25 Essential Leaders Shaping Launceston Australia

Last updated: June 2026

As of June 2026, Launceston is building something quietly extraordinary.

The city that sits at the meeting point of three rivers in Northern Tasmania has been named Australia's most liveable regional city, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and Australian Town of the Year 2022. Its startup ecosystem is near capacity. Its 20-year-old leadership development program just celebrated two decades of impact. A co-founder of one of the world's most valuable private technology companies is running conservation projects from a property in the Tamar Valley. The leaders shaping this city are not a footnote in the national conversation about Australian leadership. They deserve to be the headline.

This directory puts together 25 of the most influential people currently working in and from Launceston and Northern Tasmania. Each person was selected for a documented, fact-checked contribution to their field, confirmed against primary sources dated within the last 12 months. Rather than recycling the handful of statewide names that appear on every Tasmanian power list, the goal here is to surface the leaders who are genuinely shaping this region right now. You will find civic leaders and startup founders, disability advocates and health researchers, a Premier and a community worker who drove a campaign to open a social supermarket. What connects them is that their leadership is making Launceston a stronger, more interesting, and more liveable place.

The Launceston General Hospital is the largest employer in the region, with approximately 2,000 staff. The City of Launceston covers a land area of 1,414 square kilometres and serves more than 77,000 direct municipal residents. The van Diemen Project has supported more than 1,200 people on business and impact journeys across Northern Tasmania and beyond. Tasmanian Leaders Inc celebrated 20 years in 2026 with a network of over 1,000 graduates. These are not statistics about a sleepy regional city. They are the infrastructure of a serious leadership ecosystem.

For organisations looking to develop the leadership culture that allows exceptional people to do their best work, engage Jonno White to deliver a Working Genius workshop, executive team offsite, or leadership keynote. Jonno is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator and author of Step Up or Step Out (10,000+ copies sold). Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

For a look at comparable regional Australian leadership communities, see the companion directory of influential leaders in Wollongong and the directory of influential leaders in Geelong.

Why Launceston Leadership Matters

Launceston is the second-largest city in Tasmania and the 18th largest city in Australia by urban area population. As of the 2021 census, the Launceston urban area has a population of approximately 90,953 people. The broader municipal area, governed by the City of Launceston, serves more than 77,000 residents directly.

What makes Launceston's leadership story distinctive is not scale. It is concentration of consequence. A city of this size produces a level of cross-sector impact that is disproportionate to its population, because the leaders here run institutions that serve an entire region. The Launceston General Hospital is the major acute referral hospital for all of Northern and North-Western Tasmania. The University of Tasmania's Launceston campus anchors the city's research and education ecosystem. The Northern Tasmania Development Corporation coordinates economic development across seven local government areas. When a leader at any of these institutions makes a decision, the effects ripple across a geography far larger than the city's own boundaries.

Tasmanian Leaders Inc has spent 20 years building leadership capacity and connectivity across Tasmania. The network now includes over 1,000 graduates spanning every sector of public and private life. The van Diemen Project has supported thousands of founders, social entrepreneurs, and community organisations from its Launceston base. The Launceston Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1849, is the oldest Chamber in Australia. This is a city with deep institutional roots and, as of 2026, genuine momentum.

Organisations across Tasmania and nationally find that bringing in an external facilitator, keynote speaker, or Working Genius practitioner from outside the region accelerates internal leadership conversations in ways that local voices sometimes cannot. Book Jonno White, author of Step Up or Step Out (10,000+ copies sold) and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, to work with your Launceston or Northern Tasmania team. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

How This List Was Compiled

Each leader on this list was selected for a documented, fact-checked contribution to their field in Launceston and Northern Tasmania. The selection drew on primary sources including organisational leadership pages, major award programmes, media coverage from The Examiner and national publications, LinkedIn activity, and primary profile information. Every current role and organisation was confirmed against a primary source dated within the last 12 months.

The list moves deliberately across sectors. Civic governance and local government, business and enterprise, health and medical research, education and research, technology and innovation, nonprofit and community, and social advocacy are all represented. The list reflects no advertising relationships and no payments of any kind.

Category 1: Civic and Government Leadership

Launceston's civic and political leadership is navigating a period of genuine ambition and complexity. The city's mayor and chief executive are working through infrastructure investment, housing, and sustainability planning at a scale the region has rarely seen. Its federal representative is new, energetic, and vocal. Its Premier is based in Launceston and has been tested by major economic challenges. These are leaders with real decisions to make and real consequences attached to them.

1. Matthew Garwood

City of Launceston

Matthew Garwood is the 78th Mayor of Launceston, elected in October 2022 and serving a term that expires in 2026. Born and raised in Launceston, he is the most visible civic face of the city, known for a distinctive public presence that combines genuine passion for community outcomes with an active and occasionally headline-generating social media approach. His vision for the city centres on connectivity through infrastructure, transport, arts and culture, identity, gastronomy, and sport.

