Speakers

Clinton Curran, Bio / Introduction
I am passionate about leadership, sport, and education, and I bring this to life through a 
highly reflective, collaborative, and innovative approach.
I have worked as a leader within the Department of Education for over 20 years across 
Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Regional 
Office, and an Outdoor Education C entre. My 
experience includes serving as a Director for the GC2018 Commonwealth Games, providing 
leadership in a high -performance, large -scale environment.
Alongside education leadership, I am a Level 2 Rugby Union Coach, an Australian Rugby 
Union talent scout, and a regular guest speaker and presenter to individuals and groups.
As a Principal, I have led improvement through a people -focused strategy, building strong 
cultures, developing leaders, and empowering teams to perform at their best.
I am a frequent speaker at conferences, business networks, and professional groups, 
presenting on all aspects of leadership. My vision is to inspire people to strive for their 
Personal Best (PB) —in their work, their leadership, and their lives

Gemma holds a Diploma in Conservation and Ecosystem Management from TAFE Queensland with experience in environmental management, conservation, and animal care, including fieldwork and data analysis. Gemma is passionate about contributing to the protection of Australia’s native biodiversity by focusing on the education and management of invasive species.

In a nutshell, I have been a soldier, student for the priesthood, stockman, tax accountant, university tutor and lecturer, barrister-at-law and Crown prosecutor, and judicial officer.

The bulk of my working life has been involved with the law and the military. I was a part-time member of the Commonwealth Veterans Review Board (the VRB), later becoming a part- time senior member of the VRB. For some 20 years I was a part-time member of the Australian Army Legal Corps, deployed full-time, from time to time. Those deployments included all major military Exercises. In 1993, I was appointed to the panel of legal consultants to the Australian Army.

In 1994, I was appointed a Queensland Magistrate and served in that role for some 14 years. I developed a hard-earned reputation for integrity, independence, industry, and fairness. I was deputy general-counsel to the then Criminal Justice Commission (the CJC), established after the Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry and the inaugural counsel-assisting the CJC's Misconduct Tribunal, which I helped establish. At my own expense, I worked with the NYPD in New York in matters of police discipline and welfare, and the FBI in Washington, DC, helping to develop protocols for police undercover operations.

In 2006, I was selected by the then Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal A.G. Houston AC, AFC to preside over Commissions of Inquiry into certain deaths in the Australian Defence Force. I was still a full-time Magistrate at that time, so my appointment had to be approved by the then Queensland Attorney-General and Cabinet and authorised by the Governor-in-Council. I continued in that role, part-time, for the next six years.

Liz and I moved full-time to the Gold Coast in 2017, and I became a member of what was then the Tweed /Coolangatta Legacy Club, which later amalgamated with the Gold Coast Legacy Club. I have had the privilege of being a director of Gold Coast Legacy for 4 years.

Legacy, caring for the families of those who have served our Nation, is unique throughout the world. It is a privilege to be a Legatee.