Executive leadership
Our department is comprised of the following business areas:
- Office of the Director-General
- Tourism
- Innovation
- Sport and Recreation
- Corporate Services
- Queensland Academy of Sport.
The department is led by our Executive Leadership Team.
Andrew Hopper, Director-General

In September 2022, Andrew took on the role of Director-General, Tourism Innovation and Sport (DTIS) and is leading the government’s key objectives to grow and strengthen the state’s visitor economy, innovation agenda and participation in sport and recreation.
Andrew joined DTIS in late 2021 as the Deputy Director-General, Tourism Recovery, Olympic Engagement and Legacy, with the focus of championing Queensland’s visitor economy, bringing the Tourism Industry Reference Panel’s Action Plan for Tourism Recovery to life and working in lockstep with Tourism and Events Queensland as well as industry.
Prior to taking up this role with DTIS, Andrew has spent over six years in executive roles in the Northern Territory, most recently as the Deputy CEO in the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, leading the teams at Tourism NT (including StudyNT), Screen Territory and Liquor and Gaming and Racing.
With an extensive background leading high performing teams in the tourism, major events, entertainment, sport and cultural industries in Australia and internationally, Andrew has led teams to deliver an increase in visitation, industry investment, successful major events, and projects. Having worked in both the public and private sectors, Andrew is well versed in working with stakeholders to find new ways of working together while overcoming roadblocks along the way.
Chad Anderson, Deputy Director-General, Tourism

Chad leads the department’s Tourism Division, bringing a strategic approach to shape Queensland’s visitor economy over the next decade and beyond, delivering Queensland’s new tourism industry framework, Towards Tourism 2032.
Joining the department in 2018, Chad commenced with the Tourism Division as Acting General Manager in October 2022, working closely with industry on high priority tourism initiatives, before taking up the role of Deputy Director General in April 2023. As the Deputy Director General, Chad works closely with tourism partners and industry, including Tourism Events Queensland (TEQ), Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), Indigenous tourism representative bodies, Stadiums Queensland, and other key stakeholders to support and grow Queensland’s $17 billion tourism industry.
As an Executive Director for Partnerships Strategy and Development in the Sport and Recreation Division, Chad led a dedicated team to support the Director-General and Minister to deliver the Queensland’s first sport and active recreation strategy, Activate! Queensland. Chad also led the former Department of Housing and Public Works’ 2032 Taskforce to support the development of the 2032 Value Proposition Assessment. Throughout the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, Chad worked closely with colleagues across the industry and government to see the successful response and recovery of community sport as well as the continuation of professional and elite fixtures in Queensland.
With over 20 years’ experience in Federal, State and Territory Governments working across financial, education, tourism and sport sectors, Chad is fueled by a passion to improve the future for all Australians. He is passionate about tourism, sport and Queensland (key components for 2032!) and has also represented Australia as a professional Triathlete.
Lea Diffey, Deputy Director-General, Innovation

Lea leads the department’s innovation portfolio, which is responsible for supporting innovative practice across government. She also leads the Advance Queensland initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurialism, capitalise on our natural advantages, and help raise Queensland’s profile as an attractive investment destination.
Prior to working in the department, Lea led Science Development for the Queensland Government. She has a long history in sustainable land management, working across portfolios for agriculture, natural resource management, the Great Barrier Reef and environmental management. Lea aims to bring together science and innovation, with policy and outcomes for business.
Andrew Sly, Deputy Director-General, Sport and Recreation

Andrew has more than 20 years’ leadership experience in property, infrastructure, stakeholder engagement and public administration and is the Deputy Director-General leading sport and active recreation across Queensland, and the department’s corporate services.
Andrew previously held the position of Executive Director of Venues and Sport Infrastructure within sport and recreation where he led the program management, infrastructure planning and investment and delivery of key sporting capital projects, and the management of the Queensland Venues and Recreation Centres.
Prior to joining sport and recreation, he held the positions of Executive Director of Development Strategy and Executive Director of Regional and Residential Development at the Queensland Government’s specialist land use planning and property development unit, Economic Development Queensland, where he led the facilitation and delivery of projects and programs throughout Queensland.
Sarah Vandersee, Deputy Director-General, Corporate Services

Sarah has been working in corporate services with Queensland Government for more than 25 years. She has experience leading high performing teams who have been responsible for payroll, financial services, internal audit, legal, workers’ compensation statutory claims and premium and stakeholder engagement. She is also a Fellow of Certified Practicing Accountants.
Sarah was previously the General Manager, Queensland Shared Services (QSS) where she successfully managed complex digital technology and process change and influenced large scale customer centric transformations. While at QSS, her team navigated uncertain times during COVID to deliver payroll and finance services to 28 government departments.
Prior to joining QSS, Sarah worked at WorkCover Queensland in various roles within the business leading teams responsible for setting and collecting the premium, deciding and managing statutory claims.
Chelsea Warr, Chief Executive, Queensland Academy of Sport

Chelsea is an experienced leader in driving transformational change within high performance sporting industries. She is well positioned to lead the state’s leading high-performance sport agency responsible for the preparation of Queensland’s most talented athletes to perform on the world stage.
Prior to her position as Chief Executive of Queensland Academy of Sport, Chelsea held the positions of Deputy Director of the Great Britain High Performance system for the 2016 Rio cycle and then Director, where her primary objective was to drive the strategic development of the British High Performance system to ensure sustained medal winning success.
Over the 20-year period she played pivotal leadership role enabling Team GB and Paralympics GB to progress from 36th on the medal table in Atlanta 1996, to second in the world by Rio 2016.
Chelsea has also held numerous Board position across several National Sporting Bodies and Institutes of Sport such as British Tennis and the English Institute of Sport.
Chelsea hopes her leadership skills, international high-performance experience and expertise can play a significant role in supporting Queensland become a sporting powerhouse especially in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Last updated: 10 Oct 2022