New Placemaking General Manager to Drive Tablelands’ Open-for-business Direction

Tablelands Regional Council has appointed Greg Bowden as its new General Manager Placemaking, a key leadership role created as part of Council’s organisational restructure to deliver a stronger, clearer, and more proactive “open for business” approach.

The new Placemaking department brings together planning, economic development, tourism, and investment attraction. Its purpose is to streamline development pathways, improve turnaround times, strengthen partnerships, and create development-ready opportunities that attract private investment and drive regional prosperity.

Greg brings more than 20 years of senior experience across local government, economic strategy, infrastructure planning, investment attraction, and major events. His career spans both public and private sectors and includes time shaping economic and city growth agendas in Queensland’s largest regional and metropolitan councils.

He spent 15 years with the Lord Mayor of Brisbane as Director of Strategy, Communication and Economic Development. During this period, he worked closely with Brisbane Marketing, Invest Brisbane, and International Relations to lift Brisbane’s national and international profile. He contributed to early-stage Olympic infrastructure planning and major city-shaping strategies including Brisbane’s Unique Window of Opportunity and the Brisbane 2022 New World City Action Plan. His work supported investment across tourism, accommodation, commercial development, education, and inner-city renewal.

At Rockhampton Regional Council, Greg led Advance Rockhampton and delivered a bold economic agenda that “Put Rocky on the Radar.” His team secured significant agricultural investment, delivered award-winning tourism campaigns, opened emerging markets such as defence, and attracted major events including Rockynats, now Queensland’s largest car and bike festival. He also played roles in high-profile events such as the Pacquiao–Horn Battle of Brisbane and the NRL Magic Round.

Greg most recently worked with .id (informed decisions), providing spatial, demographic, and economic intelligence used by councils across Australia to plan for growth and investment.

Mayor Rod Marti said the creation of the Placemaking department is a key milestone. “This restructure removes barriers, speeds up processes, and gives investors a single, clear entry point into Council. Placemaking is about unlocking opportunity and accelerating development that benefits the whole region.”

Greg said he is excited by the region’s potential. “Far North Queensland, and especially the Tablelands, has the lifestyle, opportunity, and capacity to grow as a destination of choice for residents, visitors, and investors. With a coordinated approach across planning, development, and tourism, we can build a more liveable and economically sustainable region.”

Council will work with industry, business, and community partners as Placemaking becomes the central driver of the Tablelands’ open-for-business strategy.