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We represent walking for all Queenslanders
MEMBERSHIP

Board

Queensland Walks is governed by a Board of community members who volunteer their time to provide strategic direction and advice to support Queensland Walks to achieve its goals.
Our Board members reflect a diverse range of professional expertise and a strong commitment to achieving the Queensland Walks purpose.

Greg Vann

President, Queensland Walks
Ethos Urban

Director | Brisbane Ethos Urban BRTP (Hons), BEcon, RPIA, LFPIA Greg is qualified in planning and economics and has been at the forefront of planning in Queensland for nearly 40 years. He is one of Australia’s best known, respected and widely experienced planners. Greg’s many leadership positions include life fellow and former State President of the Planning Institute of Australia, project director of the new SEQ Regional Plan, chair of the State’s Transit Oriented Development Taskforce and on various government and university advisory groups.

Ben Wilson

Secretary, Queensland Walks

“Walking for local trips, whether around my suburb or other cities when travelling is a vital part of my day. With the dog in tow, a child or a friend, conversation is easy and pleasurable. And your eyes are open to your world at a pace that you can see things more clearly than any other mode of transport. I really rate all the places I go by the walking experience. Queensland is good but can do better!”


Gail Everett

Treasurer, Queensland Walks

Elected to the Queensland Walks Board in 2023, Gail brings over 40 years’ experience as an Accountant and Small Business Owner and Manager. Gail owns Sportswear Queensland, a Brisbane based company that produces sportswear for Queensland schools and sports clubs along with a wide range of other merchandise. Gail is Queensland Walk’s Treasurer. 

Anetta Van Itallie

General board member
10,000 Steps

Anetta is a keen walker from Central Queensland who is passionate about empowering people to look after their health and wellbeing. Anetta has been working with the Physical Activity Research Group at CQUniversity since 2004 on many projects including the one closest to her heart – 10,000 Steps. Anetta believes there is power in partnerships, working together and acknowledging that everyone has a role to play to continue to improve the health of Queenslanders. True to her nature, she believes in balance and finding fun ways to stay active with her family and friends including walks in national parks, the beach, and around her local community!

Angela Wright OAM

General board member
Australian Institute of Play

Angela’s work in the recreation sector started in 1980 and has continued to this very day. In 1988 she found her natural habitat in local government. She has been advocating, planning and helping provide for outdoor recreation places, spaces, programs and services for her whole career.

A short stint in Sport and Recreation Services projected Angela into the outdoor recreation policy area where she began working earnestly advancing outdoor recreation policy and strategy at the local and state government level. Angela finished her local government career in 2017 after working for 17 years for Redland City Council in the Environment Management Group and the City Spaces Group (parks, recreation, conservation, open space and sport planning and operations).

During a short retirement Angela continued to run the Nature Play Consultancy Service that she helped set up in 2014/15, as a volunteer. Angela commenced in the position of Program Manager for Nature Play QLD in December 2019, in a world just before Covid19. Angela is a keen walker, passionate about provisions for walking, and joined the Queensland Walks Board in Nov 2020

Malcolm Middleton OAM

General board member
Malcolm Middleton Architects

Architect and urban design consultant, Malcom Middleton Architects
Malcolm is an architect and urban designer with over 35 years experience in a wide variety of project types including design review for major projects, campus master planning, transportation and infrastructure projects.

Malcolm was appointed Queensland Government Architect in July 2011 and in that role he chaired of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel. He is a current national director for the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA), a member of the NSW and ACT Government Design Review Panels and a member of the Campus Infrastructure Committee for the University of Queensland

In 2021 he completed a 10-year appointment as the Queensland Government Architect and returned to his private practice where he provides design review, masterplanning, strategic urban design and architectural advice for projects and policy positions for both private sector and public sector clients.

During his many years of private practice, Malcolm was the project director for the multi-disciplinary and nationally recognised Roma Street Parkland project for the Queensland Government and project director for the multi award winning Hinze Dam Visitor Centre and Parkland.

Malcolm is a former Queensland president of the Property Council of Australia, served for over 6 years on the South Bank Design Advisory Panel and two years on the Queensland Heritage Council and is the ongoing chair of Brisbane Open House.

Malcolm is a former Awards Director for the AIA in Queensland and has sat on panels for awards assessment across all design and construction industry sectors.

He was awarded a Life Fellowship to the Australian Institute of Architects in 2012 and the Order of Australia Medal in 2010.

