Melissa Westcott’s narrative embodies the ethos of industriousness and community involvement before being elected as Division 3 Councillor in 2024.

Nurtured within a lineage of small business proprietors, Cr Westcott gained a steadfast work ethic and an ardour for entrepreneurial ventures from an early age.

Venturing into Moranbah over two decades ago as a fledgling educator fresh from university, Cr Westcott found not just a new abode but a canvas for her enterprising spirit.

Moranbah became the nurturing ground for businesses. For the past 15 years, she has spearheaded ventures such as Big On Shoes, Moranbah Blooms, and Fox and Frank, each a testament to her acumen in leadership, strategic foresight, and community engagement.

Since then, her portfolio has diversified to encompass TM3 Training Solutions, Moranbah Blooms and Events, and the burgeoning tech startup, Florist IQ, poised to revolutionise the floral industry.

A stalwart advocate for community welfare and business, Cr Westcott assumes pivotal roles as Director of C-Res, National Chair of the Local Buying Foundation, Founding Chair of the Childcare Leadership Alliance, Chair of the Isaac Country Universities Centre, and Chair of Isaac Affordable Housing Trust.

In an associated alliance with Meta, Cr Westcott lends her expertise to small businesses across regional Australia through the Meta Community Trainer Network.

Additionally, she serves as a board member for Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsunday.

Cr Westcott’s heart beats for the economic vitality of the Isaac region, championing initiatives that foster growth, nurture employment opportunities, and bolster local enterprises.

With years of experience in hospitality management, the mining sector and through union roles, Cr Simon West is a well-recognised community representative. Cr West was first appointed as Division 4 Councillor in 2019 and was re-elected unopposed in 2020 and 2024.

Elected as an executive member of the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) in 2008, Cr West is currently the President of the Goonyella Riverside MEU.

He has represented MEU members around Moranbah is an elected member both the National and Queensland Board of Managements of the Mining and Energy Union.

With his wife Fiona and son Oliver, Cr West has lived in Moranbah since 2001 and is an active community member and leader.

Cr West is the Chair of Council’s Waste and Water Standing Committee and is a member on Engineering and Infrastructure Standing Committee.

Cr West is a director of the Moranbah Community Scholarship Fund and a founding member and treasurer of the Moranbah Miners’ Memorial Committee, also assisting in multiple fundraising ventures such as the May Day Festival and mental health projects.

Cr West is also on the board of the Mackay Hospital Foundation, Moranbah Early Learning Centre and the Isaac Affordability Housing Trust.

Mayor Vea Vea grew up in Collinsville and relocated to Moranbah with her young family in 2007.

After spending most of her life in the Central Queensland coalfields, she has a passion for ensuring that regional communities grow and thrive alongside new and existing industries, and that they have a seat at the table when it comes to policy development affecting their future.

Mayor Kelly Vea Vea was first elected to the Isaac Regional Council in 2012, served as Deputy Mayor from 2018, and was elected unopposed as Mayor in March 2024.

She works closely with her colleagues to ensure that mining and renewable projects develop social licenses and create a long-lasting legacy for the communities that host them.

One of her goals for her first term as Mayor is to establish Country University Centres in Isaac to create more options for access to tertiary education and support for regional students, regardless of their age or stage in life.

During the local government election, Mayor Vea Vea heard loud and clear that investment in the road network is a top priority for Isaac. This year, Mayor Vea Vea became Chair of Queensland Beef Corridors, a collaboration with six regional councils to secure funding to seal key roads to support and unlock the potential of the agricultural and transport sectors.

She continues to take every opportunity available to lobby for government investment in Isaac Regional Council’s ‘Royalty Road Package,’ a proposal for governments to channel royalties generated by the coal sector back into the road infrastructure delivering the wealth.

Chris is responsible for financial oversight of the board. He is a fellow of the Certified Practising Accountants, as well as a Registered Company Auditor with over 30 years experience.

Chris has extensive experience in both for-profit and not-for-profit companies, and extensive dealings with both Government and non-Government agencies including project delivery through building grants authority for schools and building better regions for health services.

Chris has been on the Board of RACO CQ Rescue Service since July 2004 and Chairman of the organisation since May 2014. This is a partly government funded organisation which raises funds to maintain a helicopter rescue service for the Mackay and district area. RACQ CQ Rescue Service operates as a company limited by guarantee and operates a substantial budget.

He has been a Board member of Whitsunday Anglican School Limited since May 2005 and is currently Chair to the Audit and Finance Committee. Chris is also currently deputy chair of the organisation. This organisation has a substantial budget and extensive government and education department interactions. It maintains rigorous policies, procedures, and governance, reflecting its involvement in the education sector.

Chris is the Chair of the finance and audit committee for Reef Catchments Limited, as well Chair of its wholly owned subsidiary Catchments Solutions Pty Ltd. Both these organisations are incorporated under the Natural Resource Management Act and operate in the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac area to promote the working together between all parties for better outcomes for the land, water ways and our river systems.