Club, drawing on his experience working with The Star Gold Coast, RACV Royal Pines Resort, Apollo Group at Howard Smith Wharves and the ARIA Restaurants in Brisbane and Sydney.
Global real estate leader expands retail team
Leading commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield has expanded its Retail Leasing team with the appointment of two new agents – Guy Stafford as Director and Liam Ghietti as Manager.
The appointments will add depth to the firm’s retail leasing platform and expand its ability to advise landlords, developers, investors and occupiers across Brisbane and the broader Queensland market.
Stafford brings more than 15 years of property experience with a specialised retail focus since 2010, spanning CBD retail, shopping centres, hospitality precincts, mixed-use developments, neighbourhood centres, large format retail and flagship occupier negotiations.
Ghietti’s experience spans retail leasing, commercial sales, property management and facilities coordination, with a track record of transactions including several flagship and first-to-market locations across Brisbane and Fortitude Valley.
Cushman & Wakefield Head of Retail, Australia and New Zealand Luke Etherington said the appointments reflected the firm’s response to client demand for specialist retail leasing advice.
“Their appointments form part of our broader investment in retail across Australia and give our Queensland clients access to greater local expertise, backed by the reach, relationships and capabilities of Cushman & Wakefield’s national and global platform,” he said.
Both appointees will be based in Cushman & Wakefield’s Brisbane office, effective immediately.
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