Jo Piggott

General Board Member Community Advocate, Walk leader

Jo is a community connector, wellness advocate and Founder of Your Tribe Australia. Jo has a passion for health, fitness and empowerment for women, and connection is at the heart of everything she does. In 2019 Jo founded Your Tribe Walk + Talk, a free community initiative in Cairns. Your Tribe was created as a healthy supportive community for women through walking and talking. Jo is currently studying her cert 4 in fitness at CQ University and recently won the Cairns Regional Councils International women’s day – Woman of the year award. 

Besides Jo’s love of walking in nature she competes in triathlon and cycling events and is a surf lifesaver at Ellis Beach and Mum to three wonderful people.

“I am looking forward to showcasing my beautiful region of Far North Queensland and the many stunning walks we have.

Every collective step taken, every new member, every friendship formed ignites my passion to continue learning and share my knowledge of Health + Fitness to inspire, connect and empower women in my community for a happier and healthier life.”

Alison Durham

General board member
Public Health and Community Advocate

Alison is passionate about healthy environments that support people to walk, cycle and be more active in their everyday lives.

She is a public health advocate having worked at the Heart Foundation for 26 years as Advocacy Manager.

She is also a strong local advocate in her community for better connected, safer and more accessible places.

Alison has experience engaging with all levels of government, including writing submissions to Parliamentary inquiries as well as policy and budget proposals.

She is a keen walker, enjoys regular cycling and is an enthusiastic user of public transport.

Anna Campbell

Executive Officer
Queensland Walks

Anna Campbell has been the driving force at Queensland Walks in her capacity as a volunteer, general Executive Committee member and former President.
Anna is passionate about walking for all people and making urban environments desirable, accessible and inclusive for all walkers so more people will be encouraged to walk. Anna’s experience in local government transport behaviour change programs such as Active School Travel and Travel Choice, and transport planning, physical activity health programs, advocacy and membership-based organisations benefits the growth and awareness of Queensland Walks.
Anna is a keen urban walker, local bush walker, slow runner and bike rider and enjoys free physical activity programs like Park Run, 10,000 Steps and walks with Heart Foundation Walking groups as well as enjoying green space in Queensland.
Anna is not keen on indoor gyms, and would prefer to see a tree or take a stroll with her family and friends and with the dog.

Thank you to former Board Members 22/2024

Sarah Burgess

General board member
Plan C

Sarah Burgess
Community and Urban Planning Lead | Plan C
BRTP(Hons), MPIA

Sarah is an urban planner who is passionate about supporting local communities to shape quality places that deliver equitable, healthy and sustainable futures for all. Specialising in design and planning policy, Sarah has over 20 years of experience working with key stakeholders to develop tools and resources for communities, government and industry to better connect people and places. Sarah has worked in public and private practice in both Australia and the United Kingdom, on projects and policies at local and strategic levels. She has experience in the fields of healthy urban planning, green infrastructure and community engagement. Sarah is a co-founder of the Brisbane Chapter of the Urbanistas network.

Gavin Dale

General board member
Bushwalking Queensland Inc

I have been a bushwalker for as long as I can remember. Wherever I found myself in the world, I would look for a bushwalking opportunity. While in the Navy visiting foreign ports, one day of shore leave would find me at the southern start of the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, doing a Hash House Harrier Run around the hills of Port Moresby, visiting the highest peaks in the Seychelles and Mauritius, walking with native village children in Fiji, climbing a volcano on the island of Java. I then became a police officer and used my postings around Queensland to enjoy the street walks and bushwalks towns in Queensland had to offer. While working on Bribie Island, a group of friends and I decided to form a bushwalking club, the Glasshouse Bushwalkers Club allowing us to safely explore south east Queensland as a group. (The club just celebrated its 30th birthday, and I have been President for 28 of those 30 years!) Once the club was established, it joined the Queensland Federation of Bushwalking Clubs, which then incorporated into Bushwalking Queensland Inc. Since 2007 I have held various positions on that committee, which I am now Secretary, but was previously President. Bushwalking Queensland Inc. then joined the other State bushwalking peak bodies to form Bushwalking Australia Inc., which I have been involved with since 2012, and held various positions on that committee including President.

Bushwalking Queensland Inc. works closely with landholders and land managers to ensure access to bushwalks are not lost and more opportunities for bushwalks are identified. We have a Bushwalk Database available to our affiliated clubs which contains 1600 walks around Queensland, which QPWS has access so they can see where we walk, especially off-track walks. We also have a good working relationship with Outdoors Queensland and some councils, especially where councils are actively looking for new trails. I have been instrumental in developing the Great Escarpment Trail in association with Bushwalking NSW, a 1400 km trail from Barrington Tops and Boonah, which when linked with other trails will provide pedestrain access between Brisbane and Sydney via the Gondwana Rainforests.

