Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER

Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER
HomeBusinessFrom Soldier to CEO: An interview with Blake Repine

From Soldier to CEO: An interview with Blake Repine

The former Associate Vice Chancellor of CQUniversity (CQU)has supported numerous organisations to better our Emerald community andsurrounds.
“I’m originally from the US, and my wife was born inChilders, but we met in Iraq,” Mr Repine said.
“It was a series of unfortunate events that lead us to findeach other.
“In 2013/2014 at the height of the mining boom, I wasworking for local companies and working with mines on contracts around Emerald,which was the first time we came to the area.
“Then I became the Practice Manager of an accounting firm,and in 2017 we moved to Emerald permanently for the first time.
“I was the Associate Vice Chancellor for CQUniversity untilthe end of 2018.
“My contract with CQU ended and I went to Darwin for ninemonths with the Menzies School of Health Research.
“Then we went to Jundah, Western Queensland for 14 monthsand I became the Deputy CEO of the Barcoo Shire Council.
“In June of this year, as we approached school holidays, mywife and I were talking about coming to Emerald for a long weekend and spendingsome time here.
“I just said, ‘why don’t we move back to Emerald?’ and thedecision was made. Two weeks later we were here.
“We’ve always enjoyed living in Emerald.
“It’s a great community, it’s a great region and you haveeverything you need, so we decided this is where we needed to be.”

To read the full interview, check out this week’s edition of The Highlands Leader.

Digital Edition
Subscribe

Get an all ACCESS PASS to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription

Subsidised driving lessons coming to Blackall

Blackall-Tambo Regional Council’s local Lifestyle and Community Hub in Blackall has secured funding to cover the full cost of the first three driving lessons...

More than a meal

More News

Recovery work begins in Winton

Winton Shire Council crews have begun recovery efforts across the community following significant rainfall and flooding to begin the year, with a focus on...

‘An honour’: Rudd quits US ambassadorship early

Kevin Rudd says it has "been an honour" to serve as Australia's ambassador to the United States, after the government announced he would leave...

Rain drenches Jericho and Alpha region

Spectacular images of floodwaters around Jericho and Alpha this week reveal just how much rain drenched the region on Monday, 12 January. Heavy rain was...

Sharing the joy after Christmas lights win

Sam and Jordan Lawrie from the Blackall Caravan Park have donated their $250 competition winnings to the Blackall Community Crisis Fund, which can be...

News in Brief

Longreach – single-vehicle incident A stable female in her 20s with minor injuries was transported to Longreach Hospital following a single-vehicle collision with a...

Cricket and community in Alpha

The annual Alpha ICPA Cricket Day once again delivered a full day of colour, competition and community spirit, with 28 teams taking to the...

Rio Tinto in preliminary talks to merge with Glencore

Glencore is in preliminary talks to be acquired by Rio Tinto in what would be a $300 billion mega-merger to create the world's biggest...

Study hubs ready for 2026

Students across Central West Queensland are set to benefit from expanded support and new initiatives in 2026, as the region’s Country Universities Centre network...

Rural Aid to support farmers

North and Central Queensland farmers are showing extraordinary resilience, but we cannot mistake resilience for invincibility. Behind that strength are families facing real losses,...

Waters receding as Clermont recovers

Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR) Swiftwater crews rescued three individuals trapped in floodwater on the Gregory Highway in Clermont overnight, two on the roof...