The Chairman and Members are chosen by the Minister for the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and are appointed by the Governor General.

Russell Reichelt

Chairman and Chief Executive of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Russell Reichelt joined the GBRMPA in 2007 as Chairman and Chief Executive. Dr Reichelt is a board member of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. He began diving on the Great Barrier Reef in 1968 and worked as a research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in the 1980s studying the ecology of coral reefs, particularly the crown-of-thorns starfish. He has a PhD in marine science and has served as CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Chairman of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, and as a member of Australia’s State of the Environment Committee. He has previously chaired the National Oceans Advisory Group, CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans Flagship Advisory Committee and Seafood Services Australia Ltd. He is an Adjunct Professor at James Cook University and the University of Queensland; and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (UK) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was appointed as a member of the Authority on 1 November 2007 for a period of five years, concluding on 31 October 2012.

Melissa George

 Melissa George is a Wulgurukaba woman whose traditional area includes Magnetic Island and the greater Townsville region. She's been actively involved in protecting and managing land and sea through community natural resource management projects and liaising with and advising the Queensland and Australian Government. Ms George has been a member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee (EPBC Act 1999) since 2002 and Chair since 2006. She was appointed as a member of the Authority on 29 August 2008 for a four-year term which finishes on 28 August 2012.

Daniel Gschwind

Daniel Gschwind is the CEO for the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), which is Queensland’s peak tourism industry body with members across all regions and all tourism sectors.Mr Gschwind is a board member of the National Tourism Alliance (NTA) and the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC). He represents QTIC on various tourism committees, including the Tourism Forecasting Council, the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council and the state wide Tourism Industry Forum for National Parks. He has been a member of the GBRMPA’s Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee since 1999. He is an Adjunct Professor to the School of Tourism at the University of Queensland. Mr Gschwind is the Honorary Consul of Switzerland for Queensland. He holds an honours degree in economics from the University of Queensland and has worked as a senior economist with Queensland Treasury. He was appointed as a member of the Authority on 9 April 2009, for a four-year term which finishes on 8 April 2013.

John Bradley

John Bradley was appointed as Director-General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in June 2011. In this role he's responsible for leading the department, and the Queensland Public Service, in advising and serving the Premier and Queensland Government. John has a range of experience in environmental protection and natural resource management. Prior to his current role, he was Director-General of the Department of Environment and Resource Management since its creation in March 2009. John was previously the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) and was an Executive Director in the Queensland Government Office of the Coordinator General. He was appointed as a member of the Authority on 7 December 2011, for a three-year term which finishes on 6 December 2014.

Tony Mooney

Tony Mooney has extensive experience in infrastructure, economic development, community engagement and regional government. He served as a Townsville City councillor for 31 years, 19 of them as Mayor, concluding in 2008. During his time as Mayor, he oversaw a period of unprecedented sustainable urban and infrastructure development. In 2008, Mr Mooney was appointed to the Board of Ergon Energy, and in 2009, was appointed to the Board of Townsville Enterprise Limited. Mr Mooney received a Centenary Medal in 2001 for distinguished service to local government, and in 2011, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to local government and to the community of Townsville through a range of tourism, business and infrastructure organisations. He was appointed as a member of the Authority on 7 December 2011, for a five-year term which finishes on 6 December 2016.