Party Leadership
Doug Hawkes
LNP President
Doug and his wife Mary have three school-aged children, and have lived on the northside of Brisbane for the last 20 years. Prior to that, they lived and worked in Western Australia for several years. Both are Queenslanders, doing some (all in Mary’s case) of their growing up in North Queensland, and love returning to that part of the State whenever they can.
Doug has been an Engineer for almost 30 years and has owned and operated his own engineering business since 2000, with operations in Queensland and Western Australia. As well as running his business, he spends time contributing to Australian Standards Committees and has served on Boards and Management Committees of industry and community not-for-profit organisations. It is from this family and small business perspective that he wants to help the LNP be the best it can be such that poor Labor governments are replaced by good LNP governments, at all levels.
As an LNP member, Doug has undertaken to bring teams together, to work on common goals and to maintain focus on what matters. He has been an SEC and FDC Executive member, spent time on several election campaign committees and teams, been an SEC Chair, and a Metro North Region Vice-Chair and Chair, Metropolitan Vice President, prior to becoming LNP President.
Like many members, he has experienced the elation of winning seats and elections, and the absolute devastation of losing them. The background of campaigning in marginal seats and holding a Region Chair position gives great insight to the on-the-ground matters affecting members, candidates, and campaigns. As President of the LNP, Doug is passionate about continuously improving the LNP for our members and representatives, and placing the Party in the best possible position to win elections.
Trent Belling
LNP Metropolitan Vice President
Trent calls the Gold Coast home, with his husband Nick, a retired veteran turned architecture graduate. Their lives have been shaped by a strong belief in family, service, and community.
Holding a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws, Trent’s professional background includes leading major technology transformation programs in complex organisations. Today he runs Alicia’s House, a boutique family property business operating across QLD and NSW.
Trent's commitment to community service is longstanding. He is Director and Secretary of St John’s Crisis Centre in Surfers Paradise, which supports people experiencing homelessness and hardship. He is also a Director of Sanctuary Coast Care, which provides safe accommodation for families impacted by domestic and family violence.
Politically active since the age of 16. He has served as Chair of the Surfers Paradise SEC since 2019 and as Gold Coast Region Chair on State Executive since 2021.
An advocate for renewal within the Party, Trent has been a strong supporter of the YLNP, working to encourage and develop the next generation of conservatives. He is passionate about growing membership, strengthening grassroots campaigning, and ensuring the LNP is positioned to win elections.
Peter Wilson
LNP Regional Vice President
Peter and his wife Sonja are proud parents of three grown-up children, Sophie, Patrick, and Pierce. They live in Wyreema on the eastern Darling Downs.
Peter has been an active member of the party since joining the Young Nats at the age of 18 and has served in a range of leadership roles across the LNP. This includes serving as the South West Region Chair for 6 years; as Pittsworth-Millmerran Branch Chair since 2011; Condamine SEC Chair during Pat Weir’s 2015 election to Parliament; and Groom FDC Chair. These roles have provided him with deep insight into the priorities of regional electorates.
Born and raised in Pittsworth on the Darling Downs, Peter has spent nearly 40 years in Australian agriculture. Starting his career as an agronomist, he is now an International Trade and Logistics Specialist, exporting Australian pulses to global markets. Alongside this, he and his family operate a mixed farming and contracting business producing fodder crops and running a commercial herd of Speckle Park cattle.
Peter also brings extensive governance experience, serving on a range of international, national, and local corporate and not-for-profit boards and committees.
Peter recognises the legacy strength of the LNP comes from the merger of the Queensland Liberal and National Parties. However, he understands that to remain relevant, the party must learn to engage differently with voters who will ultimately determine our future success.
Susanna Damianopoulos
LNP Women President
Always a Queenslander and originally from the Gold Coast, Susanna and her husband Nathan moved to Brisbane’s southside more than 13 years ago to support opportunities for Nathan’s carpentry small business. They share four children who are actively involved in their local school activities and community sports.
Susanna holds a Bachelor of Business with a double major in Human Resource Management and Marketing, as well as a Master of Commerce majoring in Professional Accounting. She completed her postgraduate studies while raising young children.
It was during those early years of motherhood that Susanna was motivated to become politically involved. Seeing firsthand the damaging effects of a poor State Labor Government, she decided to step up and fight for a better future for her family and community. Since then, she has served the Liberal National Party in a number of key roles, including Metro South Region Vice Chair, LNPW Branch Chair, LNPW Metro South Region Chair, and most recently as the LNP candidate for Springwood in the 2024 State Election.
Susanna is passionate about increasing female representation in politics and strengthening the LNP’s capacity to train, mentor, and support women into leadership roles.
Ben Kozij
Young LNP President
Ben has been proud member of the Young LNP since 2016 and is passionate about ensuring young Queenslanders have a voice at the table when decisions are being made about their future. He believes that politics is not just about today’s challenges, but about shaping the opportunities and freedoms available for the next generation.
The Young LNP provides a unique platform for young people to get involved, develop their leadership, and contribute directly to shaping Queensland’s future. It is a place where you can learn new skills, campaign alongside elected representatives, and be part of a movement that champions values like reword for effort, personal responsibility, and a fair go for all. Just as importantly, it offers the chance to make lifelong friendships with people who share the same drive and passion for our State.
For anyone who believes in these values and wants to play a part in making Queensland stronger, there has never been a better time to join the Young LNP.
Sue Quinn
Policy Standing Committee Chair
As Policy Standing Committee Chair, Sue plays a vital role in encouraging and supporting the work of twenty seven individual Policy Committees, as well as fostering policy debate and development across local party units.
Sue’s political journey began in the 1980s when she became the founding member of the Caloundra Young Nationals branch while Mike Ahern was the local MP. Since then, she has held numerous roles within the party, from branch executive positions to regional and state-level responsibilities, always focused on strengthening grassroots engagement.
Her professional background combines experience in small business and parliamentary staffing, giving her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by families, communities, and local enterprises. This blend of hands-on business experience and political insight has shaped her practical, community-driven approach to policy.
Sue has a proven record in marginal seat campaigning at both state and federal levels.
Dedicated, experienced, and committed to representing grassroots voices, Sue brings decades of service and leadership to her ongoing role within the party.