Our Board of Directors

Mark Stoneman - Chairman

Mark Stoneman became the Chairman of NQ Dry Tropics in 2007. He has a background in sheep, grain and cattle in New South Wales and western Queensland.

He has a long association with the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association. Mark introduced live weight wet curfew cattle sales into Queensland for the Queensland Meat and Livestock Authority in the 80s.

He was a member of the Queensland Parliament for 15 years where he held senior positions including Primary Industries Minister, Shadow Treasurer and Premier’s Representative in north Queensland.

In 1999 he co-founded the environment organisation Wetlands and Grasslands Foundation. Mark runs a small Brahman cattle stud near Giru and is patron of the Giru Show Society and Townsville Gun Club.

Mathew Magin - Community Director

Having spent a large portion of his early working life in the retail sector Matthew has a highly developed sense of service delivery and managing expectations of both internal and external clients.

Matthew moved into the field of sustainable regional economic development as the CEO of a member based economic development organisation before accepting a role with Qld State Government in the same discipline. Having then spent five years in Federal Government Matthew has a sound experience in political processes and government at both State and National levels.

Matthew is currently self employed and contracted to North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) in a Business Development and Stakeholder management role focusing on the continued growth of Abbot Point as a rapidly expanding coal terminal through the proposed Multi-Cargo Facility.

Kevin Mann - Community Director

Kevin Mann was appointed as a Director in 2007 representing the Burdekin Bowen Integrated Floodplain Management Advisory Committee. Kevin spent 16 years with Queensland Canegrowers organisation, the last six of these as chairman of Inkerman Canegrowers near Ayr.

Kevin has state-wide and national recognition in the area of water management and salinity. He studied how farmers in the Murray Darling handled the problems there and, as a result, implemented what is termed 'conjunctive use of water' (blending bore water with river water, recycling it, and controlling its flow and distribution) encouraging his neighbours and colleagues to do the same.

Bill Sperring - Science and Academia Director

Bill Sperring was appointed to the board in 2008 after retiring from over 40 years experience in state education. He has over 22 years experience as a secondary school Principal in Queensland.

While Principal of Townsville State High School it was listed in the top 11 schools in Australia for innovation. Bill was also listed in the 2007 inaugural publication of ‘Who’s Who in Queensland’ and, in 2008, received the Townsville City Council Australia Day Community Achievement Award.

Bill is the son of a Gordonvale cane farmer and says he’s never lost his passion for the land. He’s interested in sustainability aims to benefit and improve land and water management in the Dry Tropics region.

Phil Rist - Traditional Owner Director

Phil Rist is a Traditional Owner from the Nywaigi people and has extensive experience in cultural and land and water management.

Phil is Chief Executive Officer and a founding member of the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation based in Cardwell. He was appointed to the board in 2003 and in 2007. He is a member of the Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Phil is establishing the North Queensland Traditional Owner Land and Sea Management Alliance to deliver better outcomes for Traditional Owners in land and water management at a policy level.

Noeleen Ferguson - Community Director

Noeleen Ferguson was appointed by Dalrymple Landcare Committee Inc. to the NQ Dry Tropics board in 2007. She lives on a cattle property near Charters Towers. Noeleen worked for the Queensland Police Service for 10 years.

She has had a close association with the St Francis Primary School in Ayr and is a member the 70 Mile Range Landcare Group where Noeleen was one of 15 beef producer properties in this group. Noeleen is a member of the Dalrymple Landcare Committee, Agforce, and Meat and Livestock Australia.

Frank Beveridge - Local Government Director

Frank has been a councillor in Charters Towers for the last ten years. He was the deputy mayor for the Charters Towers City Council and is on nine local and regional committees.

Pre-politics Frank was in small business for 19 years. He’s passionate about local community issues and has lived in Charters Towers for 30 years. He is married and has four adult children.

Bruce Cobb - Community Director

Bruce Cobb was appointed to the NQ Dry Tropics board in July 2010.

Bruce and his wife Samantha own a property called Mellaluka, 150 kilometres north west of Clermont. He has an interest in the development of mining in the area and how it will influence grazing and the community.

The Cobbs have faced challenging land management issues, particularly when 12,000 hectares of Mellaluka went underwater for an extended period.

Bruce has also worked on cattle properties overseas.

Barry Tognola - Social and Economic Director

Barry Tognola joined the NQ Dry Tropics board in September 2010. He is the Chief Executive of finance company WHK north Queensland. His field of expertise extends largely to rural and commercial based family businesses. As CE Barry's primary responsibility is managing the six offices which make up the north Queensland division of the WHK Group.

Barry has served in an honorary capacity on the board of a number of charitable bodies. In addition, he has held, and currently holds, directorships in a number of private companies.

Norm Linthwaite - Company Secretary

Norm Linthwaite retired in 2003 after 35 years in the banking industry and 12 years with James Cook University. He was born in Mackay and has worked with banks in Central and north Queensland and Papua New Guinea.

In 1991 he worked in the financial department at James Cook University and was later appointed General Manager of the James Cook University Student Association. He was the Chairman of Dance North for 17 years and was with the Townsville Vets Tennis.

Norm is Company Secretary of the Cowboys Leagues Club, Townsville Regional Telecom, and Townsville Area Woodturners and is the Treasurer of Mount Fullstop Ewan Camp committee.