Board Members

	John Witheriff John Witheriff is Managing Partner of leading Gold Coast Law Firm Minter Ellison and as Chairman of the GC 17 bid team helped turn a vision for AFL football on the Gold Coast into reality. Gold Coast Citizen of the Year in 2005, he is a former director of many of Queensland's largest companies including Sure Smart Water Ltd, Energex Retail, SeaWorld Ltd and the Queensland’s Transmissions Supply Corporation. John Witheriff is one of Australia’s foremost corporate, governance and risk practitioners, sought by both industry and government for his key strategic advice and counsel. In a prodigious legal and business career, John has amassed high-level insight and expertise across many sectors including government, sport, tourism, leisure, liquor and gaming, and infrastructure. John has also held key roles within the private sector. For many years he was a Director of SeaWorld Ltd, the owner of multiple theme parks, and Chairman of the Indy 300 Event Advisory Board. He was also a member of Queensland’s Liquor Appeals Tribunal. John has garnered many community and government accolades for his contribution to the law and industry, including Gold Coast Citizen of the Year.
	Dr Alan Mackenzie Alan Mackenzie has been president of Southport Football Club for more than 34 years and has been involved in AFL football as a player, volunteer medical officer, coach, selector and administrator. He served the Brisbane Bears/Lions for six years (1992-98) as club doctor, selector and match committee chairman. A Life Member of AFL Queensland, he received the Australian Sports Medal (2000), the AFL Merit Award (2003) and was the inaugural recipient of the Gold Coast Bulletin Sports Award (2003). In 2008 Dr Mackenzie was rightfully inducted to the QAFL Hall of Fame.
	Bob Gordon Bob Gordon recently retired as Editor-in-Chief of the Gold Coast Bulletin newspaper. Bob spent 50 years in journalism including 17 years in Canberra where he created and launched the Sunday edition of The Canberra Times. Returned to Queensland Press in 1986, as Chief of Staff then 11 years as editor at the Sunday Mail. On the Gold Coast he helped lift the profile and circulation of both The Gold Coast Bulletin and The Sun. One of the founding Directors of the Gold Coast Football Club, fills in his spare time as Director on the Cedar Creek Wines and two charitable trusts.
	Bob East Bob East’s enthusiastic leadership style and vision has seen Mantra Group grow from 50 properties in 2006 to more than 130 properties in Australia and New Zealand. As CEO, Bob has strengthened the brands of Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree and his strategic business model has developed the group into one of the most impressive accommodation providers and marketers in Australasia. With more than 3500 Team Members and 15,000 rooms under management, Bob has positioned Mantra Group for future growth and aims to make Mantra Group the favourite provider of hotel, apartment and resort accommodation in Australia and New Zealand. Under Bob’s leadership, some recent milestones include Mantra Hotels Resorts and Apartments being Australia’s fastest growing apartment brand and Peppers Retreats, Resorts and Hotels opening its first metropolitan Peppers property – the Peppers Broadbeach. Bob has enjoyed an extensive career in the domestic and international tourism sector. He holds a MBA and sits on a variety of boards including the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC).
	Paul Scurrah Paul Scurrah was appointed Executive Vice President – Commercial and Marketing at Aurizon on 1 February 2012. Paul’s previous role was CEO of Queensland Rail. Paul has more than 20 years’ experience in transport, tourism and customer service at companies including Flight Centre, Tourism Queensland, Ansett, Qantas and American Express. Paul was also one of four founding executives when Rex Airlines was established in 2002
	Janelle Manders Janelle Manders is Managing Partner of the Gold Coast office of HLB Mann Judd Accountants and Business Advisors. Her areas of expertise are strategic planning, risk management, taxation, global business, governance, and financial reporting. Janelle is also involved with a variety of professional and community organisations including Chairman of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Gold Coast Committee, Director/Treasurer of Careflight (Qld) Ltd and a Director of the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE.
	Tony Cochrane Whether promoting sporting events, concerts, live shows and theatre, one-off major events or whole touring spectaculars, Tony Cochrane’s passion and experience forge a formidable combination and have ultimately resulted in some unforgettable milestones in Australian entertainment, sports management and sport generally over the past 40 years. Tony has made the stage his own from the Gold Coast in Australia. Not only with the formation and execution of V8 Supercars but along the way he has collected a Tony, from the American Theatre, a couple of Aria’s and is internationally recognized for his efforts in taking V8 Supercars to the world. Tony and his partners have over the past twenty years produced/promoted over 400 sporting and entertainment events throughout the world, sold in excess of 25,000,000 tickets with gross sales exceeding $2Billion dollars and written nearly $250,000,000 in sponsorship sales. Not bad for a kid who never finished high school! Directorships: - Director - International Events Consulting Pty Ltd. - Director Backstage Australia Pty Ltd. - Former Chairman V8 Supercars Australia – 16.5 years - Former Director & Co Founder Sports & Entertainment Ltd – 16 years - Former Australasian Senior Vice President IMG - Former Director – UNICEF Australia – 3 years - FAICD - Australian institute of Company Directors