“Welcome aboard. Expectations are high. There’s a lot to do,” said the outgoing Coordinator-General Mike Kaiser. Photo: LinkedIn.
From the beginning of next year, Gerard Coggan will be guiding the development of Queensland’s infrastructure sector as Coordinator-General.
He will come to the role with over 20 years of experience in project management, consulting and government as he takes over the responsibilities shouldered by Director-General Mike Kaiser for the last year.
As Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is away on a five-day trade mission to China, the news was announced by Acting Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Steven Miles, whom Mr Coggan will be directly reporting to.
An extensive recruitment process preceded the appointment to the evolving role, which was originally established in 1938 to manage public infrastructure development and create jobs in the post-Depression era.
“I want to thank Mr Mike Kaiser for his time as Coordinator-General in addition to his Director-General responsibilities,” Acting Premier Miles said.
“For more than 80 years, the Coordinator-General has played a critical role in driving major infrastructure projects for the state of Queensland. Mr Coggan’s appointment will open another chapter in that story.
“This is a critical time for our state as the world’s appetites for the things Queensland has traditionally provided change. Mr Coggan’s experience across energy, resources and linear infrastructure sectors will be critical in assessing and managing the way forward for our State.”
The new Coordinator-General said this role is “the intersection of all the things I’ve enjoyed delivering on over my working career”.
Currently, Mr Coggan works as a General Manager with the APA Group, and prior to that role he was the Acting Deputy Director General of Investment Facilitation and Partnerships within the former Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning.
Since the role’s establishment, it has come to play more of an economic and social role in coordinating the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects for the state with minimal environmental impact. While most projects are in the minerals and energy sector, a great deal of work now extends into tourism, agriculture and manufacturing.
The Coordinator-General also sits as a member of the Queensland Public Service Leadership Board, which according to Acting Premier Miles is “significant” in managing the “broader public service to achieve excellence in their work”.
In a post on his LinkedIn page, Director-General Kaiser welcomed Mr Coggan into the role, which he said is “unique” because it is “often cited by proponents as the factor that makes Qld THE place to invest”.
Since January 2023, Director-General Kaiser said they’ve made 57 statutory decisions, which, along with numerous private sector projects, includes:
- Declaring the Lansdown eco-industrial precinct a coordinated project
- Declaring the Borumba Pumped Hydro project a coordinated project and support for early works
- Kicked off the process for declaring a State Development Area in Mackay to support bio-industries including sustainable aircraft fuel
- Approval of an SDA application in the Stanwell to Gladstone infrastructure corridor
- Progressed a Works Reg to direct SunWater to assess water option for the Julia Creek critical Minerals Zone.
