John Zahl – Secretary
John is a tireless community advocate with decades of experience in the legal, banking, local government and community sectors.
A former partner and solicitor with law firm Payne Butler Lang in Gayndah, he also spent four years serving as a North Burnett councillor from 2016-2020.
John is the current Chair of the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO), the Mundubbera Bendigo Community Bank Branch and the Gunther Aged Care Facility in Gayndah.
He has supported his rural community in diverse ways over the years, having previously been a Director of the Gayndah Fruitgrowers’ Co-operative, a member of the Wide Bay Burnett LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter Regional Advisory Committee, and a volunteer for several not-for-profit organisations.
John was recently named both the Gayndah and North Burnett Citizen of the Year in the 2021 Australia Day awards.
Now retired, he continues to be passionate about collaborating for social and economic growth in the North Burnett and Wide Bay regions.