Danielle Shankey

Danielle was raised in Far North Queensland, where resilience and community weren’t just values but a way of life. For over 25 years, she has called Brisbane home, raising her daughters there and dedicating her career to public service. She has worked across government, not-for-profits, and business, cutting through bureaucracy to deliver real outcomes for Queenslanders.

She has never been one to sit on the sidelines. Danielle fought to make voluntary assisted dying a reality in Queensland, stood up for women’s reproductive rights, and continues to push for climate action—not just as a policy but as an economic and social imperative. Because action must be taken today to create a better future for the next generation.

Originally a teacher, Danielle was the first in her family to graduate from university. A good education took a regional kid from Cairns and set her on a path to make a difference. That’s the kind of opportunity every Queensland child deserves.

She believes Queensland should be a place where everyone has the opportunity to build a good life—a place where families can afford a home, where secure jobs are within reach, and where strong community services ensure no one is left behind.

For over a decade, Danielle has shaped public policy at state and local levels by driving reform in housing, community services, and the energy transition. When climate change hurt communities through natural disasters, she helped those communities recover and come back stronger.

Queensland is her home, and she is committed to making it a place where fairness, opportunity, and dignity are at the heart of all that is done. She is not here to play politics—she is here to make a difference.