Mater Foundation is pleased to announce two new appointments to the Board—Kate Farrar and Joseph O’Brien.
Kate and Joseph also take on appointments in the Foundation’s Major Gift Committee as Chair and Deputy Chair respectively.
Kate Farrar is the Managing Director of QEnergy, a new Queensland electricity company focused on helping small businesses in Queensland with their electricity costs.
Kate has substantial electricity market experience, having been Chief Operating Officer of Ergon Energy’s Powerdirect Australia. Under her leadership, Powerdirect Australia grew to become one of Australia’s top five energy retailers covering a diverse customer base ranging from domestic and small business customers to large mines and airports. In 2007, Kate led the sale of Powerdirect to AGL for $1.2bn, $0.5bn above expectations.
Kate was previously a Director with ABN AMRO Morgans (now RBS Morgans), a national financial advisory firm. In 2006, Kate won Queensland Business Review’s Public Sector “Women in Business” award and was a Queensland finalist in the Hudson Community and Government Award category of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. In addition to her appointment as Chair of the Major Gifts Committee, Kate undertakes philanthropic work for the homeless and is also Chair of the Queensland Music Festival.
Joseph O’Brien was born in Brisbane at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, before his family moved to Townsville in north Queensland. He attended The University of Queensland and graduated from James Cook University with a degree in Business. For the past 15 years Joseph has been involved in establishing a number of specialist advisory firms in the energy industry and is based in Brisbane, working primarily as Director, Strategy & Development at Hill Michael.
In addition to his appointment as Deputy Chair of the Major Gifts Committee, Joseph is a member of the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation and Senior Vice Chairman of the RNA Future Directions Committee. Joseph and his wife Sarah are also looking forward to enjoying Mater’s hospitality in October, when they are expecting the birth of their first child.