Deputy Mayor Karen May’s vast local government experience totals 20 years.
The most experienced councillor on the current council, she was deputy mayor during the last term from 2020-2024.
She was also a councillor, deputy mayor and mayor of the former Sarina Shire Council.
As mayor, she led Sarina through amalgamation with Mackay City and Mirani Shire councils in 2008 and was elected to the new, amalgamated Mackay Regional Council.
She was re-elected for her fourth consecutive term on the amalgamated council at the 2024 local government elections. She was then elected Deputy Mayor by her fellow councillors in August 2024 after Cr Belinda Hassan resigned from that role when she became and endorsed candidate for the seat of Mackay at the October State Government election.
Cr May is co-chair of council’s Liveability and Social Inclusion Strategic Advisory Committeeand also deputy chair of the Regional Infrastructure Strategic Advisory Committee.
She is also a council representative on the Whitsunday Regional Roads and Transport Group, Traffic Advisory Committee, the not-for-profit regional body for community and social development, Greater Whitsunday Communities, and Mackay Regional Housing Company Limited.
During her time on council, Cr May has been dedicated to helping and listening to the community.
She is passionate about advocating on behalf of business, industry and tourism for our region.
Her volunteer work includes serving as chairperson of the Mackay Women’s Service, Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank and committee member of Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsunday.