Cr Tony Rayner
Tony has extensive experience working across a variety of sectors including agriculture, employment and training and regional development. He is the Mayor of Longreach and Chair of RAPAD with a passion for regional communities, good governance, youth development, sound natural resource management, and economic growth for rural and regional communities.
About Tony
Tony Rayner is a proud Longreach local having completed his primary and secondary education in Longreach before completing his tertiary qualifications at University of Queensland (Queensland Agricultural College).
He was elected Longreach Mayor in the 2020 local government elections having served the previous four-year term as a Councillor. Whilst a Councillor he was also Chief Executive Officer of RAPAD Employment Services Queensland (RESQ); an employment agency operating across one third of regional Queensland and employing 40 staff. Tony held the role for six years and built the company into a highly successful organisation – rated among the top three in Australia for job outcomes and community activity value.
Prior to this Tony was a senior executive within the Queensland Government; serving in roles such as Executive Director for the Australian Agricultural Colleges, Assistant Director-General Department Primary Industries, Executive Director Employment and Economic Development, and Regional Director roles over a 30-year period. He has extensive experience in working closely with many State and Federal Cabinet Ministers and Directors-General.
Tony and his wife Vicki also own and operate a grazing enterprise located between Longreach and Muttaburra.
Tony is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Justice of the Peace (Qualified), a Graduate of the Experiential Leadership Development Program, and has completed tertiary qualifications and numerous professional development programs. He has served as a director on various boards and management committees such as Queensland Agricultural Colleges, Rural Lands Advisory Council, multiple Natural Resource Management Committees, and is a regular panel member for State Government bodies.
His experience also encompasses a comprehensive understanding of disaster relief operations; having coordinated some of the biggest flood relief and recovery programs in regional Queensland over a wide range of state-wide disasters.
Tony Rayner’s passion is for regional communities, good governance, youth development, sound natural resource management, and economic growth for rural and regional communities. He lives in Longreach with wife Vicki.