The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee (RTIRC) members

• Dr Bill Glasson (Chair)
• Mr Mark Needham
• Ms Alexandra Gartmann
• Mrs Josephine Stone and
• Councillor Bruce Scott.

Dr Bill Glasson

Dr Glasson was born in Winton in far western Queensland and is highly regarded for his contribution to the health of rural and Indigenous Australians.

This includes his long and recognised career as an ophthalmologist in both Australia and overseas, and his current membership of the Northern Territory Indigenous Taskforce.

Throughout his career he has been involved with a number of boards and committees on rural and Indigenous eye health and was appointed as the Federal President of the Australian Medical Association from 2003–2005. Dr Glasson has also held various positions on a number of state and Federal medical and health organisations.

Mr Mark Needham

Mr Needham has a long history dealing with regional and telecommunications issues in Australia and is well regarded for his contributions in this area.

This includes his current position as Manager, Telecommunications for the National Farmers Federation and his previous involvement in a number of boards and committees dealing with regional and telecommunications issues. This also includes his appointment to the Australian Communications and Media Authority Community Consultative Forum in 2006.

Mr Needham has been instrumental in ensuring Australians in regional rural and remote areas have equitable access to telecommunications and has been involved in establishing a number of initiatives to enable this.

Ms Alexandra Gartmann

Ms Gartmann is well regarded for her contribution to agriculture in Australia and overseas.

This includes her widely recognised career as an agriculturalist in both regional Australia and overseas and her current position as Chief Executive Office of Birchip Cropping Group in Victoria—a not-for-profit association that develops and implements agricultural projects for the Australian Government and state governments.

Ms Gartmann was appointed to the Regional Women’s Advisory Committee in 2006 and has held various positions on a number of state and federal boards and committees.

Mrs Josephine Stone AM

Mrs Stone was recently recognised with the award of the Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to the Northern Territory community in fundraising activities over 25 years. This includes her term as Chair of the Red Cross Katherine Flood Appeal in 1998 which raised over $2 million for that flood ravaged community. Mrs Stone has held various positions in a number of charitable organisations in Alice Springs and Darwin as well as the Darwin Private Hospital Advisory Board and the Territory’s Women’s Advisory Committee.

Mrs Stone is a lawyer who has worked both in private practice and public institutions.

Cr Bruce Scott

Cr Scott owns a cattle station in the central west Queensland shire of Barcoo and is well regarded for his contribution to regional activities in Queensland.

This includes his work as a Councillor for Barcoo Shire in Queensland since 1994, and in his current office of Mayor which he has held since 2000.

He has taken part in a number of state government working groups and committees and is a current Director of the Remote Area Planning and Development Board. Cr Scott will bring extensive regional experience to the RTIRC.

Cr Scott was nominated for appointment to the Committee by the Remote Area Planning and Development Board which fulfils the requirements of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999, that at least one proposed nominee is nominated by an organisation that represents the interests of people, or bodies, in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.