Deloitte’s Mike Kissane has been elected president of the Committee for Brisbane

A leading member of the Deloitte’s team in Brisbane has been elected president of a top level research and advocacy group that is helping to steer the city’s future.

Deloitte’s Mike Kissane has been elected president of the Committee for Brisbane bane -and will head the management team.

Deloitte’s Mike Kissane has been elected president of the Committee for Brisbane where he will head the management team for the advocacy group that will help shape the city’s future.

Kissane won the role at the advocacy organisation’s AGM on Wednesday for a two-year term.

Kissane, who is Deloitte’s global leader for economic advisory and lead partner, Queensland public sector says he’s honoured to be taking on the role at such a pivotal time for Greater Brisbane.

“There is a palpable sense of optimism across the city region, and I am excited to be in a position to help bring together key stakeholders to ensure we leverage every opportunity in the decade ahead,” he says.

Committee for Brisbane President Mike Kissane.

Kissane takes over from Kristan Conlon, chair of partners at McCullough Robertson Lawyers, who is retiring after a six-year tenure, including the past year as president.

Last night’s proceedings also saw the election of two new Committee for Brisbane vice presidents – Jake Anson, general manager government, venues and major projects with the Brisbane Lions, and Shannon Willoughby, executive director for strategic partnerships- government and industry with the University of Queensland.

They replace Kissane and Prof Alan Patching.

Jen Williams, CEO of the Committee for Brisbane, says as a member-led organisation the Committee for Brisbane is reliant on the passion and expertise of its members.

“As we embark on new strategic focus areas in 2025, I am delighted to be working with such an esteemed group of individuals who will ensure our research, advocacy and thought leadership continue to deliver a positive legacy for Greater Brisbane,” she says.

Expansion

WCT Advisory Group has merged with the former Bentleys Advisory Qld team led by Tracy Knight,increasing its team threefold to handle demand for business and personal insolvency services.

The new merged entity has increased from five to 16 insolvency, restructuring and valuation professionals, at its Brisbane and Adelaide offices.

WCT Advisory partner Andrew Weatherley says with Knight’s team on board they are doubling down on their commitment to deliver serious results

“We believe our increased offering and new collaboration will allow our clients to benefit from a strengthened service line-up to help them navigate complex financial, legal, and strategic challenges with greater depth and expertise,” Weatherley says.

Tracy Knight and Andrew Weatherley at WCT Advisory office in the Brisbane CBD.

Award

A trailerblazer in introducing robotics to the agricultural sector Andrew Bate, co-founder and chief executive of SwarmFarm Robotics, has won the Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Award.

Bate founded SwarmFarm Robotics in 2012 with his wife Jocie, convinced that robotics could change the face of farming.

Four years later from their base at Gindie, near Emerald, in central Queensland, SwarmFarm released its SwarmBot3 platform to manage swarms of real robots out working on commercial farms in Australia.

From humble beginnings the business now has a team of more than 60 people, with over 100 robots and 200,000 hours of commercial operations, SwarmFarm is leading the world of autonomous agriculture.

Paul Gampe, Queensland chair, Pearcey Foundation says Bate embodies all the qualities they look for in a Pearcey Award recipient.

“He’s an outstanding ICT (Information and Communication Technology) professional who has demonstrated innovation, taken risks, made a difference and is an inspiration to others in the industry and the wider community. He is a true trailblazer,” he says.

Founder of SwarmFarm Robotics Andrew an Jocie Bate.