Under Garwood's mayoralty the City of Launceston has been a 2025 winner of the Local Government Awards for Excellence, one of three Tasmanian councils recognised that year. The council under his leadership released a draft 2035 Strategic Plan in 2025, outlining the city's development vision for the next decade. For the people of Launceston, Garwood represents a style of civic leadership that is genuinely present and accessible, prioritising a sense of pride, purpose, and belonging in the city's communities. Organisations wanting to engage with Launceston's civic leadership should reach out to jonno@consultclarity.org to explore a Working Genius workshop for your council or leadership team.

2. Sam Johnson OAM

City of Launceston

Sam Johnson OAM joined the City of Launceston as Chief Executive Officer in July 2024, appointed after a national and international recruitment process that attracted close to 40 candidates. An Order of Australia Medal recipient for services to local government, Johnson brings a career spanning roles at ANZ Bank, five years as a young Mayor of Port Augusta City Council, and most recently as CEO of the District Council of Mount Remarkable in South Australia.

He describes his approach as high-energy and action-oriented, arriving in Launceston with a stated ambition to build new community relationships, improve service delivery, and advocate strongly for the city and region. His early moves included shaking up the leadership team. In the Examiner's 2025 list of Northern Tasmania's 40 under 40 influential people, Johnson was described as "one of the region's movers and shakers." Engage Jonno White for executive offsite facilitation or a Working Genius session for the City of Launceston leadership team at jonno@consultclarity.org.

3. Jess Teesdale

Australian Parliament

Jess Teesdale is the Federal Member for Bass, elected in the 2025 federal election, representing Launceston and the surrounding electorate in the Australian House of Representatives. Born and raised in Launceston, she studied teaching at the University of Tasmania, taught in the Northern Territory for a decade, and returned home to contest and win one of Australia's most marginal seats with 58 per cent of the vote.

Before entering Parliament, Teesdale worked as a teacher and community advocate, coaching basketball, volunteering at Launceston Parkrun, and teaching English to adults. Her priorities include healthcare, education, housing, and economic opportunity for young people in Bass. Her election was historic for the seat, and she has since made clear her intention to fight for better funding for Northern Tasmania's health and infrastructure needs. Bring Jonno White in to run a Working Genius facilitation or leadership keynote for your team at jonno@consultclarity.org.

4. Jeremy Rockliff

Tasmanian Government

Jeremy Rockliff is the Premier of Tasmania, based in Launceston. He has been a central figure in Tasmanian state politics for more than a decade, serving in various Cabinet roles before taking the top job. As of June 2026 he is navigating economic pressures including the announced closure of the James Boag's Brewery in Launceston, a development he publicly opposed and described as "not a good decision," committing state resources to support Northern Tasmania through the transition.

His Launceston base gives the region direct representation at the highest level of state government. His priorities across health, infrastructure, economic development, and regional equity shape policy outcomes that affect every person and organisation in Northern Tasmania. For leadership and team development support for Tasmanian government organisations, organisations can hire Jonno White for executive facilitation and Working Genius workshops. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Category 2: Business and Enterprise

Launceston's business community spans food and beverages, professional services, financial institutions, startup and innovation ecosystems, and established corporate governance. The leaders in this category are building organisations, running boards, and shaping the economic direction of Northern Tasmania from within its own community.

5. Alina Bain

Launceston Chamber of Commerce

Alina Bain has been Chief Executive Officer of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce since February 2024, stepping into the role of leading Australia's oldest Chamber after a career that has included leading the Export Council of Australia, the Australian Association of National Advertisers, and her own consultancy. She returned to Tasmania in 2021 after years on the mainland and in the United States.

Under her leadership the Chamber has run its 20th annual Business Excellence Awards programme, introduced a formal Hall of Fame nomination process, and positioned itself as an active advocacy body on behalf of Northern Tasmania's business community. In June 2026, her response to the Boag's Brewery closure announcement placed her alongside the Mayor and Premier as one of the three institutional voices speaking for the economic interests of the region. She has described Launceston as being on a path toward becoming "one of the greatest regional cities of the world to do business." Hire Jonno White for your next leadership keynote, Working Genius workshop, or executive offsite. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

6. Laura McBain

Australia China Business Council Tasmania

Laura McBain is based in Launceston and currently serves as President of the Tasmania Branch of the Australia China Business Council, alongside non-executive director roles at Integral Diagnostics, Tasmania Football Club, Tasmanian Irrigation, and Lark Distillery. She joined the Bank of Us board as a newly elected Director in October 2025, adding a fourth listed-company-level governance role to her portfolio.

