Connect, influence and prosper

Strengthening the future of Far North Queensland

Norship

For Chief Executive Officer Olav Groot, Norship is about more than ships - it’s about people, capability and the incredible lifestyle of Far North Queensland. A marine engineer by trade, Olav has been with Norship in Cairns for 11 years and says the people are what he...

Bringing the Heat to Canbrerra

The weather was cold but the reception warm in Canberra for Advance Cairns’ trip to Parliament. Our message to Canberra this week was clear - the Far North has what it takes to become a major Defence maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and sustainment hub for...

Cairns: a Defence maintenance hub

The Far North has a simple message for Canberra – bring it on. We are ready to play a central role in national security and we can do it without even raising a sweat. The Cairns Marine Precinct and Cairns Airport are the big guns in our Defence infrastructure and...

Power & Data Support Services

Leo Ward admits he’s built a business model around only doing things others don’t want to touch. It’s as much about positioning for the Power & Data Support Services managing director as it is about drawing on 53 years of hard-earned experience in the electrical...

Opportunities Ahoy

The Cairns Maritime Jobs and Careers expo was buzzing on the 29th August with the marine sector and its enthusiastic employees sharing hands-on experience. Advance Cairns members Ports North, JCU: James Cook University, Australia, TAFE Queensland, Tropical Reef...

Shangri-la

It’s an iconic feature on our coastal urban landscape - as much a part of our identity as it is an important cog in our tourism economy. Walking into Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns, you are instantly transported to “Holiday Land” with gorgeous views of the water,...

Power of Education

An exciting new chapter has begun in education with the ceremonial turning of the sod on CQUniversity's new Cairns CBD campus. This Advance Cairns priority project will rise from a vacant block at the corner of Grafton and Hartley streets to offer skills for the jobs...

MAF

It speaks volumes about Cairns that Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) operates one of its two global headquarters from the heart of our city, with the other based in the UK. During a recent catch-up, MAF International's Manager of Strategic Partnerships and...

Cairns Marine Precinct – Common User Facility (CMP-CUF)

Investment-ready project sends strong message for FNQ - Advance Cairns welcomes EOI for Common User Facility  Cairns’ position as a strategic, world-class marine maintenance hub for Northern Australia has been given a giant boost with Expressions of Interest now being...

BDO Nth QLD

For 120 years, BDO NTH QLD has been helping local businesses and communities thrive and in 2026, the firm is proudly celebrating this incredible milestone that began in 1906. As the largest full-service accounting and advisory firm in Cairns, BDO’s deep connection to...

Outcomes with vision

Advance Cairns is the peak independent, non-partisan advocacy and economic development organisation for Far North Queensland. We are a member organisation, primarily business funded and outcome driven with a long-term vision for sustainable growth across the region.

Building on our strengths

Tropical North Queensland is highly regarded because of its location, infrastructure, and world-class facilities and attractions.

As a developed region in the tropics, we have the technology, health, education, and social structures within a politically stable environment to capitalise upon our natural environment and our global location.

A Framework for the decade and beyond

The Roadmap 2035: A Framework to Strengthen Far North Queensland (the Roadmap) is an ambitious framework developed by Advance Cairns working with industry, and the broader Far North Queensland community to achieve economic growth, sustainability and long-term prosperity over the next decade and beyond.

Play your part in our future

Connect

Build your connections with executive business leaders.

Influence

Have your say on advocacy priorities for Tropical North Queensland.

Prosper

Help us drive support for catalytic projects and policy change.

Get Involved

How you engage is ultimately up to you.