José Abad has 12 years experience in consultancy and in-house communications management in corporate communication strategy, planning, implementation and media management in Australia and internationally.

He currently provides communication services to a range of clients in the corporate and agribusiness sectors. Significant projects have included:

• Devising and implementing a communication strategy to build knowledge, capacity and involvement in natural resource management in the western catchments of South East Queensland.
• Devising and implementing a comprehensive communication campaign conducted across regional Queensland and New South Wales to elicit shareholder support for the $105 million merger of Grainco Australia and GrainCorp Limited. The campaign achieved a 97 percent ýes' vote.
• Media relations and specialist writing for Australia TradeCoast, a joint initiative between the Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council, Port of Brisbane Corporation and Brisbane Airport Corporation.

José has held senior positions in the Republic of Ireland, providing corporate communications, public affairs and issues management to organisations such as the Mid-Western Health Board (MWHB) and University of Limerick.

Prior to leaving Australia, he was Grainco Australia's Communications and Marketing Manager responsible for all advertising, sponsorship and general marketing activity in addition to the company's Corporate Communications functions.

Previously he held a senior position with a leading Brisbane corporate communications consultancy assisting Australian publicly-listed and private companies, Queensland state government departments and semi-government organisations.

José has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Communications.