Mr Gilmour, of Cairns, was named a Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) Australia Day award winner at a ceremony in Brisbane for his work as director of Operation Clean Up (OCU).

The department's statewide Farm Financial Counselling Team, including several North Queenslanders, was honoured as well for its efforts to help cyclone-affected primary producers.

As Queensland marks the first anniversary of the devastating cyclone, Mr Gilmour reflected on the success of OCU, which has completed 845 jobs on farms and at tourism businesses with another 43 on their way to completion.

Almost $15 million will have been spent by the time the program winds down.

"I knew I had a daunting task ahead of me, but taking a backward step was not an option," Mr Gilmour said.

"Queensland's agricultural and tourism industries are too important to our economy, and people's livelihoods were in the balance."

Mr Gilmour managed and coordinated several job agencies, landcare groups, community organisations and contractors from around Queensland.

DEEDI's far northern executive regional Anne Clarke said Mr Gilmour went beyond the call of duty as the OCU director.

"Russell was the compassionate human face of DEEDI during a time of the great difficulty and hardship in the areas directly affected by Yasi," Ms Clarke said.

Other members of the award-winning statewide team are Sandra Wilson (Mareeba), Ian Jackson (South Johnstone), Gavin Solinas (Townsville), Tom Mullins (Bowen), Richard Lewis (Mackay), Kym Michaels (Biolela), Veronica Chapman (Bundaberg), Steven Smith (Gympie), Alan Broome (Kingaroy), Roger Herden (Toowoomba), