Townsville Industry Breakfast Highlights Growth Across North Queensland

GKL Group was proud to attend the recent Townsville Industry Breakfast, an event that brought together key stakeholders from government, industry and infrastructure sectors to discuss the future of North Queensland. Representing GKL Group were Jon Kelly, Irem Guney and Glen Langfeldt, joining peers and collaborators from across the region. The breakfast provided valuable insights into upcoming opportunities across Defence, infrastructure, energy and sustainability; areas strongly aligned with GKL Group’s project expertise and service offerings.
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Brigadier Ben McLennan presented an overview of current and future Defence activity, highlighting the strategic uplift and growth potential within the region. This was followed by Powerlink’s Thomas Dockray, who gave an update on the transformative CopperString 2032 project, a significant investment in North Queensland’s energy future.
 
The Port of Townsville was another focal point, with Drew Penny outlining the scale of upcoming infrastructure works designed to support major project delivery across the region.
A dynamic panel discussion brought together voices from JetZero, MidWay Limited, Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR), and Qantas to explore the expanding Biofuels sector. Their conversation offered diverse perspectives on supply chain readiness and industry diversification opportunities, particularly in the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Biodiesel.
 
Events like these continue to reinforce the depth of opportunity across Northern Australia and the importance of cross-sector collaboration to unlock that potential. As a Queensland-based company working across local government, Defence and major infrastructure projects, GKL Group remains committed to supporting regional growth through practical, experienced project delivery.
 
Thank you to the event organisers and presenters for a productive and forward-thinking morning. We look forward to being part of the conversations and collaborations shaping North Queensland’s next chapter.