McBain spent years in key leadership roles at Bellamy's Organic as Managing Director, the period when the company boomed on the Chinese market before its ASX listing and subsequent volatility. She was named 2013 Telstra Tasmanian and Australian Businesswoman of the Year. The Examiner named her one of its 20 influential Tasmanians for 2026, describing her as "a high-level corporate strategist." Her current portfolio of board and governance roles makes her one of the most connected figures in Tasmanian corporate life. For organisations building governance capacity in Northern Tasmania, bring in Jonno White to facilitate a leadership or Working Genius session. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

7. Cameron Adams

Canva

Cameron Adams is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Canva, the Australian design platform with a valuation widely reported at approximately $60 billion as of 2026, used by more than 230 million people monthly. He has been living in Launceston for several years, and alongside his wife Lisa Miller, the couple own a 5,000-hectare property in the Tamar Valley region where they are undertaking a large-scale environmental regeneration project. In May 2025 the couple pledged to give the majority of their fortune to support biodiversity, climate, and environmental restoration, formalising their commitment through the Giving Pledge.

Adams posts regularly on LinkedIn about product, design, and AI, with over 30,000 followers making him one of the most widely followed technology leaders with genuine Tasmanian roots. His presence in the region connects Launceston to the global technology and design ecosystem in a way that few other individuals could replicate. For leadership teams in technology and creative industries, engage Jonno White for a Working Genius facilitation or keynote. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

8. Paul Ranson

Bank of Us

Paul Ranson is the Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Us, Tasmania's customer-owned bank headquartered in Launceston at 93 Cimitiere Street. At the 2025 Annual General Meeting held in October 2025, Ranson gave an overview of the bank's performance, highlighting lending results, the MyHome programme designed to improve housing security for Tasmanians, and plans for the year ahead. Bank of Us is the only customer-owned bank operating in Tasmania, giving it a distinctive role in Northern Tasmania's financial landscape.

His leadership of an institution focused on people and purpose over pure profit reflects the character of much of Launceston's business community, where civic and community values are woven into how organisations operate. The bank's community showcase, delivered annually in partnership with the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reflects its model of banking as community stewardship. Organisations navigating complex team dynamics and cultural alignment can book Jonno White for executive facilitation at jonno@consultclarity.org.

9. Daniela Cavalletti

Cavalletti Communications

Daniela Cavalletti is the Director of Cavalletti Communications and has been a Launceston local since 2018. She is a re-elected member of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, first joining in 2019 and confirmed for a further term in October 2025. Her advocacy centres on small and medium business voices in Northern Tasmania, and she brings a communications and strategic perspective to the Chamber's governance.

Her tenure on the Chamber board spans some of the most consequential years in Launceston's recent economic history, including the post-pandemic recovery, the Boag's closure announcement, and the city's push for a convention centre. As a director of a growing communications consultancy and a governance voice in the city's peak business body, she represents the emerging generation of Launceston business leaders who have built their careers and businesses from within the region rather than arriving from elsewhere. To build the leadership culture that supports your communications and business teams, engage Jonno White for a Working Genius session. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

10. David Kewley

DK Accounting and Advisory

David Kewley founded DK Accounting and Advisory in Launceston in 2018 after a decade working in accounting firms across the city. His firm specialises in giving substantive advisory support to startups, fledgling businesses, and not-for-profits, a deliberately small operation with four staff members focused on quality over scale. He was a finalist for the Launceston Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year at the 2025 Business Excellence Awards.

Kewley's deliberate choice to stay small and focused is itself a statement about what distinctive business leadership looks like in a regional city. He describes his work as helping businesses think about "how you differentiate, how you are one of those small businesses that survive and thrive instead of dying." In a city where the professional services sector is the infrastructure that makes everything else function, practitioners who combine technical expertise with strategic thinking for early-stage organisations play an outsized role. Hire Jonno White, author of Step Up or Step Out and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, to work with your business leadership team. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Category 3: Education, Research, and Innovation

The University of Tasmania's Launceston campus anchors a research and education ecosystem that punches above its weight. The leaders in this category include a neuroscientist who is also a science communicator and WHO ambassador, an education-focused innovation entrepreneur who has empowered tens of thousands of students nationally, a startup ecosystem CEO, and a disability researcher whose advocacy has shaped national legislation.

11. Dr Lila Landowski

University of Tasmania

Dr Lila Landowski is a senior lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Tasmania's Launceston campus and one of Tasmania's most prominent science communicators. After completing her PhD at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research in 2014, she has built a career that bridges high-quality academic research into dementia and stroke with public engagement, advocacy, and science communication that reaches well beyond the campus.

