IPAA Queensland Stewards on the Couch Series
Steve Gollschewski APM – Commissioner, Queensland Police Service
On Tuesday 25 February 2025, IPAA Queensland hosted its first Stewards on the Couch series event for the year, featuring an insightful discussion with Commissioner Steve Gollschewski APM, interviewed by Samay Zhouand, the Public Trustee of Queensland.
The Commissioner shared his perspective on senior leadership, public service and his vision for a modern police force in Queensland, and the challenges of public leadership.
Attendees gained valuable perspective about the esteemed career of one of the state’s most trusted senior public leaders. Commissioner Steve Gollschewski APM shared insights and perspectives across his more than four decades in public sector service and leadership, where he has played instrumental roles in the response to some of Queensland’s most devastating disasters.
For more, read our event blog here.
IPAA Queensland members can watch the entire event recording on the members portal.
This event was made possible with the support of our partner
ABOUT STEVE GOLLSCHEWSKI apm
The 21st Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service (QPS), Steve Gollschewski APM has more than 44 years of experience in policing, disaster management, governance and reform and was successfully appointed on 22 April 2024.
Before being appointed Commissioner, Steve was selected by the Premier of Queensland to be the Special Coordinator for Police and Emergency Services Reform in December 2022, following the Commission of Inquiry into Police Responses to Domestic and Family Violence.
As Special Coordinator, Steve provided oversight of the QPS reforms including those arising from the Women’s Safety Justice Taskforce, the Commission of Inquiry into Police Responses to Domestic and Family Violence, the Commission of Inquiry into Forensic DNA, as well as a number of associated inquiries, inquests and reviews along with in-flight QPS reforms. The Special Coordinator also provided oversight of the Disaster and Emergency Management Reform which delivered significant transformational activities and Machinery of Government changes for QPS, emergency services and relevant agencies.
In his previous role as the former State Disaster Coordinator for Queensland, Steve was the Commander for the operational response to the global COVID-19 pandemic in support of public health authorities. He has extensive experience in disaster management and has been responsible for coordinating the Queensland Government response to weather related emergencies including the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley floods in 2011, flood evacuation of St George in 2012 and Cyclone Oswald in Bundaberg in early 2013. He also coordinated the overall disaster responses to Cyclones Ita, Marcia, Nathan and Debbie along with the state-wide fire responses in 2019 and the severe flooding in southern Queensland during early 2022.
In 2018, Steve led the largest security operation in Australia for the decade as Commander of Operational Sentinel at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He has also managed the initial QPS planning and preparation for the security of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. He is a graduate of the AFP Management of Serious Crime Program, the Leadership in Counter- Terrorism (LinCT) program, ANZSOG, and is a graduate – and program visiting fellow – of the Australian Institute of Police Management. He has completed post graduate studies in Leadership through Charles Sturt and Harvard universities.
ABOUT THE STEWARDS ON THE COUCH SERIES
Stewards on the Couch is a regular and highly popular feature of IPAA’s annual event program, where one or more chief executives is joined by a respected journalist or facilitator ‘on the couch’ for an informal, conversation-style interview.
These events provide the IPAA community an opportunity to learn more about the influences, priorities, and core values of stewards leading public purpose work along with the key challenges and opportunities facing their organisation and/or sector. Guests are invited to stay for networking and refreshments after the interview.