David Balwin

After completing my university degrees in Commerce and Economics, I started my career in the research unit of the Department of Employment & Industrial Relations.  My passion was my accountancy and soon secured a position with the now Queensland Audit Office.  During my six years there I travelled through many parts of far north Queensland including, Townsville, Home Hill, Cairns, Yarrabah, Kowaryama, Lockhart River, Edward River, Coen, Atherton, Mareeba and Georgeton undertaking audits of police stations, schools, ambulance stations, District Courts and Supreme Court Registries, as well as various statutory bodies such as Fish Boards.

I did spend time auditing authorities in Brisbane such as the Department of Harbours & Marines, Port of Brisbane Authority, Gold Coast Waterway Authority and Queensland Treasury.

I was looking for more breadth in the use of my skills and experience so a move to Queensland Treasury was next.  Here I worked mainly in the area reviewing and drafting the legislation and regulation relating to the financial management of government departments.  Following the Fitzgerald Inquiry I was responsible for the establishment of the Ministerial Services Unit (a recommendation of the Inquiry).  This responsibility was certainly a stretch of my skills as I was responsible for drafting and implementing changes to guidelines under which Ministers operate.  This role had additional challenges as I needed to establish sound relationships with the Ministers of the day (and the opposition) in order to ensure integrity of the processes.

My next progression was to Director of Finance for Queensland Treasury where I was responsible for the financial operations of Treasury as a Department, including signing the annual financial statements.

Always looking to expand my knowledge and skills my next appointment was Director, Office of the Government Statistician.  My three years in this role was very diverse which then lead to me heading the Unit formed to assist the Parliamentary Inquiry into Gaming in Queensland.

I felt it was now time for a move more into the private sector using an opportunity to work with Queensland Treasury Corporation as a stepping stone in this direction.  During this time, after some 10+years participating in various CPA Australia (Queensland) Committees , including the Executive, I was elected President of the Queensland Division in 2003.  This is a twelve month appointment which led to my appointment as an Alternate Director of the CPA Australia National Board.

In 2006, with my partner in business we established Balanix Solutions.  As part of this I gained my Registered Tax Agent and CPA Public Practice Certificate.

Qualifications:

Registered Tax Agent

CPA Public Practice Certificate

Bachelor of Commerce, University of Queensland

Bachelor of Economics, University of Queensland

Professional Memberships:

Fellow, CPA Australia (FCPA)

Fellow, Australian Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (FICB)

Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD)

CPA Australia Experience:

Member, Small to Medium Enterprise Committee, CPA Australia Queensland Division (2005)

Immediate Past President, CPA Australia Queensland Division (2004)

Alternate Director to CPA Australia National Board (2004)

President, CPA Australia Queensland Division (2003)

Deputy President, CPA Australia Queensland Division (2002)

Vice President, CPA Australia Queensland Division (2001)

Member, CPA Australia Queensland Executive Committee (2001-2004)

Member, CPA Australia Queensland Divisional Council (2000-2004)

Member, CPA Public Sector Committee (6 years)

Member, CPA Week Organising Committee (7 years – Chaired 3 Years)

Member, Joint Legislative Committee (3 years – CPA Australia and ICA)