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 policy, priority projects, and stakeholder engagement approach to shape and grow a sustainable Queensland visitor economy, delivering in partnership with Industry Queensland’s long-term tourism industry strategy, Towards Tourism 2032: Transforming Queensland’s Visitor Economy.

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, Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Indigenous tourism representative bodies, Stadiums Queensland, and other key stakeholders to support and grow Queensland’s $22 billion tourism industry.

Chad previously worked in the Sport and Recreation Division of the department as the Executive Director for Partnerships Strategy and Development, leading a dedicated team to support the Deputy Director-General, Director-General and Minister to deliver 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 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 Australian, State and Territory Governments working across financial, education, tourism and sport sectors, Chad is fuelled 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

Portrait of Lea Diffey, Acting 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.

Lea’s background includes sustainable land management, working across portfolios for agriculture, natural resource management, the Great Barrier Reef and environmental management, science and innovation. 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 infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, property and public administration and is the Deputy Director-General leading sport and active recreation across Queensland.

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

As a Fellow of Certified Practicing Accountants, Sarah brings over 25 years experience in corporate services with the Queensland Government.

Sarah leads Corporate Services to partner with the other divisions to provide expert and trusted advice which allows the divisions to keep focussed on achieving their strategic plans. Sarah is leading Corporate Services to ensure that consistency and service excellence underpins everything that we do.

Sarah was previously the General Manager, Queensland Shared Services where she successfully managed complex digital technology and process change and influenced large scale customer centric transformations. In this role, 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 organisations. As leader of the department’s high performance sport unit, QAS, Chelsea and her team are responsible for supporting the performance of Queensland’s most talented athletes to perform on the world stage such as Olympic and Paralympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Prior to her position as Chief Executive, Chelsea held the position of Director of the Great Britain High Performance system, where her primary objective was to drive the strategic development of the high performance system to ensure sustained medal winning success. Over a 20-year period, she played several leadership roles enabling Great Britain to progress from 36th on the medal table in Atlanta 1996, to second in the world by Rio 2016.

Chelsea and the Teams QAS Vision for the QAS is “Inspiring Extraordinary Sporting Success”, especially within the context of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Last updated: 06 Oct 2023