Alison Smith

In her role at LGAQ, Alison leads the Advocacy team, working with State and Federal Governments on the top policy positions and funding priorities critical to Queensland councils and their communities. Between 2007 - 2020, Alison worked with ASX-100 companies, heading their corporate affairs functions. Alison was Group Executive External Affairs at The Star Entertainment Group, and previously held media and corporate affairs roles at Rio Tinto’s coal and uranium businesses in Australia, Africa, and Canada.  Alison has worked in the public and private sectors in ICT, transport, energy, police, and corrective services. She also spent 14 years as a journalist, working in newspapers, radio, and television, before being a senior media advisor in the Queensland Government for two terms.  Alison’s current external appointments are Chair of the Brisbane Festival Board and Vice President of the Queensland Futures Institute Corporate Affairs Council.