Dinner in Honour of Inspiring Queenslanders in the United Kingdom

Distinguished guests, good evening. Graeme and I are delighted to join the Agent-General for Queensland, Mr Dave Stewart, in welcoming you to this evening’s special dinner, as part of our first international Vice-Regal visit.

It is always deeply inspiring to be amongst people who are having a positive impact on those around them—especially so when they are Queenslanders!

You are each making an important contribution—bringing your knowledge, innovation, and leadership to an incredible range of fields.

The high calibre of your efforts has seen you excel in healthcare, as entrepreneurs, in the arts, in law, in academia, IT, and in making our cities better places to live.

To achieve at this level takes tenacity, but also the courage to follow your passions, even when times are challenging, as they undoubtedly have been in recent years.

Your exceptional achievements have a significant influence – not only in your individual professional worlds, but much more widely.

As Governor of Queensland, one of my key responsibilities is to advance Queensland’s trade and cultural opportunities, including those away from our own shores.

This visit gives Graeme and I the chance to connect with others who are working hard to further Queensland’s interests, and provide our support and encouragement.

Our strong relationship with the United Kingdom is in no small part strengthened by the dedicated service of Agent-General for Queensland, Mr Dave Stewart and his team, who are doing so much to advance Queensland’s trade and investment potential here. I would like to thank him for his outstanding diligence, and for organising this lovely event to bring us together.

As Queenslanders living abroad, you are important ambassadors—demonstrating the depth and breadth of our State’s talents to a diverse audience—and this makes my job so much easier!

Graeme and I are immensely proud to be meeting such inspirational Queenslanders this evening, and wish you well in your future endeavours.

Thank you.