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Advance Cairns (AC) Advance Cairns is the peak regional advocacy and economic development organisation for Tropical North Queensland. AC's aim is to facilitate connections between private enterprise, industry, community and government agencies to improve the lives of people living within our region.

Advance Cairns is a membership based organisation. Our members have a voice in directing the future of the TNQ region & with their contributions help us to secure sustainable prosperity for generations to come.

Advance Cairns' membership is limited to Tropical North Queensland's 100 largest companies, organisations and government bodies.

Tropical North Queensland
Tropical North Queensland (or Far North Queensland) is the northernmost part of the state of Queensland, Australia. The region, stretches from the town of Ingham in the south to the Torres Strait in the North, and west to Croydon and the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The region has more than 70 national parks and supports a significant agricultural sector. This area includes two of the world's greatest natural and World Heritage listed treasures - the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. The region's population is approximately 280,000 with 50% of this population being based in the City of Cairns.

Tropical North Queensland comprises of the following local government areas, together they form the Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils:


 * Cairns Regional Council
 * Cassowary Coast Regional Council
 * Cook Shire Council
 * Croydon Shire Council
 * Hinchinbrook Shire Council
 * Mareeba Shire Council
 * Tablelands Regional Council
 * Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
 * Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council

Each Mayor has the opportunity to Chair the Organisation on a rotational basis. The Chair sits of the Advance Cairns Board.

Vision
Advance Cairns' vision is to create a self-sustaining, resilient and prosperous Tropical North Queensland community. AC deliver on this by advocating on behalf of the region for projects that create growth, investment and development within the region. Advance Cairns advocates on behalf of various projects, policies and plans that will develop the economy of Tropical North Queensland.

Advance Cairns has identified 5 regional priorities that will need to be addressed by both the Queensland and Australian Government's if we are to achieve economic advancement for our region:


 * Increasing the Australian Defence Force Presence in the Region (HMAS Cairns (naval base))
 * China Engagement and Investment Strategy
 * PNG Development and Investment Strategy
 * Positioning the Region for the Digital Economy
 * Providing Leader of the Tropical North Queensland Regional Economic Plan and Investment Strategy


 * Additional priorities that will be supported by Advance Cairns include:
 * Strengthening International Aviation Access
 * Leveraging the numerous economic opportunities within the marine industry
 * A regional energy strategy (renewable-energy-solutions-in-tnq.pdf)
 * Water Infrastructure & Northern Food Bowl
 * Improving Health Services
 * Leveraging a positive legacy from the region for the G20 Finance Minister's Meeting 2014

Structure
Advance Cairns' membership is limited to Tropical North Queensland's 100 largest companies, organisations and government bodies. Advance Cairns is governed by a board of directors.

Executive
 * Chairman
 * Mr Cam Charlton
 * Vice-President
 * Mr Richard Ireland
 * Vice-President Finance
 * Mr Michael Delaney
 * Chief Executive Officer
 * Mr Mark Matthews

Board Members
 * Rob Giason - Tourism Tropical North Queensland
 * Cr Bill Shannon - Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils
 * Chris Boland - Ports North
 * Colin MacKinnon - Brilliant Technologies
 * David Kirchner - Brazier Motti
 * Debbie Hancock - Cairns Chamber of Commerce
 * Fred White - Seaswift
 * Gary Aylward - Hotcroc
 * James Dixon - Downunder Tours
 * Ken Chapman - The Chapman Group
 * Kevin Brown - Cairns Airport
 * Paul Eteen-Bliss - News Ltd
 * Peter Tabulo - Cairns Regional Council
 * Ron Tong - Tong Sing
 * Rose-Marie Dash - HS Vision Group
 * Ross Steele - Cairns Convention Centre
 * Prof Sandra Harding - James Cook University
 * Simon Wild - Skytrans
 * Stewart Smith - SBJ Joint Ventures
 * Trent Twomey - Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse
 * Wendy Morris - The Morris Family