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Jim Turnour

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Principal Strategic Regional Planner, James Cook University

Jim Turnour, PhD, B Ag Sci, B Ec is a Principal Strategic Regional Planner with the Cairns Institute, James Cook University. He researches government policy with a particular focus on Indigenous and agriculture policy in northern Australia.

For the past decade he has been working for Aboriginal First Nations in Cape York Peninsula and as an academic while completing his PhD. Prior to that he was a Labor MP representing Leichhardt in the Australian Parliament from 2007 to 2010. The electorate one of the biggest in the country, takes in Cairns, Cape York and the Torres Strait. Prior to that he was self employed and worked for many years for the Queensland Department of Primary Industries in North Queensland.

Experience

  • 2023–present
    Principal Strategic Regional Planner, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University
  • 2021–2023
    General Manager, Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation
  • 2019–2021
    Self employed , Jim Turnour Consulting
  • 2014–2019
    Chief executive officer, Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation
  • 2011–2013
    Senior Manager, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University
  • 2012–2013
    Researcher, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University
  • 2007–2010
    Member for Leichhardt, Australian Parliament
  • 1994–2000
    Manager / Extension Officer, Queensland Department of Primary Industries
  • 1991–1992
    Agronomist, Hail Agriculture Development Company Saudi Arabia
  • 1988–1991
    Extension Agronomist, Queensland Department of Primary Industries

Education

  • 2022 
    James Cook University, Doctor of Philosophy (Economics)
  • 2003 
    University of Queensland, Bachelor of Economics
  • 1987 
    University of Queensland, Bachelor of Agriculture Science