She is a World Health Organisation ambassador and a Director of Science and Technology Australia, and has been a finalist for the Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science in both 2023 and 2025. In 2023, she gave her own TEDx Talk on strategies for faster learning. Her LinkedIn presence and media engagement make her one of the most visible science voices in Northern Tasmania, working consistently to create pathways for the next generation of diverse scientists. For organisations in the health and education sectors looking to develop their leadership teams, book Jonno White for executive facilitation or a Working Genius session. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

12. Adam Mostogl

The van Diemen Project

Adam Mostogl is the CEO and Chief Entrepreneur of The van Diemen Project, a Launceston-based business and impact advisory firm he founded in 2016. Through the van Diemen Project he has supported more than 1,200 people on business and community impact journeys, running startup circles, strategic planning facilitation, and coaching programmes for founders and social enterprise leaders across Northern Tasmania. He is also the Founder and Inspirer of illuminate Education Australia, whose programmes have reached more than 25,000 students from 3,000 schools nationwide.

His work has been recognised internationally, including a handpicked invitation by the US State Department for a study tour on innovation ecosystems. He was named one of Australia's Top 40 Under 40 Entrepreneurs and Executives in 2023. He is the facilitator behind The Shift Lab, described as Tasmania's first social impact incubator, and has been a director of both the Launceston Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Tasmania Development Corporation. For facilitation, Working Genius sessions, and leadership keynotes that help your organisation build momentum, engage Jonno White at jonno@consultclarity.org.

13. Angela Driver

Tasmanian Leaders Inc

Angela Driver has been the Chief Executive Officer of Tasmanian Leaders Inc since 2021 and has been associated with the organisation since 2011. She is the public face of an organisation whose flagship program, the Tasmanian Leaders Program, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2026, and whose network now includes over 1,000 graduates spanning every sector of Tasmanian life. Based in Launceston, she leads a team delivering leadership development programs across the state, including the Dare to Lead workshops, the I-LEAD Young Professionals program, and the annual Leading at the Edge Symposium, which came to Launceston in 2026.

Driver has described the leadership challenge facing Tasmania in characteristically direct terms: "I am working harder now than I did during Covid-19," a line that captures the pressure on leaders navigating workforce shortages, digital disruption, and the complexity of leading in a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone. Her network of 1,000+ graduates is arguably the most influential cross-sector leadership network in the state. For organisations who want an external Working Genius or leadership facilitation perspective, bring in Jonno White. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

14. Brian Collins

Enterprize Tasmania

Brian Collins was named Chief Executive Officer of Enterprize Tasmania in February 2026, stepping into the leadership of the state's premier startup ecosystem organisation with a background as co-founder of Triple Bubble, a fintech-focused fund, Deputy Chair of FinTech Australia, and advisor on fintech and venture capital with organisations including AWS and major banks. He is based across the Hobart and Launceston hubs of Enterprize, with the Launceston hub described as near capacity in 2026.

Enterprize has grown over its first decade to host more than 220 members across more than 100 companies, running thousands of events and building a statewide platform for Tasmanian founders. Collins joined with an explicit ambition to raise Tasmania's profile in the national and global startup ecosystem, describing it as having "fallen in love with the innovation ecosystem in Tasmania." His appointment brings national-level fintech and startup expertise into direct contact with the Launceston innovation community. Hire Jonno White for a leadership keynote or Working Genius facilitation for your Launceston-based team. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Category 4: Health and Community

Northern Tasmania's health and community leaders are doing some of the most consequential work in the region. From the charity supporting the Launceston General Hospital to the GP who transformed a rural practice, to the community leader driving a social supermarket initiative, these are people whose work reaches the most vulnerable members of the community.

15. Vanessa Cahoon

Clifford Craig Foundation

Vanessa Cahoon became Chief Executive Officer of the Clifford Craig Foundation in early 2024, becoming only the fifth CEO and only the second woman to lead the organisation in its 30-year history. The Foundation is the health promotion charity supporting the Launceston General Hospital, the acute referral hospital for Tasmania's North and North-West. Its work funds innovative medical research, health professional education, medical equipment, and patient facilities in the region.

A Launceston local with extensive experience in public relations, communications, and project management, Cahoon came to the role with strong local and state government networks and a stated commitment to building closer ties between government, the Foundation, and the broader community. Her leadership of the Foundation was recognised in the 2025 Business Excellence Awards, where the Clifford Craig Foundation was cited for its contribution to community and health outcomes in Northern Tasmania. Organisations in the health sector can engage Jonno White for leadership facilitation and Working Genius sessions. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

16. Dr Prashanth Reddy

Beaconsfield Family Medical Services

Dr Prashanth Reddy is the principal GP and owner of Beaconsfield Family Medical Services, a practice he has grown from one doctor to seven since taking it over in 2023. The practice was named Tasmania's best in 2024. In April 2025 he also took over First Point Health Care in Newstead. He was named the Launceston Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year at the 2025 Business Excellence Awards, with the citation recognising his leadership in growing the practice into a multidisciplinary clinic and his health advocacy work in the community.

