The Committee
Structure
CYPDA operates with a Management Committee of twelve members representing the major interest sectors - primary production, local government, tourism and community. Elections are held bi-annually and the positions of President, Vice-President and Treasurer are elected by the committee for two-year terms.
John McDowall - President
Moving from Mareeba to Cape York 25 years ago John, the owner and manager of the Musgrave road-house on Cape York Peninsula since 2001, has had little time to ‘sit back and gripe about things’ neither does he want to.
John has been a committee member of CYPDA for the last six years and says he is proud to be able to represent and voice the views of the tourism industry, pastoralists and the Indigenous community on Cape York Peninsula.
Dr Tony Hall-Matthews - Vice President
Energetic, enthusiastic and passionate about ‘all–things’ Cape York, after being associated with the peninsula for 40 years, and for the last 18 serving as a CYPDA committee member, Tony says he just wants to ‘Keep on working with Cape York Peninsula-ites’ and wonders why anyone would want to be on any other committee!
Mike Hintz - Treasurer
Mike has been associated with Cape York Peninsula for over 20 years and is based in Cairns and currently runs his own tourism businesses on Cape York. After six years on the CYPDA committee, Mike says his vision for the Cape remains the same - that all residents on Cape York are provided the opportunity of progressive sustainable development including appropriate infrastructure.
As an active and enthusiastic committee member Mike, in particular, wants to ensure that tourism in all its facets ‘the good, bad and the ugly’ is understood and represented adequately across Cape York. Mike is also a member of the Tourism Queensland Product Review Team and a member of the Far North Queensland Tour Operators Association.
Eddie Woodley - Committee Member
Born at Mapoon on Cape York Peninsula, a community elder, clan group leader and spokesperson, Eddie says he joined the CYPDA ‘to become a member of a united voice’ and ‘to have my say on the welfare and ownership of Cape York and for Cape York to be preserved for future generations to live on and enjoy’.
Penny Johnson - Committee Member
Penny and her husband run a 4wd eco-tourism operation on Cape York Peninsula from their base in Cooktown. A relatively new resident on the Cape, Penny has quickly become an active member of the community, and is involved with the Cooktown Chamber of Commerce and Tourism; The Cooktown Discovery Festival and the Cooktown School. Penny sees her role on the CYPDA committee as a link between the Chamber and the broader CYP community.
Patricia Gordon - Committee Member
As a pastoralist who has participated in the growth and change of Cape York Peninsula for many years it is not surprising to hear that Patricia values her place on the CYPDA committee so that she can have a voice in Cape York’s future for the next generation.
With children and grandchildren living on the Cape, Patricia’s continued vision for CYP is ‘To have economic and sustainable development for all Cape York so our children can have a viable future here’.
Bob Sullivan - Committee Member
Bob has lived on Cape York Peninsula for 35 years and is a founding member of CYPDA. Bob says he became a member of the Association ‘to have input in Cape York’s future’. He continues to do that through the association and through his role as Mayor of Cook Shire Council, one of the largest Shire’s in Australia.
Bruce Lansdown - Committee Member
‘A sustainable strong community able to maintain its current lifestyles’ that is Bruce’s vision for Cape York Peninsula and his reason for joining the CYPDA 10 years ago and being a committee member for the last five.
Bruce currently lives in Weipa where in his role with Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service is working closely with west coast Aboriginal communities and non-indigenous Cape residents to protect Australia from the entry of new pests, weeds and diseases.
Kate Sutcliffe brings to the committee many years experience in regional and community development and engagement, tourism planning, policy development, negotiation and planning through her professional employment and volunteered roles.
As such, Kate has presented papers at numerous conferences both in Australia and overseas on topics such as regional development, tourism, e-democracies, electronic governance, and national economic development.
Kate has been a committee member since 2007, but has had extensive involvement in the Gulf and Far North Queensland matters since 2000.
Neville Dunn - Committe Member
Neville has been working with the tourism sector of Cape York for over 15 years and has been a committee member for the last six years offering help and support where he can to Cape York sustainable tourism ventures.
“I want to work with providers to ensure all the people of Cape York achieve their goals: that’s my vision for Cape York,” Neville said.
“I also want to see that all consultative processes are followed with the best interest, as well as the wishes, of all stakeholders.”
Joseph Elu - Committee Member
Joseph Elu is the current Mayor of the NPA Regional Council and has had extensive involvement in Indigenous affairs throughout Cape York. Due to his service to Indigenous Communities, Joseph has been appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in the General Division.
Joseph has chaired numerous organisations that aim to improve the health and nutrition of Indigenous Australians and currently co-chairs the Indigenous Community Volunteers Foundation.
A powerful advocate for the inclusion of private enterprise in the process of assisting the sustainable economic development of Indigenous people, Joseph is a recipient of the Centenary Medal and holds an honorary Doctorate in Economics from the Queensland University of Technology.