Andrew Leith

Executive summary

Andrew is a Director in BDO’s Project and Infrastructure Advisory team in Cairns and a leader in BDO’s Northern Australia practice. He provides strategic, commercial and financial advice to help government and private sector organisations assess opportunities, make informed investment decisions and progress complex infrastructure and regional development initiatives.

Andrew specialises in business cases, feasibility studies, commercial assessments, project delivery and operating models, program governance and stakeholder engagement. He brings a practical and commercially focused approach, helping clients understand project opportunities and constraints, evaluate options and risks, and establish clear pathways for implementation.

With more than 17 years of experience, Andrew has held executive and consulting roles across the public and private sectors. His experience spans government, infrastructure, tourism, defence, energy, agriculture, mining and regional economic development, with a particular focus on projects across Queensland and Northern Australia.

Expertise

•  Strategic infrastructure investment and commercial advisory for government and private sector organisations
• Business cases, feasibility studies and options assessments for infrastructure and regional development projects
• Project delivery model, operating model and value-for-money assessments
• Economic development strategies, investment planning and precinct development
• Market analysis, demand assessment and investment attraction
• Program governance, project assurance and risk assessment
• Stakeholder engagement, market sounding and workshop facilitation
• Tourism, ecotourism and nature-based infrastructure planning
• Commercial and financial advisory for transport, logistics, energy, agriculture and resources projects

Experience

Infrastructure and commercial advisory

• Queensland Government – Delivery options risk assessment for a strategic marine infrastructure facility, including assessment of alternative delivery models, stakeholder capability and project risks.
• Local government – Strategic business case for an industrial precinct, incorporating commercial assessment, technical feasibility, opportunities, constraints and recommended implementation steps.
• Local government – Commercial advisory and transaction support for an eco-industrial precinct, including land allocation arrangements, market engagement, demand analysis, workforce considerations and investment attraction.
• Regional infrastructure organisation – Feasibility assessment for new agricultural processing infrastructure, including industry demand, site and environmental considerations, stakeholder consultation, logistics, and financial and economic analysis.
• Energy sector consortium – Financial and commercial advisory for regional microgrid feasibility studies, supported by community engagement and assessment of potential technical energy solutions.

Regional development

• Queensland Government – Business case and investment funding support for major nature-based tourism infrastructure, including market and demand analysis, risk assessment, delivery model evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and financial and commercial analysis.
• Local government – Business case and business planning for regional nature-based tourism infrastructure, including visitor demand forecasting, economic and social impact assessment, financial modelling, governance and operating model analysis.
• Indigenous tourism organisation – Commercial and financial advice supporting the progression of an Indigenous-led ecotourism precinct, including financial modelling, project staging, operational planning and investment readiness.
• Regional council – Economic development strategy, implementation plan and investment prospectus informed by economic analysis and extensive stakeholder and community engagement.
• Local government – Operational, governance and commercial assessment for the proposed expansion of regional adventure-tourism infrastructure, supported by strategic advocacy and implementation planning.

Project governance and executive experience

• Regional logistics business – Commercial leadership role involving oversight of commercial and finance functions, governance reform, corporate restructuring and business development initiatives.
• Government recovery programs – Project governance reviews relating to local government infrastructure delivery and disaster recovery, including review of project management arrangements, funding claims and cost acquittal processes.

Qualifications and affiliations

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accountancy

Professional engagements and activities

•  Board Member, Northern Pride Rugby League Club, May 2025 - present