Respected Australian CEO to address Toowoomba business community

A well-renowned businessman and seasoned newspaper chief executive officer will be keynote speaker at the second Regional Business Leaders’ Forum next month (October).

Mr John Reynolds will present his address: 'Think big, collaborate, accelerate – Toowoomba poised to embrace a new business paradigm' to more than 150 local business people, politicians, media representatives and USQ academics at Picnic Point on October 1.

USQ Faculty of Business Dean, Professor Allan Layton, said Mr Reynolds was a well-respected member of the Australian business community.

'Mr Reynolds has a great passion for Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, both personally and professionally and has been a regular visitor to the region since 1990,' Professor Layton said.

'He has established his own consulting firm, Rowland Reynolds, and spends time between his home in Mapleton on the Blackall Range and Brisbane.'

Mr Reynolds was born in the United Kingdom, educated at Cambridge and Sheffield universities and moved to Perth, Western Australia in 1970.

He spent the next 20 years working with the late Robert Holmes a Court building the Bell Group. Subsequently, he was CEO of West Australian Newspapers, CEO of APN News and Media, CEO of The Age newspaper and held senior executive and Advisory roles with Normandy Mining and Santos.

In 2002 Mr Reynolds moved to Queensland to pursue a non-executive Director career. This has included chair of Arrow Energy, Queensland Cotton, Swanbank Paper and Davidson Recruitment. In addition he is a Director of the Bank of Queensland, Mater Health Services, Rowland Communications and former Director of the Brisbane Power House. He is an advisor to a number professional organisations and has particularly enjoyed his relationship with USQ.

The luncheon will be held at the Picnic Point Function Centre at 11.45am (for a midday start). Tickets cost $60 for members and $75 for non-members. For bookings and more information, contact the Empire Theatre Box Office on 1300 655 299 or www.toowoombachamber.com.au