20/20's Twenty Questions with20/20's Twenty Questions with the Cairns Regional Council interim Chief Executive Officer Noel Briggs “Considered to be a local boy made good, Cairns Regional Council interim Chief Executive Officer Noel Briggs returned to Cairns earlier this year after a stint as Mareeba Shire Council CEO. He will lead the authority through the amalgamation of the Cairns City Council and Douglas Shire Council”.

1. What was your first ever job? I worked for a firm of chartered accountants in Brisbane.

2. What did you learn from it? I definitely didn’t want to be an auditor.

3. What were you doing when you were 20? I was working for accountants and studying for my degree part time.

4. For how many years have you worked in local government? 25 years

5. How does it feel to be back in Cairns? Wonderful, great Council, great staff, great family what more can you ask for?

6. What does civic pride mean to you? Everything, each time I walk past a park I immediately look to see how well it is being maintained, are the streets clean and tidy etc? You walk along the Esplanade and think Council is responsible for this great facility and feel very proud.

7. Why do you think Cairns is the most exciting city in Australia? It is a culturally diverse city with a wide range of amenities. It has a unique natural environment and addresses the environmental, social, cultural and economic factors which are needed for a premier regional city.

8. What advice would you give a person starting a career in local government? Be resilient and patient.

9. What do you like most about your industry? The opportunity to make where you live a better place. Cairns today compared to 10 years ago is a better city to live.

10. What do you dislike most about your industry? The fact Councils are treated as a creature of State Government yet do so much more for their residents.

11. What is the best thing about doing business in Cairns? This Council allows you to get on and do your job.

12. If you had an opportunity to change careers for a month – what would you do? Be a cricket commentator. Watch out Richie.

13. If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be? In Europe as it would make me appreciate Australia more on my return.

14. What great idea or innovation do you wish had the time to pursue? Become an inventor and devise something that would give me a perfect golf swing, a zero handicap, and the occasional hole in one.

15. Who do you aspire to in business or in life? To be a leader of an organisation that strives for excellence and create an environment where staff love coming to work.  

16. If you could re-live one moment in your life – what would it be? The day my children were born, however I am certain my wife disagrees.

17. Who would be on your ultimate dinner-party table of eight? Bono, Parkinson, Mother Terese, Adam Gilchrist and my family.

18. What is your favourite journey? Kuranda train or Skyrail.

19. Which is your favourite restaurant for that Friday afternoon lunch? I haven’t had time to explore yet.

20. What do you want to be doing when you are 80? Happily retired with my wife, enjoying golf a couple of times a week and still being sane enough to enjoy what is happening in the world.