Mayor and Councillors

Ry Collins was elected Mayor at the 2024 Queensland Local Government election and brings over two decades of management and governance experience through roles across business and industry.

This experience makes him well equipped to advocate strongly and effectively for the Whitsunday region and represent the broad interests of the community.

Originally from South-East Queensland, Ry and his family moved to the Whitsundays in 2018 after many years of being returning tourists, drawn to the region’s enviable lifestyle, natural environment, and strong sense of community. Ry, wife Melanie and their two daughters currently live in Cannonvale and are invested members of local schools, sporting, and other groups.

As a champion for the opportunities of our region’s key industries, Ry was previously the CEO of Bowen Gumlu Growers Association leading the Whitsunday’s $1billion agricultural sector while also volunteering on several key regional boards showcasing his dedication to community engagement.

Throughout his career, he has always prioritised supporting economic development and advocating for local businesses, fostering strong partnerships, and promoting innovation. Ry holds a post-graduate qualification in Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ry's vision as Mayor is one of sustainable growth, prosperity, and resilience for the Whitsunday region. He pledges to be the leading advocate for the community, local businesses, improving infrastructure, enhancing services and sustainability, unlocking new opportunities, and ensuring collective progress and growth for all.

Council Representations

• Audit & Risk Committee
• Don River Improvement Trust
• Local Disaster Management Group
• Reef Guardian Councils
• Regional Queensland Council of Mayors
• Tourism Whitsundays
• Whitsunday Regional Organisation of Councils T/a Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors
• Whitsunday Regional Roads & Transport Group

Councillor Jan Clifford was re-elected in the 2020 Queensland local government elections as the representative for Division 1 of the Whitsunday Regional Council, making this her fourth successive term as a Councillor.

Jan is well known for her energy and commitment to the well-being of the Whitsunday area and its citizens and is an active member of the community, serving on many boards and committees and volunteering at events.

Jan has called the Whitsundays home since early 1995 after a long career across Australia in various management, sales and marketing roles. In 1997 Jan started her own sales and marketing business and was voted Best Sales Representative by A.F.T.A. She was eventually drawn to Council to be of service to the Whitsunday Region and its people.

Jan has completed a Diploma in Management and has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International. Jan has always been a strong advocate for protecting and preserving the natural environment in the Whitsundays, both on the mainland and in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Council Representations

• Local Disaster Management Recovery Subgroup - Economic
• Greater Whitsunday Communities
• Greater Whitsunday Housing Project
• North Queensland Sports Foundation
• Reef Catchments
• Regional Development Australia - Greater Whitsundays
• Tourism Whitsundays (proxy for Mayor Collins)
• Whitsunday Sports Park

Clay Bauman was elected as Councillor for Division 2 at a by-election in December 2022.

Born in Brisbane and educated at Gregory Terrace St Joseph’s College in Brisbane, the travel bug hit Clay and he travelled the world while also working in digital video editing.

After his return to Australia, Councillor Clay moved to Airlie Beach in 2007 and has now settled in Cannonvale, doing video work and managing private sailing boats.

Clay has always been an active volunteer for sporting clubs and community groups and is a passionate advocate for retaining the beach town character of the area to ensure a successful future for our region.

After many years of reading Council agendas and reports and attending meetings, Clay put his hand up and was elected to represent Division 2 following the resignation of Councillor Al Grundy in late 2022.

Council Representations

• Regional Arts Develpment Fund Advisory Committee (RADF)
• Local Disaster Management Recovery Subgroup - Environmental
• Local Authorities Waste Management Advisory Committee (LAWMAC)
• Mackay Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership
• Whitsunday Local Marine Advisory Commitee

Councillor John Collins was first elected as Councillor for Division 3 on Whitsunday Regional Council in 2012 and was returned for his third term at the 2020 Local Government Elections.