Born in India and based in the Launceston area, Reddy's impact on primary healthcare access in Northern Tasmania is grounded in building a team-based practice model that can serve more patients more comprehensively. Accepting the award, he dedicated it to his team and to the Beaconsfield community. For healthcare organisations building leadership culture, book Jonno White for Working Genius facilitation or a leadership keynote. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

17. Kath Hawkins

Primary Health Tasmania

Kath Hawkins is a senior leader at Primary Health Tasmania, the organisation responsible for improving primary healthcare access and coordination across the state, based in Launceston. Her career has spanned roles in partnership brokering, startup ecosystem building at Enterprize Tasmania, and health and social policy, giving her an unusually broad view of how systems fit together at the community level. She has been active in the NDIS policy reform space as it accelerates in 2026, posting substantive analysis of how upcoming changes will affect participants, providers, and the broader health system.

Her background in convening stakeholders across education, justice, health, and community sectors in Northern Tasmania reflects the kind of connective leadership that regional cities depend on but that rarely surfaces in mainstream leadership conversation. Hawkins represents a generation of Tasmanian leaders who have built multisector careers that serve as bridge points across the region's silos. To support your health or community organisation's leadership development, engage Jonno White at jonno@consultclarity.org.

18. Chet Narayan Sapkota

Admire Care Mate Support Services

Chet Narayan Sapkota is a Registered Nurse and the CEO of Admire Care Mate Support Services in Launceston, providing vital support to individuals with disabilities. He also works as a Clinical Nurse Consultant committed to mental health and dementia care in Tasmania, leading the Rapid Access Service for dementia care. His work has included tackling complex health needs with empathy and professionalism across multiple intersecting roles in the Launceston healthcare ecosystem.

His story is one of navigating personal challenges including discrimination and racism, and channelling those experiences into fostering inclusivity and resilience in healthcare settings. He received the Spot On Award from the Department of Health for his contributions. A 2026 finalist for the Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards, Sapkota represents the growing contribution of skilled migrants to Northern Tasmania's health workforce and leadership. For health organisations building inclusive leadership cultures, book Jonno White for Working Genius facilitation. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

19. Rodney Spinks

Launceston Benevolent Society

Rodney Spinks is one of Launceston's most respected community leaders, known for tireless work across the Launceston Benevolent Society, St Vincent de Paul, and the Rotary Club of Tamar Sunrise. He is the driving force behind a community initiative to open a social supermarket in Launceston, offering basic provisions in a non-judgmental and respectful environment to address food insecurity in Northern Tasmania. In 2025 he received a Churchill Fellowship to study international best practice in addressing food security through social supermarkets.

He was a 2026 Local Hero nominee for Tasmania in the Australian of the Year Awards, with his citation describing how he has raised awareness of homelessness, youth disadvantage, and food insecurity while delivering concrete solutions. His approach, described in the nomination as treating everybody "with the dignity they deserve," captures a form of leadership that operates entirely outside the platforms and profiles of the business world but shapes the real conditions of life for Launceston's most vulnerable residents. For leadership teams working in the social and community sector, Jonno White delivers Working Genius facilitation and keynotes. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

20. Jane Wardlaw

Tasmania Disability Lobby

Jane Wardlaw is a disability advocate, researcher, and consultant based in Launceston. Living with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, she founded the Tasmania Disability Lobby in 2010, driving early advocacy for the NDIS and later co-founding a disability support coordination service. Her advocacy has shaped some of the most significant disability policy reform in the state's history, including contributing to Tasmania's Disability Inclusion and Safeguarding Bill 2024, which established a Disability Commissioner.

In 2025 she was appointed to the NDIS Independent Advisory Council, bringing Tasmanian lived experience and research expertise to the national policy level. She also serves on the Premier's Disability Advisory Council and the Minister's Disability Consultative Group. Through her PhD research, her OurSayMatters campaign, and her ongoing consulting and teaching, Wardlaw has built a career that is equal parts scholarship and activism. For organisations working in disability services or building inclusive workplaces, engage Jonno White at jonno@consultclarity.org.

Category 5: Social Impact and Advocacy

Launceston's social impact and advocacy leaders work at the intersection of community need, policy, and systemic change. The leaders in this category are building organisations that address inequality, advocate for the most vulnerable, and create opportunities where none existed.

21. Dr Allison Anderson

Episteme Consulting

Dr Allison Anderson is the Director of Episteme Consulting and Chair of the Northern Tasmania Development Corporation Board, based in Launceston. She was an active presence in April 2026 in the NTDC CEO recruitment process, publicly posting about the qualities needed in the region's next economic development leader: political navigation skills, governance acumen, and genuine passion for Northern Tasmania's future. Her LinkedIn engagement on regional development, tourism, and economic strategy makes her one of the more publicly active governance voices in the region.

