Mayor Teresa Harding chairs the Ordinary Council Meetings. Additionally, she serves as the Chair of the City of Ipswich Local Recovery and Resilience Group and the City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development & Attraction Committee.

She is also involved with the Council of Mayors South East Queensland.

Biography:

Teresa Harding was officially sworn in as the 51st Mayor of Ipswich in April 2020, making history as the first female Mayor in the city’s 163-year history. She brings over 35 years of experience across business, government, and the non-profit sector, with more than 15 years dedicated to leading large teams and managing complex projects within the public sector.

In the private sector, she has held senior roles in information technology and sales.

Career Highlights:

A notable highlight in Harding’s career was her seven-year tenure at the Department of Defence, working on the F111 fighter jets at RAAF Base Amberley. She was promoted to Director of the Strike Reconnaissance Systems Program Office, overseeing the maintenance and decommissioning of the F111 fleet.

In 2010, she had the unique experience of flying in an F111.

Volunteer Work:

Mayor Harding is a dedicated lifelong volunteer. She is an active Rotarian with the Ipswich City Club, the former president of the Coordinating Organisation for the Disabled in Ipswich, and has been involved in her children’s school P&C committees.

She also served as the secretary and treasurer of a multicultural football club.

Education:

Harding holds a Master in Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management, a Post Graduate Certificate in Information Technology, and a Diploma in Small Business Enterprises. She has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff course at the Australian War College.

Awards:

In 2021, Mayor Harding was awarded the McKinnon Prize for Emerging Political Leader of the Year for her leadership in introducing transformational transparency reforms to improve the accountability of officials elected to local government.