CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Noeline Margaret Ikin (nee Gross)
Family: Married, 3 grown daughters
Address: 91 St George Street, Georgetown Qld 4871
Date of Birth: 18/05/1969
Place of Birth: Mareeba, Qld
Connection to Kennedy: My grandparents were graziers,
small miners, and small business owners in the Kennedy
electorate. My father was a mechanic in Mareeba for all of
his life and my mother a nurse.
PERSONAL PROFILE
PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS

Uranium Implementation Committee, 2012 - 2013
Appointed by Campbell Newman, review Qld, NT, SA and WA legislation and practice
with respect to uranium mining and advise government on legislation, benefits, risks
and management of reimplementation of uranium mining in Qld.
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State Rural Leasehold Land Ministerial Advisory Committee 2010 – 2013
Provide technical advice and represent community issues regarding the renewal of
leasehold land. Worked hard and helped landholders to make lease renewal practical
and sensible for grazing enterprises and ensure that the State’s land asset increases in
value.

National Environment Research Program, North Australian Hub Steering Committee –
2013
Overseeing expenditure and public benefit of a significant Australian Government
Science Investment.

Councillor, Etheridge Shire Council 2008 - 2012
Roads, bridges, and other key infrastructure experience. Didn’t re-stand to focus
energy on LNP, but husband did and was elected in 2012.
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Director, Savannah Guides Ltd (1998 - 2001)
While secretary we won the prestigious International British Airways 'World’s Best
Tourism Organisation' as well as many national and state awards.

