Rachel Nolan
Chair and Director
Rachel Nolan is an experienced Director and a passionate advocate for cycling – both for fun and as the key to urban sustainability.
Rachel is Special Advisor at Deloitte Access Economics, a role in which she advises governments on finance and reform and supports organisations including non-profits in their dealings with government. She also Chairs the McKell Institute, a public policy thinktank, is a member of the Australian Government’s Rail Industry Innovation Council and teaches foreign public servants through University of Queensland International Development.
Rachel is a former Queensland Minister for Transport and Finance. In the former role, she was awarded the Cycling Promotion Fund’s award for greatest contribution to cycling by a politician after increasing the state’s active transport infrastructure budget to $100 million a year.
Rachel is a recreational rider, mainly on mountain bike. She lives in Ipswich and every year rides the full Brisbane Valley Rail Trail with her young son.
Richard Buning
Director
Dr. Buning’s love of all things cycling began while pursuing his PhD at the University of Florida, where he raced in mountain biking, road, and cyclocross for the university and several amateur teams. Since, he has shifted towards studying how people create active lifestyles through cycling and how communities and events provide opportunities for related tourism.
Now as a Senior Lecturer in the University of Queensland Business School, his research interests reside at the intersection of physical activity, travel, and events. He is focused on how tourists are physically active as both a driver of tourism behaviour (i.e., active lifestyle sports) and during visitation (i.e., active transport). His research closely mirrors his passions in active sport tourism for mountain biking, cycling, running, rock climbing, hiking, and more. His work crosses over to active transport through bikeshare, e-scooters, and more generally micromobility where he is focused on tourism usage and related impacts.
The outcome of his work enables communities, events, and organizations to efficiently market to and attract visitors, encourage physical activity, and improve the related impact to destinations as a form of sustainable tourism. He regularly publishes on these topics and serves as expert to the media and local governments.
Miles Vass
Director
Miles has more than 35 years of experience with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), holding leadership and technical roles across infrastructure delivery, network operations, and strategic initiatives. He served six years on TMR’s Audit and Risk Committee, was the department’s champion for Workplace Health and Safety, and chaired its internal WHS committee. As chair of TMR’s Emergency Response Committee, he led and coordinated responses to critical transport network disruptions and disasters.
Miles was also the Queensland Government’s cycling champion, supporting the Minister and driving cultural change within TMR to promote cycling as both recreation and transport. A key achievement was securing full implementation of TMR’s policy for positive provision for cycling in all new construction projects. He also chaired the TMR/LGAQ Alliance Board, fostering collaboration to deliver a seamless transport network across Queensland.
A lifelong recreational and competitive cyclist, Miles has been active in several cycling clubs, including executive roles with Logan Cycling Club and Audax Qld.
Since 2019, following a serious not at fault cycling accident with a car, Miles has undertaken a consulting role for a consulting engineering firm. Cycling still remains one of his enduring passions, with an emphasis on cycling safety.
James Johnson
Director
James is a passionate cyclist and an experienced digital leader. He has spent over two decades helping businesses navigate the digital landscape, with deep expertise in strategy, e-commerce, marketing, and customer experience.
He currently serves as the Director of Technology Services & Enterprise at Shopify, where he leverages his global experience. His career includes hands-on roles at companies like Michael Hill, Colorado Group, and Virgin, as well as consulting work at EY. He also sharpened his technological skills at industry-leading firms such as Demandware, Salesforce, and Shopify, focusing on the retail, insurance, and travel sectors.
Beyond his professional life, James stays current on the latest tech trends. He also maintains his fitness by participating in road and gravel cycling events. An advocate for sustainable transportation, he enjoys cycling around the Sunshine Coast with his 3 children.
Craig Sydney
Director
Craig Sydney boasts an illustrious career spanning over three decades in the realm of professional services, with a profound focus on the digital and technology domains. His distinguished role as a senior Partner at PwC sees him at the helm of their Trust & Risk business in Queensland, where he has carved out a niche as a specialist in Digital & Cybersecurity Risk management. In addition to his corporate leadership, Craig’s impact extends to the non-profit sector, where he serves as a valued member of the audit committee for the Cancer Council of Queensland and holds the esteemed position of chairing their IT Steering Group advisory board.
Beyond his impressive professional portfolio, Craig is an avid road cyclist, traversing the Brisbane River Loop multiple times each week. His passion for cycling also manifests in active participation in major Brisbane road cycling events, including the iconic B2GC, Brissie to the Bay, and Tour de Brisbane. Craig’s advocacy extends to the realm of cycle tourism, and he’s an enthusiastic gravel rider and backpacker, exploring scenic routes like the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, European Veloways, and other regional trails across Queensland and Australia. Craig Sydney’s remarkable career, leadership, and commitment to both professional excellence and cycling make him an exemplary figure in his field.
Emily Hilton
Director
Emily is a dynamic professional renowned for her innovative prowess and an illustrious history of crafting and executing resilient strategies. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead high-performing teams, overseeing the successful execution of global projects within large organizations, from their inception to triumphant completion. At present, Emily serves as the General Manager/Head of Innovation Office for Rio Tinto, a role that underscores her capacity to navigate complex landscapes and drive transformative change on a global scale.
Notably, Emily’s impact extends beyond the corporate realm, as she possesses a proven track record of spearheading strategic change initiatives for both profit and non-profit boards across the world. Her dedication to effecting positive change is exemplified by her passion for influencing policy within the communities she engages with, all with the ultimate aim of advancing the greater good. Recently making the vibrant city of Brisbane her new home, Emily has embraced her recreational rider identity, indulging in road and mountain cycling adventures alongside her family. Her multifaceted career and commitment to both professional excellence and community betterment make her a true trailblazer in her field.
Sian (Reece) Keast
Director
Sian’s role as a Bicycle Queensland Director brings together her passion for and experience with physically active communities, sustainable and inclusive infrastructure and mutually beneficial partnerships. As Partner at large national law firm MinterEllison, Sian practices in the infrastructure, projects and commercial contracting areas. The majority of her work is in the transport, healthcare, social services and logistics sectors. She has particular experience in projects and initiatives that are at the intersection of commercial partnerships, public policy and community transformation. Sian is also a Board member and taskforce leader of Infrastructure Association of Queensland (the State’s peak infrastructure industry body). She is a strategic thinker and is respected for her solutions focus and dynamic, holistic approach.
Sian is passionate about cycling and active transport as a pathway to a healthier, more inclusive and more sustainable society. Sian is a lifelong bike rider and has cycled for almost every purpose – from active transport, to training and racing competitively in triathlon, to family recreation cycling with her young daughter. She is passionate about better integrating cycling into our places and communities, for benefits that include improved health, equality, sustainability and productivity.
Paul Heymans
Director
Paul is president of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association, an I.T. professional, and a small business owner.
Cycling has been an integral part of his life for 68 years. He has cycled in several countries including the UK, the USA, Italy, France, and Australia. Home is a rural property in the Somerset region close to Wivenhoe Dam, where the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) is his local trail. He is passionate about the recreational sport of off-road cycling and usually rides two or three times a week.
Paul has 10 years’ experience at the sharp end of cycling advocacy in regional Queensland since he became an activist for the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail in 2014.
He is a member of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Steering Committee established by DTMR to act as an advisory group for the BVRT.
He also served for several years on the Somerset Regional Council Economic Development Advisory sub-committee.
Paul brings his experience of cycling advocacy and passion for cycle tourism at a regional, grass roots level to his role as a director of Bicycle Queensland.
He is keen to achieve value for members and better active transport outcomes for communities across the entire state of Queensland.