Executive :: Far North Queensland GIS Group Inc

Cherie Malone

Chair

Cherie’s love of GIS began during an Environmental Science lecture at JCU Townsville in 1997, delivered by the awe-inspiring and entertaining Dr. Marji Puotinen. This introduction to GIS complemented her environmentally focused degree and sparked a career spanning over two decades.

Based in Townsville, Cherie’s experience includes roles in local, state, and federal governments, private industry, and more recently, the establishment of a small, environmentally focused GIS consultancy, CocoTell and GoSpatial – maps that Educate, Inspire and Engage.

Cherie is passionate about raising the profile of GIS within the community and business sectors, empowering people to make better decisions through its use. She also likes making pretty maps!

William Dean

Deputy Chair

Whilst studying GIS in South Australia, William was brought on to a multi-agency research project investigating groundwater security on Milingimbi Is. in the Arnhem Land. Following from this, he continued to work with the local utility provider, Power and Water, on a wider remote communities water security risk assessment. Further time studying and working with a number of utility providers lead to his current position as Team Leader GIS with Cairns Regional Council, having commenced as a GIS Analyst with the Council in 2018. With the delivery of a new enterprise asset management platform in 2024, William is transitioning the team from the more traditional deeply involved asset management work that has been undertaken by GIS towards better utilisation of their spatial and data analytics training and experience to provide additional value and insights into Council operations and planning. Away from work William has two young kids entering what he hopes is the peak birthday party years, if not attending a junior primary birthday party on the weekends you can usually find him enjoying a coffee at Blackbird.

Tom Orr

Treasurer

Tom attended Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand where he gained a BSc in Zoology and a MSc in Geology. He has worked for more than 40 years as a geologist in Asia, Africa and Australia. These days he runs a small consultancy in Mission Beach together with his wife and fellow geologist Lisa. Most work revolves around the use of GIS which they have been using for more than 30 years. They have provided datasets to such organisations as the USGS, AGSO, BRGM, US National Hurricane Centre, and French Red Cross as well as numerous Universities and students. Tom is a keen sports photographer, drone pilot and gardener. Highlights of recent years include drone work for ABC Landline (his favourite TV show), nomination for Cairns Regional Council Volunteer of the year, being a Batonbearer for the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay, building a Japanese Garden in his backyard and receiving the New Zealand Defence Force Service Medal.

Tina Marton

Secretary

Tina Marton is a Cairns local with a background in biotechnology (genetics, biochemistry, microbiology), speciality plant biotechnology and natural resource management. Work wise Tina has maintained a double stream with a consistent foot in both the mineral resources and agricultural industries. This includes working directly within or alongside various Board and Corporate Administration teams for over a decade.

It is through working in mineral exploration Tina was introduced to Geographical Information Systems. With a desire to improve her knowledge of GIS she studied an MSc majoring in Natural Resource Management (NRM). NRM introduced Tina to the challenges needed to be addressed for a sustainable future which have been coined Wicked Problems due to their multi-dimensional nature. She believes that geospatial tools are key to resolving many of the biggest challenges facing society. As a “doer” Tina is always happy to rollup her sleeves and muck in.