Joseph O'Brien

Board Director

Mr Joseph O'Brien has been a Director of the Mater Foundation Board for 13 years, and previously Deputy Chair of the Major Gifts Committee. Mr O'Brien was born in Brisbane at Mater Mothers' Hospital before his family moved to Townsville in North Queensland.

Mr O'Brien attended the University of Queensland and graduated from James Cook University with a degree in Business, has attended Harvard Business School and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

For over 20 years, Mr O'Brien has been involved in the electricity industry including establishing a number of specialist advisory firms and six years as Chief Executive Officer of Hill Michael Strategic Engineering. 

Joseph has been involved in establishing a number of specialist advisory firms in the energy industry, including six years as Chief Executive Officer of Hill Michael Strategic Engineering.

Mr O'Brien is based in Brisbane and is a founder of energy-sector private equity investment firm VisIP and was the owner of CopperString 2.0, a $5b power transmission project now under construction. In addition to his appointment as Director of the Mater Foundation, Mr O'Brien is active in philanthropy, including as a member of the Committee of the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation, Director of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, and a Director of the Queensland Renewable Energy Council.

Joseph and his wife have three children, all of whom were born at Mater Mothers' Hospital.