For four years prior to COVID-19, I co-led the Diabetes Queensland Great Ocean Road Treks, the 100km walk along the Great Ocean Walk between Apollo Bay and 12 Apostles, taking 15-20 people each time, most either diabetes sufferers of either type I or type II, and showed them like myself that having diabetes does not stop you, and raised good money along the way.

I am hoping with my skills in the walking for recreation space, I will be able to provide another perspective to the work of Qld Walks and fulfill the dream of Bushwalking Queensland Inc. to be able to walk from any point in Queensland to any other point in Queensland, and enjoy what is provided on the journey.

Thank you to former Board Members 21/2022

Michelle Wade

General board member 2022, former President 2020, 2021
GAICD, Wade Marketing, Curatorial Chocolate

Michelle is a strategic marketing and communications specialist, with 20 years’ experience working in the health, government, education and employment sectors. Michelle is the founder of Wade Marketing and has held senior executive positions within public health and not-for-profit organisations. She feels strongly that environmental factors in our communities are significant levers which can be modified to achieve sustainable improvements population health. She brings specialist knowledge in marketing, brand and communications strategy, digital transformation, multichannel service delivery and customer engagement strategy. Michelle holds a Masters of Commerce, major in Marketing and Human Resources and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jane Hedger

General board member 2019 – 2022, Volunteering Queensland, Challenge DV, Stormbirds Organisational Strategy

Jane has a strong background in change management, leadership and transformation. Her extensive experience spans across both government and the not-for-profit sector. Having spent ten years teaching, Jane joined the Queensland Government in 1997. She has since held senior executive positions in Corporate Services, Media, Communications, Customer Experience, Information Technology and Organisational Change across a number of Government departments. In addition her consultancy The Culture Quotient, works with not for profit organisations and their boards on governance, strategy and workforce redesign across Australia and New Zealand. An experienced board member, Jane has a long history of community service and is committed to improving diversity and inclusion. Jane recently travelled to The Netherlands to complete studies in Futurism, and has a strong interest in digital disruption, workforce agility and organisational future-proofing. She believes that volunteering is about giving back to our community in a meaningful and useful manner, and taking the time and skills that we have to assist others who are in need in a way that is respectful and empowering of people and organisations.

Prue Oswin

General board member 2022
Sidelines Traffic


Director/Senior Active Transport Engineer at Sidelines Traffic
Prue is a Registered Professional Engineer specialising in active transport. I conduct projects for state and local governments, and collaborate with other companies to provide specialist input on larger projects. I have the skills, experience and tools to identify where better active transport infrastructure is required and to conceptualise solutions to meet these needs.

I have conducted numerous projects focussing on active transport for children. My work shows strong alignment between Safe System Principles and needs of these users, captured in parental perceived safety surveys. The outcomes of this work have been well received by school communities and lead to major investments in safe, active routes to school.

My balance of design and planning work ensures my knowledge of traditional and emerging treatments is sharp and can be drawn upon when innovative solutions are needed. I have also worked extensively in regional cities and towns which often have different opportunities to major cities.

I have been the principal author of several guidelines for active transport infrastructure including raised priority crossings, providing for pedestrians and cyclists at roadworks and fencing treatments for cycling infrastructure.

As well as my professional experiences in active transport infrastructure, I draw up my previous experiences as a professional endurance triathlete, my experience as a commuter cyclist and as someone with extensive experience caring for children learning to navigate active transport.

I frequently collaborate with other companies or agencies to deliver active transport projects. I also manage and deliver projects through Sidelines Traffic and am an active advocate for implementing facilities that align with Safe System principles and community expectations.

Dr. Craig Barrett

Former Treasurer, Queensland Walks 2022 - 2023 Safe Streets Fraser Coast

Craig is a passionate advocate for safe streets. Based in Hervey Bay, Craig established a local community group, Safe Streets Fraser Coast, to advocate for people walking and cycling, especially children, and to promote sustainable urban design in the region.

Living in a regional community comes with various challenges and Craig seeks to understand and voice regional issues affecting safe streets in a State-wide context. Professionally, Craig is an historian with more than a decade of experience in the field of cultural heritage. This work has allowed him to develop a deeper historical understanding of urban planning and transport systems, and the centrality of walking as the essential and enduring form of mobility. Craig is currently working on a research project examining the history of urban trees and gardens, city design, and municipal identity in Maryborough, one of Queensland’s earliest and most prominent regional cities. Craig dreams that one day our cities and neighbourhoods will be transformed by beautiful gardens and tree-lined streets, community is prioritised over efficiency, and walking is the default way we move.

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Queensland Walks respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we meet and walk. We pay respect to elders past, present and emerging.