New Chair of Advance Cairns Announced

HEH Civil general manager Luke Bird is taking over the role of Chair from long-serving Advance Cairns leader Nick Trompf as the organisation marks 25 years.

Mr Trompf is stepping down as Chair after serving the maximum six years permitted under the Advance Cairns constitution. Mr Trompf will also resign as a director, 17 years after first joining the board, having also served as CEO and executive Chair during that period.

Mr Bird, born in Cairns, runs one of the Far North’s leading civil construction firms and is a director on the Civil Contractors Federation of Queensland. He has also previously served on the Queensland Government’s Bruce Highway advisory committee.

Mr Bird said he was looking forward to assuming the extra responsibility at Advance Cairns, after joining the board last October.
“We’ve been long-term supporters of the advocacy work that Advance Cairns leads on behalf of the region and I’m looking forward to playing a more direct role in that,” Mr Bird said.
“Catalytic infrastructure plays such a vital role in enhancing the lives of those who live and work in the Far North and as the most populated region in northern Australia, there are ever-increasing demands which need to be met.”

Mr Trompf said Advance Cairns had evolved significantly since being founded in 2001.
“The original model of Advance Cairns was fully funded by Cairns Regional Council and the then Cairns Port Authority,” he said.
“That was still the case when I joined the board in 2009. Over the next two years amid the devastating impacts of the global financial crisis, I was fortunate to play a key role along with one or two other directors in redesigning the funding model of Advance Cairns to become member based.
“Over the 14 years since, member numbers have grown to beyond 100 of the region’s most influential businesses and organisations. This model ensures we stay laser-focused on advocacy for federal and state support to drive economic growth in FNQ.
“As Chair it has been an honour to have led an outstanding board of directors who have generously given their time towards growing the Far North region.”

Mr Bird takes over as Chair from February 6, 2026.

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