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Cr Kirstie Schumacher

Cr Schumacher

 

Cr Schumacher was elected to South Burnett Regional Council for her first term in 2020.

Cr Kirstie Schumacher is a small business owner and brings a positive and innovative approach to Council with a broad range of professional skills and lived experiences. She is passionate about people and the future of the South Burnett.

Prior to her election, Kirstie worked as a community relations advisor with Stanwell Corporation at Tarong Power Stations and Meandu Mine, an experience which saw her work with local groups to develop shovel-ready projects for social investment, manage issues in a way that informed and influenced organisational change and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the region. Kirstie is grateful for the role that increased her awareness of the strategic issues facing our region’s longevity including water security and the need for early planning and discussion about the region’s transition to decarbonization.

Previously she provided corporate services support for one of the region’s leading social services organisations, South Burnett CTC Inc. Working for a not-for-profit meant Kirstie learned firsthand about the needs of people with disabilities, the homeless, foster children, at risk youth and those most vulnerable and the challenges of delivering services and addressing these needs, regardless of inconsistent funding programs.

During maternity leave and while on break, she worked part-time in Kingaroy’s CBD for Thorp’s Jewellers and Burton’s Shoes. She enjoyed this time, basking in her love of meeting new people and bringing home new shoes… she enjoyed helping others to love shoes too.

Kirstie is nearing completion of a Bachelor of Communication and Media with USQ, majoring in Public Relations; a goal she set some time ago and like many others juggles family, study, business and community commitments.

She gained an early appreciation for local government issues, after completing her business traineeship at Nanango State School when she started work as a junior customer service officer for Nanango Shire Council in 2006.  She completed a Diploma of Local Government Governance and Administration and worked with South Burnett Regional Council during council amalgamations in areas of strategic planning, policy development, annual reporting, corporate branding, community events and specialist projects.

At 19, Kirstie and her now husband Wayne built their first home, two years later started their own family operated drilling business in partnership with her brother and sister in-law. Since then, they have diversified their operations to invest in their passion for agriculture, grazing cattle, growing peanuts and grain, and establishing their own avocado orchard.

Growing up in Blackbutt, Kirstie is proud to be raising her children Decklan and Grace with strong country values here in the South Burnett.  She is a strong advocate for all things South Burnett, regularly supporting local groups to write funding applications and rolling up her sleeves to volunteer.

Kirstie is the portfolio holder for Regional Development - Industry, Agriculture, Water Security, Energy and Circular Economy, Development Services - Planning, Building, Plumbing and Community & Social Housing and participates in the following committees on behalf of Council:

  • Regional Development Advisory Committee (Chair)
  • Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) Board

Contact Cr Schumacher on 0475 007 705 / div4@sbrc.qld.gov.au

Declaration of Office

Cr Kirstie Schumacher, Division 4 South Burnett Regional Council, taking the Declaration of Office