Division 3 is centred on the town of Proserpine, which is the Whitsunday region’s agricultural and government services hub, and includes the surrounding rural communities of Mount Julian, Preston, Conway and Wilsons Beach.

While John’s family lived at Silkwood, south of Innisfail, he was born in Toowoomba. At age four, his family relocated to Proserpine when his father was transferred as the local police sergeant. John completed his schooling at the local St. Catherine’s Catholic Primary School and Proserpine State High School, and currently lives in Proserpine with his wife Jill.

John and Jill have four adult daughters and since 1990, have owned and operated their own small business on Proserpine’s Main Street.

Cr Collins is a strong advocate for developing the local rural tourism sector to entice travellers off the highway and into our townships. John has championed the creation of further tourism opportunities at the Peter Faust Dam, which has the largest Barramundi population of any impoundment in Australia and is a strong advocate for promoting Proserpine as RV Friendly town.

Council Representations

• Local Disaster Management Group
• Local Disaster Management Recovery Group
• Whitsunday River Improvement Trust (WRIT)

First time Councillor Michelle Wright is born and bred in Bowen and lives there with husband Wal and their three children.

Michelle has previously worked in administration for over 18 years and is also a qualified Swim Teacher and Coach.

She has been actively involved with community groups for many years and taking the next step to playing a role in Council was the natural progression.

Being community minded Michelle is passionate in providing improved liveability and care for families, the elderly and future generations.

She is honoured and proud to have been elected at the 2020 Local Government Elections to serve the Whitsunday region community.

Council Representations

• Audit & Risk Committee (proxy member)
• Jangga Consultative Committee
• Local Disaster Management Recovery Subgroup - Human & Social
• Bowen Sporting Complex Committee

Councillor Gary Simpson is looking forward to the challenges of the role as a first term Councillor.

He was born and schooled in Proserpine and first started work on the family farm in 1981.He has been manager of the family business, since 2000 and has recently sold one of the three farms to enable him to concentrate on his Councillor role.

Gary is married to wife Debbie and Gary has a daughter, Lauren and son, Dean.

He is a family figure in cane growing circles having been a director of Proserpine District Canegrowers Cooperative (PDCC) for 9 years and was the inaugural Chairman of the SSP Proserpine for 3 years and Deputy Chairman of the PDCC for 3 years.

In his spare time Gary loves fishing and camping and spending time on the water with his wife around the beautiful Whitsunday Islands.

Council Representations

• Audit & Risk Committee (proxy member)
• Don River Improvement Trust (DRIT)
• Local Disaster Management Recovery Subgroup - Infrastructure
• Whitsunday Rivers Improvement Trust (WRIT)
• Bowen Burdekin Local Marine Advisory Committee

John Finlay was elected for his first term as Councillor for Division 6 in Whitsunday Regional Council at the 2024 Local Government elections.

Cr Finlay is originally from Bundaberg and grew up and met his wife Pam there and his first job was with the Bundaberg City Council.

His advancement through local government ranks saw him spent time in roles at Mirani Shire Council and then Banana Shire Council before the family moved to Bowen in 1996 to commence the position of Director of Financial Services with the Bowen Shire Council.

Cr Finlay is former Chief Executive Officer of Bowen Shire Council and Whitsunday Regional Council, and his long list of qualifications include a Fellow of Certified Practising Accountants Australia and Bachelor of Business Degree majoring in Local Government and Professional Accounting.

He built a house in Bowen with Pam and that has been their home for the past 28 years having raised their children there and been heavily involved in the local community for almost three decades.

Cr Finlay’s vision for the Whitsunday Region is for a prosperous and sustainable future for the Whitsunday region in all areas of the community and economic and social development. 

In his spare time Cr Finlay loves walking on the beach and the Edgcumbe Heights track, kayaking around the bays, boating, and fishing and golfing as well as watching sports including rugby league, motor racing, basketball, and surfing.

Council Representations

• Audit & Risk Committee 
• Community Engagement Committee Bowen Work Camp