Our Directors

Deputy Chair

Richard Barker was appointed as North Queensland Airports’ (Cairns and Mackay Airports) Chief Executive Officer in December 2020, after joining the NQA Board of Directors in 2015. Richard has extensive experience in the Airports, Retail and Energy sectors. His previous role was General Manager of Retail & Commercial at Auckland International Airport.

Richard has more than 30 years of global experience having worked and lived in New Zealand, UK, USA and Australia. Richard holds a BMS (Marketing/Finance) and a KMI from Kellogg Business School – Chicago and is a member NZ Institute of Directors.  In NZ he was the former Chairman of his tribe’s Trading Company and a Trustee of the Attitude Trust – an organisation that celebrates the achievements of people with disabilities.   He is currently a Director of TTNQ – Tourism Tropical North Queensland.

Director

Professor Simon Biggs commenced his appointment as Vice Chancellor and President of James Cook University Australia in February 2022. He is responsible for ensuring clear and effective leadership and management of the University across all operating sites, including campuses in Cairns, Townsville and Singapore.

Professor Biggs’ former appointments include: Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Western Australia, Executive Dean for the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at the University of Queensland and Royal Academy of Engineering/National Nuclear Laboratory Chair in Particle Science and Engineering at the University of Leeds in the UK. His first academic appointment was at the University of Newcastle (Australia).

Educated at the University of Bristol in the UK, Professor Biggs holds a PhD in Colloid Science. He developed his research through post-doctoral positions at the Institute Charles Sadron in Strasbourg, France and the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Professor Biggs is a Council Member of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and Director, Advance Cairns. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2011 and in 2016, as a Fellow of the Australian Academy for Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Anne is an experienced executive and non-executive director with wide-ranging experience in stakeholder relations, government relations, media, health, and advocacy in the private and government sectors.

Anne has deep connections across the Advance Carins Footprint.  She grew up in Normanton and the Mid-West and moved back to Normanton to live and work for four years after university. She also completed her schooling at Mareeba and has lived and worked in the Cassowary Coast.  Anne now calls Cairns home.

Anne holds board positions with: Cancer Council Australia. Deputy Chair and consumer director; Director with Australian Chocolate, trading as Charley’s Chocolate; Founding director of Cacao and Chocolate of Australian Origin (CACAO) Ltd; and, Board Member, North West Hospital and Health Service.

She currently has her own consulting business, Mission Consulting Solutions and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business. Anne is only the 207th Australian to swim the English Channel solo.

Director

Ken Gouldthorp was appointed as the Cairns Regional Council Chief Executive Officer in October 2025.

Mr Gouldthorp has been involved in local government for more than 20 years, most recently as the interim CEO at Isaac Regional Council (from August 2023 to June 2024).

He has also previously served as CEO at North Sydney, Mackay and Toowoomba councils.

Mr Gouldthorp has a strong financial and governance background with qualifications that include Master of Commerce, Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and Fellow of Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Director

Luke co-founded a family-owned business in North Queensland in 2006, showcasing his strong dedication to the local community and his entrepreneurial spirit. Under his leadership, HEH Civil has experienced significant growth and success, expanding into Southeast Queensland in 2019. The company has built a reputation for consistently delivering high-quality, reliable projects across various sectors.

With over 18 years of industry experience, Luke currently serves as the General Manager, where he specializes in project management, strategic planning, and securing government contracts. His expertise and hands-on approach are instrumental in ensuring the company’s ongoing success and reputation for excellence.

Beyond his business pursuits, Luke is actively involved in industry development and advocacy. As a board member of the Civil Contractors Federation Queensland, he is committed to advancing the civil construction industry, promoting best practices, and fostering a collaborative environment that benefits all stakeholders, including clients, employees, and the wider community. His leadership and passion continue to drive positive change within the industry and contribute to the sustainable growth of the region.

Luke has also served on Bruce Highway Advisory Committee on behalf of Transport Main Roads and Brent Mickelberg MP which sees him actively involved in government lead focus groups such as the TMR collaborative project.

Director

Richard Stevenson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Far North Queensland Ports Corporation (Ports North) and has been with the organisation since 2013.

Ports North is responsible for the management and operation of the Ports of Cairns, Karumba, Thursday Island, Mourilyan, Skardon River, Cape Flattery, Quintell Beach, Cooktown and Burketown as well as the Cityport project in Cairns.

Richard is a Far North Queenslander who grew up on the family’s farm in a small town not far from Cairns. He joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1988 and spent the next 20 years serving in various parts of the world in a wide variety of roles as a maritime warfare officer.