Our People

Reg Hart – Chairman of the Board

The first manager of IMCAS (now AQ), Reg worked tirelessly in the first 18 months of the organisation’s formation to establish the solid foundation built on by succeeding managers. Reg rejoined AQ in 2013 and is the current Chairman. Reg is the Company Manager of Aviation Welding Australia and a community representative on the Board.

Maria Kelly CA

Maria is a Director of an Ipswich accounting firm, Harding Martin, and specialises in taxation and business services. She is an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Queensland.

Maria is also a trustee and Deputy Chair on the Board of Trustees for the Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, a Director of UQ College and a member of the Zonta Club of Ipswich Inc.

Neil McPhillips

Neil McPhillips has been a Director of Apprenticeships Queensland since 2005. Neil has previously held positions in public and private companies, to the level of Chief Executive Officer, and has also owned and operated his own successful private companies.

Neil is also an Associate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and delivers training courses to business and not-for-profit organisations on issues of Corporate Governance etc. He is an industry representative on the AQ Board.

Wayne Wendt

Wayne was elected to the Ipswich City Council as the representative for Division 5 on 19 March 2016, qualifying him for a position on the Board of Apprenticeships Queensland as the Ipswich City Council representative.

Wayne holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting and has operated a successful accounting practice prior to this election as the Member for Ipswich West in the Queensland Parliament and served from 2006 until 2012. He then moved to the role of CEO of the Ipswich Jets Rugby League Club overseeing their success in 2015.

Ben Rawlings

A degree in Business Administration, Public Relations, Communications & Media and membership of professional associations relevant to business interests gives this board member a broad skill base to apply to board duties.

Roderick Hoffensetz

Rod is the Principal of Hoffensetz Solicitors. He holds a Bachelor of Law Degree and a Masters of Law Degree. He has 17 years experience in practice covering commercial, litigation and insurance Law, dispute resolution and risk management needs.

Paul Hillberg – General Manager

Joining our team in June 2016, Paul Hillberg brings over two decades of experience leading and working with Apprentices and Trainees in both blue and white collar environments. Paul has a vast range of management experience working within the public and private sector in both small and large businesses. While Paul was the General Manager of an ERTO he represented QLD on the National Industry Advisory Council responsible for training package development and maintenance across Australia.