Bios

MBA (UNSW), LLB, GDACG, CPA, FGIA, GAICD

David Taplin brings more than 25 years of senior executive and board experience across governance, legal, financial and strategic leadership, with a strong commitment to sound governance and sustainable organisational performance.

David has held senior governance and legal leadership roles with organisations including Isis Central Sugar Milling Company Limited, The Springfield Anglican College, Gladstone Area Water Board, CleanCo Queensland, Port of Brisbane and in private legal practice. These roles have provided him with deep experience in regulated, public‑facing and community‑focused environments.

With longstanding connections to Toowoomba and regional Queensland, including previous board roles with The Glennie School and Little Match Productions Ltd, David brings a genuine appreciation of the cultural, educational and community institutions that enrich regional life.

He values the balance between creative excellence, community relevance and financial sustainability and brings a collaborative, thoughtful approach to board leadership in support of organisations that sit at the heart of their communities.

Jade Gardiner is a Toowoomba‑based senior executive and experienced board director with more than 25 years of leadership experience across global organisations, community-focussed institutions and complex transformation programs. She brings deep expertise in governance, financial stewardship, enterprise risk management and organisational transformation combined with a strong commitment to organisations that create meaningful cultural and community impact.

Jade is the Co‑Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Russell Mineral Equipment, where she provides strategic leadership across finance, governance, risk, people, technology and corporate services. Prior to this, she spent 15 years with Worley in senior global leadership roles, including Group Director of Transformation and Process Excellence. During her executive career she has led major enterprise transformation initiatives, global operating model redesigns, large-scale acquisitions and business integration programs, delivering significant organisational and financial outcomes across complex multinational environments.

Alongside her executive career, she has developed extensive governance experience through board and advisory roles. She has been a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of Toowoomba Regional Council and is a Board member of The Glennie School, where she chairs the Risk and Compliance Committee and serves on the Audit and Finance Committee.

Born and raised in Toowoomba, Jade has a lifelong connection to the performing arts, and a strong appreciation of the role cultural organisations play in enriching community life. Her early involvement included advanced studies in piano, musicianship and speech and drama, participation in local ensembles and performances and many years competing in the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. These experiences instilled a lasting appreciation for the arts as both a creative pursuit and a powerful contributor to community life. Today, that connection continues through her ongoing support of the cultural sector and through her daughters' engagement in music and performing arts education, giving her a strong understanding of the enduring value of arts participation across generations.

David Chick is an accomplished board chair, director and senior executive with more than 25 years’ experience in city shaping, precinct management, governance and economic development across Australia and New Zealand. He has led and governed some of the region’s most significant civic, cultural destinations, including as Chair of City Parklands Services Pty Ltd, where he oversaw Brisbane’s premier parklands and guided the organisation’s evolution into a commercially sustainable, community-focused enterprise. David has also served on several public‑facing boards, including the Queensland Veterans’ Council and the Brisbane Sustainability Agency. With a career spanning strategic planning, urban regeneration and major public infrastructure, David brings a strong understanding of how arts and cultural precincts contribute to civic identity, visitor attraction and economic vitality. He combines a commitment to public value with commercial discipline, and offers strengths in governance, strategy, risk and sustainable financial stewardship. David is a strong advocate for the arts as a catalyst for community connection and regional prosperity and is committed to supporting The Empire’s ongoing role as a cultural cornerstone for Toowoomba and Darling Downs.