Many homes in both areas suffered flood damage and needed repairs after the waters receded. Regardless of whether the damage needed minor or major repair work, the QBCC was involved to ensure building standards were upheld, giving residents peace of mind.

After Inglewood flooded late last year staff from the QBCC Toowoomba office were quickly on hand at the Inglewood Recovery Hub to centre to reassure residence and provide information and guidance about compliant and safe building work. Tiffany Barber and Kaitlyn Healy (pictured below) gave residents information about licence registers and advice on mould awareness, asbestos management and the impacts of flood waters on plumbing.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth also caused major flooding on the Fraser Coast earlier this year, resulting in many homes and buildings needing significant and ongoing repairs. A team from the QBCC was put together to support recovery efforts and provide help and information about flood-related home repairs and rebuilding.  

The major building and construction related concerns people were looking for following the floods included information on repairs to damaged plasterboard, timber and timber homes and using plumbing and water in flood and cyclone-affected areas.

In both areas the QBCC’s skills and experience assisted by reminding property owners that if repair work or rebuilding was needed to always use a licensed contractor, and if the building work was valued over $3,300 to ensure a contract was in place for the work.

The QBCC’s social media channels also gave timely advice to people in the affected areas by advising that the QBCC website has a free search tool to help identify and contact local licensees and a variety of building contracts for free download, including a Natural Disaster Repairs Contract.

Extensive information for home owners and contractors about rebuilding after a natural disaster, including flood events, can be found all year round on the QBCC website.  

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Queensland Building and Construction Board Chair, Mr Dick Williams, said Ms Levy brings a wealth of private and public sector leadership experience to the QBCC.

Ms Levy's most recent role was as CEO of Water Infrastructure NSW.

Her previous leadership roles have included Coordinator-General of the NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment's Environment, Energy and Science Group, Deputy CEO and Head of Investor Assurance at Infrastructure NSW, and Acting Chair and CEO of the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

Ms Levy was appointed to the role following a comprehensive and rigorous Australia-wide executive search and recruitment process conducted by executive recruitment firm Luminary Partners.

"Ms Levy has significant knowledge and expertise in construction and infrastructure planning and delivery, as well as being an experienced regulator," Mr Williams said.

"She is highly regarded in government and industry circles across many sectors and is recognised for her commitment to developing industry engagement and partnerships, her deep understanding of regulated industries, and her expertise in effecting organisational change."

Mr Williams said Ms Levy's appointment comes at an important time for Queensland's building and construction industry, given current supply-chain issues and increased materials costs, compounded by labour shortages at a time of surging demand.

"The QBCC has a vital role to play in making sure that Queenslanders continue to have confidence in the building and construction industry," Mr Williams said.

"Ms Levy will focus on delivering industry certainty, as we continue our drive to be an agile, insights-driven organisation, while addressing any opportunities for potential improvements to QBCC's governance arrangements flowing from the governance review led by Mr Jim Varghese AM.

"Importantly, Ms Levy's extensive skills and experience will ensure the QBCC is an effective regulator that can be trusted by Queenslanders. 

"I look forward to working with Ms Levy, given the importance of the Queensland building and construction sector, which is worth $47 billion a year and employs over 230,000 people.

"The Queensland Building and Construction Board wishes to thank Mr Richard Cassidy for his excellent contribution as Interim CEO and Commissioner while the search for a new permanent CEO and Commissioner was conducted."

Ms Levy will commence with the QBCC on 14 February, 2022.

Minister for Public Works and Procurement, Mick de Brenni, said he had supported the board's recommendation to appoint Ms Levy after a comprehensive national search and recruitment process.

"Ms Levy takes on her new role as Commissioner at a time critical to ensuring fairness and confidence in the building industry for everyone from new home builders and renovators to the 230,000 Queenslanders that depend on it for their livelihoods," Mr de Brenni said.

Ms Anissa Levy

Ms Anissa Levy's most recent role was as the CEO of Water Infrastructure NSW, where she was responsible for the establishment of the organisation and building the capacity and capability of the water sector to plan and deliver large and complex infrastructure programs across NSW. 

Prior to this, Ms Levy led the Department of Planning Industry and Environment's Environment, Energy and Science Group as Coordinator-General, delivering significant policies, initiatives and strategies on climate change, renewable energy and energy security, environmental sustainability, waste management, biodiversity and conservation.  

As Deputy CEO and Head of Investor Assurance at Infrastructure NSW, Ms Levy oversaw the development, implementation and operation of the Infrastructure Investor Assurance Framework — a risk-based framework for the oversight of the government's ambitious infrastructure program.

As the Acting Chair and CEO of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Ms Levy committed to developing partnerships with the community, industry, government agencies and environmental groups, and initiated change to the culture of the EPA into a more customer-focused organisation.

A civil engineer by profession, Ms Levy has a strong track record of driving transformational change across organisations and teams with experience in the development, construction, infrastructure, transport, sustainability, environment, waste, energy and water sectors.