Independent Chair

The Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics welcomes collaboration between community, Traditional Owners, industry, research, and all levels of government, working together towards improving the health of waterways in the Dry Tropics.

The keystone product is the annual Waterways Report Card, which brings together data from several organisations’ existing monitoring programs to provide a holistic report on the ecological, social, and economic health of Townsville’s rivers, creeks, and coasts. With a pilot report card delivered in 2019, subsequent Report Card collate data cross a range of parameters, providing a complete picture on the health of our local waterways, from catchment to Reef, as well as the ecosystems and animals that rely on them to thrive.

The Waterways Report Card serves as a key tool for pinpointing areas in need of improvement. It provides waterway managers and the community with actionable insights to resource remediation works that have the greatest value. By making better use of existing information, redundancies and gaps in monitoring and management are identified, enabling more cost-effective decisions that secure long-term waterway health, foster stewardship, and enhance community water literacy.

It is the only regionally focused reporting product of its kind. The development of Regional Report Card Partnerships is an action under the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan – Australia’s overarching framework for protecting the Great Barrier Reef and is supported by Queensland and the Australian Government.

Currently reporting on the Townsville Dry Tropics region (inclusive of the Black and Ross Basins), the Partnership aspires to extend their reporting range to includes the broader Dry Tropics region (including the Burdekin and Haughton Basins).

The Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics is seeking expressions of interest for the position of Independent Chair from September 2026 until September 2028.

This is an independent role that will provide autonomous strategic leadership to the Partnership whilst fostering strong relationships with Partnership members to ensure the successful delivery of the Partnership’s annual Waterways Report Card for the region.

Note: This is an advisory role and not a full-time staff position

The Independent Chair of the Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics will:

• Promote the Partnership to prospective partners and sponsors to increase membership (as appropriate).
• Advocate the interests of the Dry Tropics region and the Partnership at relevant Great Barrier Reef, Queensland and Australian forums, meetings and other events, and report back to the Partnership on the outcomes of such meetings.
• Promote the Partnership to the general community, including undertaking media interviews on behalf of the Partnership.
• Review reports, documents, and communications produced for the Partnership as required by the Partnership and/or Management Committee.
• Maintain strong relationships with Partnership members to ensure the successful delivery of the Partnership’s annual Waterways Report Card for the region.
• Maintain strong ties and communication with other Chairs of Regional Report Card Partnerships.
• Foster a positive working relationship between the Partnership, Management Committee, Partnership staff, and the Host Organisation.
• Play an active role in providing leadership and mentoring to Partnership staff.
• Be aware of and manage any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Be available for travel including overnight stays to represent the Partnership.

• Be based in the region OR able to promote the interests of the Partnership from outside the region.
• Commitment to positive environmental outcomes in the region.
• Experience in chairing similar initiatives previously.
• Demonstrate strong conflict resolution skills/experience.
• Demonstrate proven and effective facilitation, relationship building, and communication skills.
• Experience in providing leadership and strategic direction.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of policy, land management, agricultural management, and/or marine management.

• Biannual Partnership meetings.
• Bimonthly/quarterly Management Committee meetings.
• Annual Report Card launch events (1 stakeholder evening event and 1-2 community events) and associated media interviews.
• Biannual Regional Report Card Partnership collaboration workshops.
• Regular catchups with Partnership staff and Partners as required.
• General oversight as required at the Chair’s discretion (for document/resource reviews and meeting preparation).
• Completion of biannual Chair KPI report as per Governance Charter.

Further information can be obtained by contacting Kara-Mae Coulter-Atkins, 0476 071 *** or ***email_hidden***

Those wishing to express an interest in the Independent Chair position are required to:

1. Provide a brief response (no more than three pages) addressing your suitability to the ‘key responsibilities’ and the ‘desired skills and attributes’ of the position.
2. Attach your current resume (no more than four pages) including names and contact details of at least two referees who have knowledge of your work.
3. Hold or have the ability to obtain an ABN and professional indemnity insurance.

The selection panel will assess your ability to perform the work required of the position based on your response and resume and other selection processes which may include an interview. Referees will be contacted to verify the information you provide and to comment on how well you demonstrate the attributes being sought.

Apply now!

Please forward completed applications and accompanying documents to ***email_hidden*** by close of business, Sunday 30 August 2026.