Ben Artup

Executive Director Strategic Projects & Economic Development, Bundaberg Regional Council

Ben Artup is Executive Director Strategic Projects and Economic Development at Bundaberg Regional Council. He's a qualified economist holding an Honours degree in economics from Western Sydney University. His early career involved roles teaching economics and as senior researcher focused on the macro economy, regional innovation and urban economics. He has held roles in local economic development and corporate advisory. Before joining Bundaberg Regional Council he was a Director with Deloitte Access Economics where he consulted to some of Australia’s largest corporations and institutions. Ben now lives in Bundaberg and is interested in building Australia’s best regional community including a focus on sustainability.

Ian O'Hara

Deputy Director, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, QUT

Professor Ian O’Hara is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Agrciulture and the Bioeconomy at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. Ian is a leading expert in converting wastes and agricultural residues into bio-based products to grow a sustainable bioeconomy. In addition to his academic role, Ian represents the Queensland Government as the Biofutures Industry Envoy. As the Envoy, Ian provides strategic advice to government and assists in securing domestic and international investment to grow the Biofutures sector. 

Fiona Waterhouse

CEO, Utilitas Group

A production engineer by trade, Fiona Waterhouse founded bioenergy developer Utilitas Group in 2010 to bring together the most capable and motivated people on the planet to unleash the power of biogas to fuel industry, support energy networks and energise communities. 

Fiona's passion for regional communities, farming and food production was fuelled, doing piggery, poultry, dairy and goat “squad” at boarding school in Sydney in the early 1980s. 

She is a Non-Executive Director of Unitywater, was Director Strategic Policy in the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency between 2000-2003 and holds manufacturing, environmental and business management degrees from UTS, QUT and Macquarie University.

Scott Hopkins

Team Leader Waste Services, Fraser Coast Regional Council

Scott started his career in waste just over 20 years ago driving garbage trucks and front lift trucks. Following a relocation to Hervey Bay, he began working for FCRC in waste services in 2007, working as a transfer station and landfill plant operator. For the past six years, he has been the team leader of the Nikenbah Transfer Station. In his current role, he also oversees the operations and maintenance of a several retired landfill sites and 3 other remote Transfer Stations.