Julian Simmonds

A/ Chief Executive Officer

Julian Simmonds is a senior executive with over 15 years of leadership experience across the public and private sectors, specialising in urban planning, property development, precinct strategy, infrastructure delivery and ICT transformation. He brings to Economic Development Queensland a uniquely broad network of relationships across local government, the development industry, and infrastructure sectors. With a proven ability to broker collaboration across diverse stakeholders, Julian excels in navigating complex environments to deliver integrated and high-impact outcomes.

In the public service, Julian has held senior leadership roles at Brisbane City Council where he chaired critical portfolios in planning, finance, and transport, as well as serving as a Federal Member of Parliament. His government expertise is marked by the delivery of large and small transformative projects, including a large scale ICT overhaul, city-shaping infrastructure investments, and award-winning public engagement campaigns. As Chairman of Finance and Economic Development, he led wide ranging financial reforms that significantly reduced Council debt and as Planning Chairman, he spearheaded the development of Plan Your Brisbane – Council’s largest and most ambitious planning engagement initiative, earning national recognition.

Julian brings strategic and delivery expertise from the private sector through executive leadership roles at CavCorp and Stanbroke. There, he directed mixed-use, retail and industrial development projects, with a focus on high-quality urban precincts, place-making, and end-to-end project delivery.

As well as being a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Julian holds tertiary qualifications in political science and a Master of Journalism. He is also an experienced board director, having served on city-shaping entities including South Bank Corporation and Brisbane Marketing. As a devoted father of three, recreational pilot, and skier, Julian is also an active contributor to community and professional organisations.

As EDQ CEO, Julian is a purpose-driven leader focused on creating a more efficient and customer-focused organisation delivering more housing to Queenslanders.