Ruth Faulkner

With over 20 years’ experience in accountancy, finance and governance combined with both academic and professional qualifications, Ruth is an expert in her field. Her focus is upon assisting organisations gain and keep control over their financial position, establish meaningful strategies and implement systems to aid productivity. Ruth works closely with her clients and mentors many business owners and leaders to achieve their goals. She is known for her perceptiveness, her professionalism, her practical approach to problem-solving and her genuine desire to see her clients succeed.

In addition to her work as a business consultant and Chartered Accountant, Ruth is an independent member of a number of audit committees in the not-for-profit sector and an active Non-Executive Director in the field of healthcare. Ruth is also an advocate for women in leadership and is a past president of the Cassowary Coast Business Women’s Network.

• Chair: Mareeba Shire Council Audit Committee
• Non-Executive Director: Neami National and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
• Non-Executive Director: Mental Health and Wellbeing Australia and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
• Independent Member: Australian Physiotherapy Association Audit & Risk Committee
• Independent Member: James Cook University Audit Committee
• Graduate Member: Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
• Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
• Member of the Institute of Management Consultants
• Member of the Professional Association of Dive Instructors
• Past Chairman: Cassowary Coast Regional Council Audit Committee
• Past President: Cassowary Coast Business Women’s Network
• Past Non-Executive Director: Northern Queensland Primary Healthcare Network
• Past Non-Executive Director: Australian Chocolate Pty Ltd
• Past Independent Member: Townsville City Council Audit Committee
• Accredited consultant for the Queensland Government
• BSc (Honours) Accountancy and Financial Analysis: University of Warwick (UK)

Pete Faulkner

Pete is recognised as an expert in both the field of regional economic data analysis as well as strategic planning, business modelling and organisation leadership. His economics blog is read by business leaders, politicians, economists, journalists and a wide range of business owners. He has created a unique and well used resource; the Conus Trend labour market and building approvals series for all Queensland regions.

Much of the community-based work that Conus has done over the years has been led by Pete. His wide-ranging network of community and business contacts throughout the region, and his expertise and ability to talk to the right people have been heavily utilised by Councils, not-for-profits and community groups alike.

Pete is a regional leader for the promotion of economic development in our area and was key to the establishment of the area’s peak business group, Cassowary Coast Economic Development Inc. He has also been involved with the conservation of coral reefs for almost 3 decades and was Chairman of UK-based Coral Cay Conservation from 2006 to 2013 and has been a Director of Reef Check Australia since 2011 (Chairman from 2011 to 2014).

• Non-Executive Director & Chair Finance, Audit and Risk Committee: Terrain NRM
• Member of Advisory Board: Australian Chocolate Pty Ltd.
• Member: AICD Cairns Regional Committee
• Secretary & Treasurer: Cassowary Coast Economic Development Inc.
• President: Mission Beach Community Assn. Inc.
• Graduate Member: Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Member: The Economic Society of Australia (Queensland)
• Member: Professional Association of Dive Instructors
• Past Non-Executive Director & Chair Public Fund Committee: Reef Check Australia
• Past Chairman: Coral Cay Conservation Advisory Board
• Past Executive Director: Sumitomo Finance Intl, London
• Past Associate Director: New Japan Securities, London
• BSc (Honours) Banking and International Finance: Cass Business School London (UK)