Her background combines consulting, board governance, and deep regional economic development expertise. As Chair of the NTDC Board she is the governance partner to the incoming CEO, setting strategic direction for the organisation that shapes much of Northern Tasmania's economic future. She has been on the NTDC board since 2020 and was appointed Chair in 2021. For governance teams and boards navigating complex regional challenges, bring Jonno White in to facilitate a Working Genius or executive offsite session. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

22. Michael Bailey OAM

Northern Tasmania Development Corporation

Michael Bailey OAM spent 13 years as Chief Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry before stepping away in mid-2026 to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Tasmania Development Corporation, commencing July 2026. His appointment, announced in May 2026, followed a competitive national recruitment process chaired by NTDC Board Chair Dr Allison Anderson, who described him as one of Tasmania's most respected leaders with an exceptional track record in advocacy, strategic leadership, and building partnerships.

Bailey is a Launceston resident who serves on the boards of the Tasmanian JackJumpers basketball club and TasBuild. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2024 for services to business. At the NTDC, he will lead the organisation responsible for coordinating economic development across seven Northern Tasmanian local government areas. His appointment marks a significant transition for the region's economic development body at a moment when Northern Tasmania faces both major opportunities and genuine challenges. Organisations in Northern Tasmania looking to build the leadership culture to meet these challenges can book Jonno White for executive facilitation and Working Genius workshops. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

23. Leah Carr

Theatre North

Leah Carr is the General Manager of Theatre North, the organisation responsible for programming and managing Launceston's premier live performance venues, including the Princess Theatre, the Earl Arts Centre, and, while the Princess Theatre undergoes its $30 million renovation, productions at the Albert Hall. Carr was appointed to the role following an announcement by the Theatre North Board, stepping into leadership of an organisation that is one of Northern Tasmania's largest arts sector employers and a cultural anchor for the city.

Theatre North programs an annual season of live performance, supported by Arts Tasmania, featuring productions from national companies alongside local work. In 2026 the organisation is navigating the significant disruption of a major venue closure while maintaining its programming momentum. The appointment of a new General Manager at this moment of venue transformation makes the role one of the most consequential in the city's arts and cultural life. For organisations in the arts and cultural sector building leadership capability, book Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator, for facilitation or keynote work. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

24. Reede Adams-Beckett

UNICEF Australia

At 22 years old, Reede Adams-Beckett is UNICEF Australia's Young Ambassador for Tasmania, an appointment that has given him a platform to elevate the voices of young Tasmanians in national policy conversations. He sits on multiple advocacy boards including Headspace, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and the Youth Network of Tasmania. Based in Launceston, he was described in the Examiner's 40 under 40 list as someone whose contributions position him as "one of the region's rising leaders."

His youth advocacy work at the intersection of mental health, governance, and youth policy representation reflects the breadth of what civic leadership looks like in a city where the next generation is stepping into roles earlier and with more institutional credibility than in previous generations. He represents the voices that are easy to overlook in a leadership conversation dominated by executives and founders. For organisations building youth engagement and leadership development, engage Jonno White for a Working Genius facilitation or leadership keynote. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

25. James Avery

Stadiums Tasmania

James Avery is the Chief Executive Officer of Stadiums Tasmania, the authority responsible for managing and developing Tasmania's major sporting and event venues, including UTAS Stadium and the Silverdome in Launceston, and the Macquarie Point stadium currently under development. His role places him at the centre of one of the most significant infrastructure transformations in the region's recent history. The Examiner named him one of its 20 influential Tasmanians in 2026, describing him as a "somewhat inconspicuous figure" whose influence is substantial.

Under his stewardship, Stadiums Tasmania has overseen upgrades to UTAS Stadium and the Silverdome, improving the experience for Launceston's sporting community and event attendees while laying the groundwork for the Macquarie Point facility. The stadium portfolio connects directly to the civic identity of Northern Tasmania, where sport is both community infrastructure and economic driver. Organisations in sport, events, and facilities management can engage Jonno White for leadership facilitation and keynote speaking. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Notable Voices We Almost Included

The pool of influential leaders in Launceston and Northern Tasmania is deeper than any single directory can capture. Several voices deserved serious consideration but fell outside the final selection. Prof Natalie Brown, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Launceston) at the University of Tasmania, leads much of the academic direction for the Launceston campus and is a significant voice in higher education governance. Hugh McKenzie, Deputy Mayor of the City of Launceston and director of multiple regional organisations including Tasmanian Irrigation, brings extraordinary board-level depth across the civic infrastructure of Northern Tasmania. Adrienne Picone, outgoing CEO of TasCOSS and incoming CEO of Hobart City Mission from mid-2026, was one of the most consequential voices in Tasmanian community services policy for more than five years. Katy Cooper, futurist, facilitator, and Tasmanian Leaders Program co-facilitator for 2026, is a distinctive voice in Northern Tasmania's leadership development ecosystem. These leaders and others worth following are tagged in the companion LinkedIn post.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building Leadership in a Regional City

Regional city leadership carries its own failure modes. They are different from the failure modes of metropolitan leadership, and understanding them is part of what makes a Launceston-based leader effective.

