Maree Adshead is one of Australia’s most respected leaders in governance, environmental markets, and business advocacy. With an impressive career spanning law, entrepreneurship, and public service, Adshead has consistently demonstrated her ability to bridge complex worlds — from helping small businesses thrive to shaping Australia’s biodiversity credit systems. Her influence stretches across both the public and private sectors. From serving as the inaugural Queensland Small Business Commissioner to leading Eco-Markets Australia as CEO and now chairing the Gladstone Ports Corporation, Maree Adshead embodies modern leadership grounded in innovation, sustainability, and integrity.
Early Life and Education of Maree Adshead
Maree Adshead’s professional journey began in law — a field that sharpened her analytical, negotiation, and advocacy skills. She possesses both a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Master of Laws (LLM), equipping her with a deep understanding of regulation, compliance, and corporate governance.
Before stepping into high-profile executive roles, Maree Adshead served as a partner at Minter Ellison, one of Australia’s largest and most prestigious law firms. Her legal background served as a strong foundation for the leadership and board positions she would later assume across diverse industries.
Maree Adshead as an Entrepreneur and Innovator
Beyond her legal credentials, Maree Adshead is also a seasoned entrepreneur. She co-founded and managed several technology and software-based businesses, showcasing her adaptability in an evolving digital landscape.
This entrepreneurial experience was instrumental in her later success as a public servant and corporate leader. It gave her a firsthand understanding of the challenges that small and medium-sized enterprises face — a perspective that would later influence her work as Queensland’s Small Business Commissioner.
Leadership as Queensland Small Business Commissioner
One of Maree Adshead’s most notable achievements was serving as the inaugural Queensland Small Business Commissioner. In this role, she became a strong voice for small and family-owned businesses across the state.
Her responsibilities included resolving business disputes, improving regulatory frameworks, and ensuring that government policies reflected the needs of entrepreneurs and local operators. She also made it her mission to build direct engagement with small business owners across regional Queensland, traveling to communities to hear their challenges firsthand.
Under her leadership, the Commissioner’s office implemented practical support systems for nearly half a million small businesses in Queensland. Maree Adshead helped many business owners navigate complex issues like leasing, government contracts, and compliance — particularly during the difficult economic period that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.
This role positioned her as a trusted advocate for business growth and sustainability, setting the stage for her next significant leadership chapter.
Transition to Environmental Market Leadership
Following her successful tenure in business advocacy, Maree Adshead turned her focus toward environmental innovation and natural capital markets. She joined Eco-Markets Australia as Chief Executive Officer, where she led the organization’s mission to develop and scale environmental credit systems that reward landholders for positive ecological outcomes.
Eco-Markets Australia manages groundbreaking initiatives, such as the Reef Credit Scheme, which provides financial incentives to improve water quality in catchments feeding into the Great Barrier Reef. Under Adshead’s leadership, the organization expanded its methodologies, doubled the number of approved environmental projects, and laid the foundation for new biodiversity credit systems.
Cassowary Credits Initiative
One of Maree Adshead’s most transformative contributions was leading the creation of Cassowary Credits — Australia’s first biodiversity credit scheme focused on rainforest restoration and habitat protection in Far North Queensland.
This initiative reflected her ability to integrate environmental science, policy innovation, and market design — creating practical, scalable solutions for climate resilience and biodiversity protection.
Maree Adshead’s Role at Gladstone Ports Corporation
In early 2025, Maree Adshead was appointed Chair of the Board for Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) — one of Queensland’s largest and most strategically significant infrastructure entities.
In this position, she oversees governance, long-term sustainability, and commercial performance at the port, which is a vital gateway for Australia’s resource and energy exports. Her expertise in law, governance, and environmental stewardship ensures that GPC continues to operate responsibly and efficiently while aligning with modern ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards.
Her appointment was a natural progression, showcasing her ability to lead in industries that blend economic growth with environmental accountability.
Maree Adshead’s Corporate Directorships
In addition to her role as chair at GPC, Maree Adshead holds several non-executive directorships across Australian companies.
- Orcoda Ltd (ASX: ODA) – Adshead was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of this smart transport and logistics technology company in 2024. Her governance experience and legal acumen support the company’s strategic growth in digital infrastructure and mobility solutions.
- Turbine Sunshine Coast – She contributes to innovation and business collaboration initiatives on the Sunshine Coast through this board position.
- ORDODA Limited (ASX: ODA) – Another testament to her expertise in technology-driven enterprises, reinforcing her influence in both sustainability and tech governance sectors.
These roles highlight Maree Adshead’s versatility as a leader who can balance innovation, compliance, and long-term vision.
Impact on Sustainability and Natural Capital
Sustainability lies at the heart of Maree Adshead’s professional philosophy. She believes in the power of market-based environmental solutions — mechanisms that assign real economic value to nature and ecosystem services.
During her tenure at Eco-Markets Australia, she was instrumental in expanding the organization’s Reef Credit Scheme, promoting carbon + biodiversity credit stacking, and supporting the rise of voluntary environmental markets.
Her leadership has helped Australia move closer to recognizing nature as an asset, not a cost — a perspective that underpins global sustainability efforts. By developing frameworks that make environmental restoration financially viable, Maree Adshead has become one of the key voices in the evolution of natural capital accounting.
Leadership Philosophy and Governance Style
Maree Adshead is widely respected for her values-based leadership, marked by transparency, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making.
She has often emphasized that effective governance requires both strategic vision and empathy—a balance that enables leaders to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes. Her multidisciplinary background in law, business, and sustainability gives her a rare combination of analytical precision and human understanding.
As a board leader, she is known for:
- Fostering inclusive, high-performance cultures
- Driving innovation through evidence and data
- Harmonizing business objectives with environmental and social responsibilities
- Mentoring emerging female leaders in business and policy sectors
Maree Adshead’s Legacy and Influence
The impact of Maree Adshead reaches far beyond the positions she’s held. Her career reflects a clear theme: enabling change through structure, empathy, and innovation.
- In law, she brought clarity and rigor.
- In small business advocacy, she gave voice to the entrepreneurial community.
- In environmental markets, she pioneered models that transform sustainability from theory into practice.
- In governance, she has shown how strong oversight and values-driven leadership create enduring success.
Her legacy continues to inspire leaders who aim to combine purpose with performance.
Current Endeavors and Future Outlook
As of 2025, Maree Adshead continues to serve as Chair of the Gladstone Ports Corporation and remains active in board roles across the technology and sustainability sectors.
She recently stepped down as CEO of Eco-Markets Australia after a transformational tenure but remains a passionate advocate for environmental market innovation. With her diverse expertise, she is expected to play an influential role in shaping Australia’s sustainable economy in the years ahead.
Given her track record of foresight and adaptability, it’s likely that Maree Adshead will continue contributing to policy design, market innovation, and corporate governance reform — areas where her leadership has already left a lasting mark.
Conclusion: The Enduring Influence of Maree Adshead
In an era when the world demands both business innovation and environmental accountability, Maree Adshead stands as a model of balanced, forward-thinking leadership.
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