Ministerial Advisory Committee for Crocodile Management, Qld 1995
Represented the Nth Queensland tourism industry for the safe removal and
management of crocodiles.
EDUCATION
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Bachelor of Science from JCU, (March 1995)
High School: Mareeba High School
Primary School: Mareeba, Mt Molloy and Biboohra State Schools
MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS
Have done numerous TV, Radio and Newspaper interviews. Provided evidence at senate
enquiries and co-wrote a paper regarding Wild River legislation and Indigenous Economic
Development. Have been a speaker at national Australian Bureau of Agricultural and
Resource Economics conference regarding development of Northern Australia and regular
speaker at regional conferences.
Sample Media:
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201212/s3656895.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201202/s3432229.htm
http://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/news/state/livestock/beef-cattle/peta-claimsinfuriate-farmers/2641327.aspx
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/regions/content/201112/3380893.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/qld/content/2010/11/s3062740.htm
http://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/news/state/agribusiness/general-news/plan-forirrigated-ag-across-gulf-draws-environmental-ire/2482401.aspx
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/02/11/2816506.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2010/s2816379.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201003/s2842733.htm?source=rss
http://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/news/state/agribusiness/general-news/wet-thegulf-cant-forget/1626580.aspx
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/11/2816343.htm?site=westqld
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/qld/content/2009/08/s2660810.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/qld/content/2010/06/s2933878.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/regions/content/2007/s2758077.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2010/s2816287.htm
Sample Papers:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Co
mmittees?url=economics/wildrivers/subs.htm (submission 17)
http://daff.gov.au/abares/outlook-2011/past-conferences
Hansard:
1. http://www.openaustralia.org/debates/?id=2010-06-24.33.2 Where Bob Katter Notes:
“Noelene Gross [Ikin], a tenacious little fighter who has earned the great admiration
of everybody who has come into contact with her”
2. Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Reference Committee; witness, 13th
November 2009.
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY
Have developed strong skills in advocacy for community issues and have had significant
successes across both legislative and bureaucratic spheres of influence. This is primarily
achieved through hard work in providing sound logic and facts, persistence and
perseverance, understanding the perspective of the government or bureaucracy and what
makes them 'shift', being relevant and working the media. Some of the advocacy work I
have driven for community are:
Wild Rivers - worked with communities when this legislation first came out to make huge
changes to the regulations, codes and guidelines. The government and bureaucrats were
not helpful in fixing the perversities of this law, regulations and codes at first but with our
persistence, good science and media profile we finally achieved change. Continued to
advocate changes and helped get a provision for property development plans that allow
approval of development for up to 10 years. Also advocated and worked on issues
associated with limitations imposed by this law on Indigenous Economic Development.
Continuing to work with community to now develop land use plans from the farmer up to
support a later push for statutory recognition of best fit conservation and development
based on local knowledge and aspiration. This will put farmers on the front foot of future
green laws or programs, or major developments.
Natural Disaster Response and Recovery Arrangements, Exceptional Circumstances - was
the key driver in successfully attaining the historic decision to provide exceptional
circumstances to communities affected by the 2009 flood event. This created and national
shift in this policy area and saved the livelihoods of many farmers.
Farm Management Deposits - strong advocacy to make changes to farm management
deposit scheme that now allow easier access of these funds for farmers impacted by natural
disasters. Am continuing to advocate changes in this area to potentially set up a 'farm
insurance scheme' based on the FMD model.
Business Improvement Package - worked with local industry and all banks with debt
exposure in Nth West to develop a business improvement package to assist recovery of
industry post the Live Export Ban. This is a very comprehensive and widely supported
package developed by the industry based on their practical needs. Getting recognition and
support was a very hard up-hill battle and had little help from Local Member Bob Katter and
only arrogance shown by Minister Joe Ludwig. We raised the issues of debt and finance
with both Katter and Ludwig in 2011 and we worked hard to get early action on this to avoid
rural debt and industry crisis – the lack of action was main reason I have stood with the
coalition to run for the seat of Kennedy.
Rural Debt Reduction - many farmers are now in a tight position financially given that they
are largely 'price takers' combined with the constant increase in input costs. The Live
Export ban crashed equity or property values. We have worked hard with with banks to
find a model where banks, governments and farmers (or any other business) can
collectively stop an equity crash. We have been successful in gaining support for this model
with the coalition and continue to advocate and cooperate in getting this accepted by the
ATO.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
2012 –Current
Small Business – Stock Feed Depot, Georgetown
Own small business with husband providing feed, veterinary and animal husbandry
supplies.
2001 – 2013
Northern Gulf Company Alliance
Chief Executive Officer
CEO for three companies in an alliance being the Northern Gulf Resource Management
Group, Gulf Horizons Foundation and Grassroots Innovation. The Northern Gulf group has a
high recognition for it’s success as an action orientated organisation. The companies do not
talk and tread water but rather make community aspirations real often through creative
problem solving and innovation. As CEO I was proud to be associated with a company
culture, leadership, innovation and vision, that is based on sound engagement and logic,
transpiring many dreams into reality for local people. The Northern Gulf Group employed
‘localism’ principals to achieve National and International goals. The role of the three
companies covers all tiers of sustainability – healthy environment, healthy commerce and
healthy people.
1. Northern Gulf Resource Management Group which is a stand-alone not for profit
company whose objectives are primarily improving environmental wellbeing and the
viability of natural resource use including improved farm productivity and profit.
Projects managed from this company have won numerous National and State awards
and international awards for outcomes achieved. www.northerngulf.com.au
2. Gulf Horizons Foundation is a stand-alone Public Benevolent Institution working with the
communities of the Northern Gulf region towards humanitarian benefits determined by
on-going local consultation and needs analysis. The objectives of Gulf Horizons
Foundation are primarily associated with improving the social wellbeing of the region’s
communities (youth, health, elderly).
3. Grassroots Innovations is a subsidiary owned by Gulf Horizons Foundation whose
purpose is to develop commercial income opportunities in order to raise revenue for
projects implemented by both Gulf Horizons Foundation and the Northern Gulf Resource
Management Group.
Key Skills:
 Engagementand Advocacy –I have a strong bottom up ethic and many successes in
empowering local people. I have established long lasting and effective networks in
North Queensland and beyond. Maintain wide networks incorporating key stakeholders
inclusive of political relationships, commercial relationships, industry relationships,
science relationships, Traditional Owners, Local Government, State Government
agencies, Commonwealth Government agencies and general community bodies.
Recently my advocacy has been critical in assisting the gulf region with natural disaster
events including the historic exceptional circumstance declaration in 2010. Ensure gulf
community voice is incorporated into policy so that perverse outcomes are avoided and
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have advocated through senate/ cabinet enquiries as well as meetings and written
submissions.
Governance – Very good understanding of decision making processes, accountability,
budgets, conflict of interest, legal issues such as defamation and professional liability,
meeting protocols etc. Local Government Councillor for one term from which I did not
re-run in order to focus on other political arenas, namely policy development. Oversaw
all governance, risk and financial management of three companies.
1996 – 2000
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Mareeba Wetland Foundation, Mareeba, Qld
Savannah Guide/Environmental Officer
Savannah Guide at the Mareeba Wetlands – tourism operations, guide and
environmental training of staff.
Involved in implementing this innovative project which was to channel irrigation water
to cane farms via a series of wetlands. The wetlands were designed and developed for
nature tourism.
Responsible for liaison with indigenous peoples, graziers and other community
members who held interests in the Savannah and Wetland Reserve.
1996 – 2000
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FNQ Tropical Institute TAFE Cairns, Qld
Heritage and Interpretive Tourism
Lecturer in the basics of, and interpretation to tourism cliental, of the units in
Environmental Science, the Land, Animals and Plants. I also partook in the tutoring of
Tourism and the Environment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and
Communication.
1995 – 1996
Mossman Veterinary Clinic Mossman, Qld
Veterinary Nurse
1994 – 1995
The Rainforest Habitat Port Douglas, Qld
Zoo Keeper
1993 – 1994
Kuranda Wildlife Noctarium Kuranda, Qld
Zoo Curator
1991 – 1992
Gorge Wildlife Park Cudlee Creek, S.A.
Zookeeper
1990 – 1991
James Cook University Cairns, Qld
Research Assistant
1990 – 1991
Kuranda Wildlife Noctarium Kuranda, Qld
Zoo Curator
1990
Peverell’s Pathology Cairns, Qld