The first mistake is treating the small-city network as a disadvantage. In Launceston, the same people sit on multiple boards, attend the same events, and know each other's reputations in detail. Leaders who mistake this proximity for limitation find themselves constantly managing their local profile rather than using it. Leaders who embrace it understand that a dense, trust-based network is one of the most powerful forms of infrastructure a regional city has. The most effective Launceston leaders use the network as an amplifier, not a constraint.

The second mistake is building for the city only and ignoring national and global reach. Several leaders on this list, from Cameron Adams to Angela Driver to Dr Allison Anderson, have built careers that operate simultaneously at the local and the international level. Launceston's UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation, its Tasmanian Leaders Program with national recognition, and its role as home to Canva's co-founder are all evidence that regional does not mean limited. Leaders who think parochially about their Launceston base leave value on the table.

The third mistake is neglecting the succession pipeline. Northern Tasmania has a genuine challenge retaining young talent. The most effective leaders here invest deliberately in the next generation, whether through the Tasmanian Leaders Program, mentoring arrangements, board observer seats for emerging leaders, or creating genuine career pathways within their own organisations. Reede Adams-Beckett at 22 serving on multiple advocacy boards is an example of what becomes possible when organisations deliberately make space for youth leadership.

The fourth mistake is underestimating the civic dimension of business leadership in a regional city. In Launceston, business leaders who are not actively engaged with the Chamber, the community sector, and the city's institutional fabric are simply less effective than those who are. The lines between the private sector, government, and community are thinner here than in a capital city, and treating them as separate spheres is a recipe for both missed opportunities and unnecessary friction.

Implementation Guide: Engaging with Launceston's Leadership Ecosystem

If you are arriving in Launceston as a new leader, or building a business here, or looking to connect your national or international organisation with the Northern Tasmanian leadership community, there are five practical ways to build genuine traction quickly.

The first is to engage with Tasmanian Leaders Inc. The 20-year-old program and its 1,000+ graduate network is the single most comprehensive cross-sector leadership network in the state. Joining as a program participant, a sponsor, an event partner, or simply attending the annual symposium is the fastest way to be introduced across sectors simultaneously. The Leading at the Edge Symposium came to Launceston in 2026, and the program regularly holds events across Northern Tasmania.

The second is to engage with the Launceston Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1849, it is the oldest Chamber in Australia and the peak business body for Northern Tasmania. The annual Business Excellence Awards, which celebrated its 20th year in 2026, is the city's flagship recognition event for business achievement and the best single networking environment for the private sector.

The third is to build genuine local roots, not just contacts. Launceston's leadership community places high value on people who are genuinely present and invested in the city's future. Leaders who show up consistently, contribute to the community, and stay for the long term are trusted in ways that visiting professionals rarely are. Cameron Adams' conservation project in the Tamar Valley region and Rodney Spinks' years of volunteer service are both examples of the kind of deep local rootedness that builds real influence.

The fourth is to use LinkedIn deliberately but not as a substitute for presence. Several leaders on this list, including Adam Mostogl, Dr Lila Landowski, and Angela Driver, maintain active LinkedIn presences that extend their Launceston-based influence to national and international audiences. But their LinkedIn presence amplifies their work rather than substituting for it. In a city this size, being known in person is still the foundation.

The fifth is to seek out the intersection between sectors. Launceston's most consequential leaders are nearly always working across the public, private, and community sector simultaneously. Laura McBain holds board roles across listed companies, a sports club, a bank, and an agricultural authority. Dr Allison Anderson consults, chairs the NTDC board, and contributes to tourism strategy. The ability to move fluidly between sectors while remaining credible in each is the signature skill of Northern Tasmania's best leaders.

Organisations consistently find that bringing in an external facilitator who can bridge sectors, clarify team dynamics, and facilitate high-stakes conversations is one of the highest-return investments they can make. Book Jonno White, author of Step Up or Step Out (10,000+ copies sold) and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, to facilitate your next executive offsite, Working Genius workshop, or leadership keynote. International travel is often far more affordable than clients expect. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the most influential leaders in Launceston right now?

