The Coordinator-General
Gerard Coggan
Gerard commenced as Queensland’s Coordinator-General in January 2024. He’s responsible for:
- enabling, facilitating and coordinating major infrastructure projects and industry growth
- ensuring environmental and community impacts are properly considered and managed
- driving sustainable development and economic growth across the state.
As a seasoned executive, Gerard has over 25 years’ experience within the private and public sectors, across infrastructure project management and consulting, with a demonstrated history of steering work through complex environmental sustainability and community engagement processes.
Gerard’s prior roles across the private and public sectors, have included General Manager at APA Group, Acting as the Deputy Director-General – Investment, Facilitation and Partnerships within the former Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning as well the Director and founding partner of a project management consultancy.
Queensland’s Coordinator-General, he plays a critical role in leveraging significant, wide-ranging regulatory powers to plan, deliver and coordinate large-scale projects, while ensuring their environmental and social impacts are properly managed.
Assistant Coordinator-General – Resources, Energy Infrastructure and Partnerships
Kerry Smeltzer
As the Assistant Coordinator-General, Kerry’s role involves working in the public sector with a primary focus on economic development.
She’s responsible for:
- leading complex assessments for declared coordinated projects including working closely with the Australian Government in implementing the Assessment Bilateral Agreement
- ensuring compliance, facilitating major projects.
Kerry collaborates closely with both private and public sector stakeholders to advance major projects for Queensland.
Assistant Coordinator-General – Industry and Infrastructure Development
Cameron McLeod
As the Assistant Coordinator-General, IID Cameron is responsible for:
- leading the coordination, facilitation and delivery of complex infrastructure projects
- facilitating new industry, infrastructure and commercial development opportunities in State development areas
Cameron is a senior executive with over 20 years’ experience across Queensland and Australian government agencies. He has extensive experience in infrastructure project development and commercial transactions involving the public and private sectors. Previous positions within the Queensland Government include the Head of Transactions, Head of Commercial, and Assistant Under Treasurer within Queensland Treasury, where he worked for over a decade.
Cameron also has a depth of experience in public policy including pricing and regulation, particularly in the energy, water and transport sectors.
Cameron holds a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Arts and Master of Economics from the University of Queensland.
Executive Directors
Strategy and business – Krystal Baker
Krystal leads a range of strategic initiatives to support the delivery of the Coordinator-General’s priorities relating to:
- land management
- acquisition
- licence and tenure agreements
- whole of office systems.
She has a passion for delivering public value outcomes, navigating complexity and collaborating with stakeholders to help deliver meaningful outcomes for Queensland.
Krystal has over 20 years’ experience in the public service at both state and local government levels. This includes more than 15 years in various roles at the Office of the Coordinator-General. She specialises in delivering regional economic development outcomes through industry development, investment attraction and land use planning.
She is currently completing her Executive Masters of Public Sector Administration with ANSZOG – The Australia and New Zealand School of Government. She already holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Economics.
Energy Infrastructure and Partnerships – Melissa Nichols
Melissa leads teams which focus on:
- assessing and facilitating critical minerals and major economic development projects for Queensland, collaborating closely with private and public sector stakeholders.
- working closely with the Australian Government to de-risk and streamline project approvals through the assessment bilateral agreement and strategic approaches.
Melissa has over 2 decades of experience in project assessment and delivery across the public and private sectors. She’s known for her authentic leadership, fostering collaboration, and driving strategic outcomes.
Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours. She’s also completed leadership and executive coaching training from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and Australian Institute of Management.
Resources, Minerals and Social Impact – Elisa Terry
Elisa leads the teams delivering:
- pumped hydro energy storage for Queensland’s future energy supply mix
- strategic transmission and pipeline infrastructure.
This work underpins regional economic diversification.
She has over 15 years’ experience working in various leadership roles, within state and Australian Government departments. Her roles have spanned energy and water reform, public policy and service delivery and development.
Elisa holds a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Health), a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours, and a Graduate Diploma in Public Policy Analysis.
Planning and industry – Alyssa Cameron
Alyssa is responsible for:
- the establishment, planning and activation of State Development Areas across Queensland.
Alyssa has a passion for regional communities, placed based outcomes that deliver lasting benefits and shaping Queensland’s economic and industrial future.
Alyssa has over 25 years’ experience delivering major projects, strategic planning and facilitating new industry, infrastructure, and economic development in diverse and complex environments across Queensland. Alyssa has previously led teams responsible for complex assessments for coordinated projectsand the delivery of the state’s planning functions through SARA and plan making.
Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning with Honours, a Master of Environmental Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management. Alyssa is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and a Registered Planner.
Infrastructure and projects – Kirsty Elliott
Kirsty is responsible for leading teams focused on:
- critical water infrastructure projects
- transport and non-mineral mining projects
- capital project delivery and complex transactions.
She has over 25 years’ experience managing critical infrastructure projects and facilitating private sector investment in Queensland. She’s managed major development projects and economic initiatives, including numerous high-profile projects, complex transactions and investment programs.
Kirsty has led teams responsible for delivery of the Queensland Resources Common User Facility, Regional Trade Distribution Centres, Aurukun Bauxite development agreement and the Biofutures Acceleration Program.
Kirsty holds a Masters in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Asian Studies.
