President

Elected President of the DDEC Management Committee in September 2026, Chris is a member of Save Mt Lofty Inc, an urban based landcare association located in Toowoomba, Southern Queensland. Chris prefers to use the title ‘Committee Chair’ and the email address chair@ddec.org.au.

Chris has been project manager for recent successful government funded projects including the Toowoomba Escarpment Bushfire Preparation Project in 2022 and the Toowoomba Region Koala Habitat Project from 2023 – 2025.

From 2017 – 2020, Chris managed Save Mt Lofty’s campaign to protect critical koala habitat on the site of the former rifle range at Mt Lofty, Toowoomba. Chris authored “Save Mt Lofty – Lessons for a Successful Community Campaign” – available via Apple e-Books. The 390ha rifle range site is now owned by ARTC Inland Rail for use as a biodiversity offset – which Save Mt Lofty Inc continues to monitor.

For 30 years until 2013, Chris was a community-based lawyer in private practice in Toowoomba. He holds a BA/LLB from ANU and a LLM from USP Vanuatu. Chris served as President of the Downs and Southern Western Law Association and many other community organisations.

Over recent years, Chris has committed himself to community environmental and landcare work through Save Mt Lofty Inc, Pittsworth & District Landcare, Condamine Catchment Management Association and Darling Downs Environment Council. For the last 5 years, through Save Mt Lofty Inc, Chris has managed the annual Toowoomba Region Koala Count as a community based citizen-science initiative.