As of June 2026, the most influential leaders in Launceston span civic governance, business, health, education, and community. Matthew Garwood as Mayor and Sam Johnson as City CEO lead the civic governance dimension. Alina Bain leads the business community through the Chamber. Angela Driver leads the state's most significant leadership development organisation. Cameron Adams, Co-Founder of Canva, is based in Launceston. The full picture of who is shaping this city requires a cross-sector lens, not a single-sector ranking.

What makes Launceston a distinctive leadership environment?

Launceston combines the density and trust of a close-knit regional community with the genuine ambition and reach of an internationally recognised city. It holds UNESCO City of Gastronomy status and was named Australian Town of the Year in 2022. Its Tasmanian Leaders Program has built the most comprehensive cross-sector leadership network in the state over 20 years. It is home to Canva's co-founder and is the base for organisations that serve all of Northern and North-Western Tasmania. That combination of international recognition, deep community roots, and consequential institutions creates a leadership environment unlike any other regional Australian city.

How were the leaders on this list selected?

Each leader on this list was selected for a documented, fact-checked contribution to their field. Every current role and organisation was confirmed against primary sources dated within the last 12 months. The list moves deliberately across sectors including civic governance, business, health, education, technology, nonprofit, and social advocacy, and makes a deliberate effort to represent the genuine diversity of Northern Tasmania's leadership community. It reflects no advertising relationships.

How can I engage with Launceston's leadership community if I am based elsewhere?

The Tasmanian Leaders Program's annual symposium, the Launceston Chamber's Business Excellence Awards, and the events run by the Northern Tasmania Development Corporation are the three most accessible entry points. For organisations wanting external facilitation, keynote speaking, or leadership development that connects an external perspective to local Launceston leadership teams, book Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and author of Step Up or Step Out, for engagements in Launceston and Northern Tasmania. Email jonno@consultclarity.org. Many organisations find that flying Jonno in costs less than engaging high-profile local providers.

Final Thoughts

Launceston is not a city that asks for your attention. It earns it.

The 25 leaders in this directory are not doing their work for a national audience. They are building a hospital research programme, growing a rural GP practice from one doctor to seven, founding Tasmania's first social impact incubator, leading Australia's oldest Chamber of Commerce, running the stadium authority for a new AFL team's home ground, and growing a billion-dollar technology company while restoring a 5,000-hectare Tasmanian property. They do the work because the work needs doing.

What Launceston has that many larger cities do not is a leadership community that knows each other, trusts each other, and holds each other to account. The Tasmanian Leaders Program's 1,000+ graduate network is the social infrastructure behind that trust. The 175-year-old Launceston Chamber of Commerce is the commercial infrastructure. The Clifford Craig Foundation is the health research infrastructure. The Northern Tasmania Development Corporation is the economic development infrastructure. These are serious institutions run by serious people.

For organisations looking to build that same quality of leadership internally, the principles are not unique to Launceston. Clear roles, genuine trust, and the discipline to have the conversations that matter are what Working Genius facilitation and executive team offsite design address most directly. Hire Jonno White to work with your team. Email jonno@consultclarity.org. Whether virtual or face to face, international travel is often far more affordable than clients expect.

For more on Australian regional city leadership, see the related directories of influential leaders in Wollongong and influential leaders in Geelong.

About the Author

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, author of Step Up or Step Out, and leadership consultant who has worked with schools, corporates, and nonprofits around the world. His book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies globally, and his podcast The Leadership Conversations has featured 240+ episodes reaching listeners in 150+ countries. Jonno founded The 7 Questions Movement with 6,000+ participating leaders and achieved a 93.75% satisfaction rating for his Working Genius masterclass at the ASBA 2025 National Conference. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Jonno works globally and regularly travels for speaking and facilitation engagements. Organisations consistently find that international travel is far more affordable than expected. To book Jonno for your next keynote, workshop, or facilitation session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Sources

City of Launceston (council profiles and news releases), University of Tasmania (leadership and governance pages), Tasmanian Leaders Inc (program and network pages), Australian of the Year Awards (2026 Tasmania nominees and recipients), The Examiner (influential Tasmanians 2026 and 40 under 40 coverage), Launceston Chamber of Commerce (BEA25 winners and board announcements), Clifford Craig Foundation (organisation and team pages), Northern Tasmania Development Corporation (board and team pages), Bank of Us (2025 AGM announcement), Awards Australia Tasmania Community Achievement Awards 2026, Canva newsroom, Australian Parliament House (member directory), Tasmanian Country and Pulse Tasmania (NTDC CEO appointment May 2026).

Next Read

When it comes to the broader national picture of who is shaping Australian cities, the directory of influential leaders in Wollongong, Australia profiles 25 of the most consequential figures building the Illawarra's future right now, from the University of Wollongong's Vice-Chancellor to the clean energy founders who have made the city one of Australia's leading green technology hubs. Keep reading:

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