Richie Bates is an Advisor to the Queensland Minister for Tourism and Sport with strong ties to the State Government and external stakeholders in Brisbane and expertise in business and community advocacy with government and non-government organisations. He was previously the elected Councillor for the Cairns CBD and inner suburbs with portfolio responsibilities including Chair of the Water and Waste Committee and Cairns Townsville Mackay Water Alliance, while being a foundation member of the Cairns Water Security Advisory Group.

Mr Bates was part of the CBD steering committee that began the significant transformation of the Cairns city centre including the re-opening of Lake Street to vehicular traffic, installation of new public transport bus stations, re-development of the Cairns Museum, Abbott Street Courthouse, Grafton Street Chinese Heritage Precinct, Munro Martin Parklands and Cairns Performing Arts Centre. He has a background in the telecommunications industry and served in the not-for-profit sector as a sporting club president and executive member for more than a decade.