NQ Spark appoints Cassandra Cazzulino as Executive General Manager
North Queensland Simulation Park Inc. (NQ Spark) has appointed Cassandra Cazzulino as its next Executive General Manager following an extensive national and international recruitment process.
NQ Spark Chair Joe McCabe announced the appointment, describing Ms Cazzulino as the standout candidate from a highly competitive field.
“We received applications from an exceptional pool of candidates from around the world, representing a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise,” Mr McCabe said.
“Following a rigorous recruitment process, including independent shortlisting by an external consultant, the Board unanimously selected Cassandra as the best person to lead NQ Spark into its next phase of growth and development.
“Cassandra brings strong management expertise, extensive regional and national networks, and a proven passion for identifying and developing excellence in entrepreneurial environments.
“As NQ Spark evolves into a national centre of excellence in simulation, training and research, we are confident Cassandra has the vision and capability to lead the organisation into the future.”
Ms Cazzulino will commence in the role in early July and will undertake a three-month transition period alongside current Executive General Manager Dawson Wilkie.
Mr McCabe acknowledged Mr Wilkie’s contribution to establishing the organisation and overseeing delivery of the facility.
“Dawson has played a critical role in taking NQ Spark from concept to reality,” he said. “By the time he concludes his tenure in September, the facility will be complete and undergoing commissioning, if not already operational.
This transition period will ensure continuity of leadership while enabling the critical functions of project delivery and business development to progress simultaneously.”
Mr McCabe said NQ Spark was entering an exciting new phase, with a specialist facility fitout contractor about to be appointed, simulation infrastructure being acquired and commissioned, and a permanent operational team being established.
“The foundations are now in place for NQ Spark to become a nationally significant hub for simulation, training and research, delivering long-term benefits for North Queensland and beyond,” he said.
NQSPARK is a joint venture of Townsville City Council and James Cook University, which combines advanced simulation, virtual and augmented reality, and high‑performance computing to give key organisations faster decision‑making, safer operation and richer data insights, all without the real‑world risk of live training.
“At NQSPARK, teams can safely rehearse high‑risk scenarios, from military operations and emergency responses to specialised vehicle and crisis management in controlled but realistic virtual environments, then receive detailed, data‑driven feedback to improve performance.”
Organisations can trial new approaches in controlled environments, monitor outcomes in real time, and capture high‑value data to inform future operations.
NQSPARK also enables the creation of digital twins of complex environments, extending physical infrastructure into fully interactive virtual spaces. These environments allow researchers, industry and end‑users to test theories, validate equipment and collaborate remotely at scale.
Unique in Australia, NQSPARK positions North Queensland at the forefront of simulation and immersive technology. By integrating cutting‑edge simulation, augmented and virtual reality, and next‑generation high‑performance computing, NQSPARK creates a dynamic environment supporting training, research, education, testing and evaluation across defence, health, science and similar industry sectors.
Comment or interview?
For more comment or to arrange an interview with Joe McCabe, please contact David Donohue at davidd@qccn.com.au or text 0407 169 851. Mr McCabe will be available to ring journalists between 2:00pm to 2:30pm Monday 29 June.
