Directors' Profiles

NEIL McPHILLIPS AAICD

Neil has worked with local government and the private sector for 30 years. His reputation for networking and sustainable development in businesses and community organisations is well regarded.

His expertise includes economic and business development and attraction. He is recognised for his efforts and success as the Economic Development Manager for Ipswich City Council. During his tenure in this position, the City of Ipswich took the innovative charge towards redeveloping a community based on information technology and telecommunications, which revitalised the economy, lifestyles and perception of the City.

Neil’s success in both private and public sector comes from his analytical abilities – being able to see, research and develop opportunities. He has an extensive background in research and development, combined with years of involvement in strategic planning and organisational development. Through his keen involvement in Cultural Foundations and other not-for-profit organisations, Neil has achieved considerable success in fund raising and capital investment programs.

Neil has held positions in public and private companies, to the level of Chief Executive Officer, and has also owned and operated his own successful private companies. He is a very experienced negotiator and facilitator to business and industry and is known for his ability to address issues and achieve results. Neil’s proven success in this field has seen complex deals and outcomes negotiated. Government agencies have also used this experience when dealing with difficult clients and their issues.

Neil is strongly connected to his community. It is through this involvement that he believes he has a good grasp of what communities and consumers desire in products and services. Neil’s commitment to his community is evident in his positions on College Boards, Chamber of Commerce Executive and as Director of two Cultural Foundations. He is also a keen Rotarian and Tattersalls Club member.

ROD AINSWORTH B.Ed (Hons), GrDipMgmt(Arts), MA (Research)

Rod’s expertise is communication. He is an effective facilitator, negotiator, advocate, researcher, educator and creative and corporate writer and specialises in community consultation and engagement. His experience is underpinned by qualifications in education, management and the arts.

Rod’s background is in education and cultural, community and economic development. He has taught in all facets of education and has worked in a regional development capacity undertaking strategic and organisational planning and management, advocacy, grant writing and assessment, marketing, cultural policy, funding assessment and project and events management.

Rod has years of experience in working with cultural and community organisations and has represented regional interests on a number of high-level committees, including a Ministerial appointment to the NSW Ministry for the Arts’ Museums Committee, charged with strategic development and grant assessment for that sector across the state and the NSW Premier’s Department Regional Coordination Management Group. Through his broad experience, Rod has developed a significant network of contacts in the arts and cultural sector nationally.

Given his experience, Rod is a great advocate for a ‘triple bottom line’ approach to regional development.

Like Neil, Rod is also highly committed to his community. His involvement with community organisations includes a range of business and cultural organisations. He has also sat on many boards and committees and, as such, understands the intricacies of organisational management in regional communities.

Associates’ Profiles

Brett de Chastel MBA, LLB, BA, FAICD

Specialising in the local government industry, Brett de Chastel is Director of de Chastel and Associates, a boutique consulting company based at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Brett has a unique mix of skills and qualifications including:

• MBA (with a double major in Local Government and Human Resources);
• Bachelor of Laws with 10 years experience as a local government lawyer;
• Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma;
• Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Journalism).

Brett has held Executive level positions in a number of Councils including Ipswich City Council, Noosa Shire Council and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. During that period Brett has been involved in many projects at the cutting edge of local government in Queensland including:

• Establishing a Council owned internet company;
• Negotiating major infrastructure agreements with large developers;
• Two major amalgamations;
• Major boundary changes.

The services provided by de Chastel and Associates Pty Ltd include –

• Governance framework reviews;
• Financial health checks;
• Organisation development programs;
• Local law reviews;
• Facilitation of Corporate Planning frameworks;
• Business coaching for management staff;
• Integration of operations post amalgamation;
• Business system reviews.

See de Chastel and Associates' website at www.dechastel.com.au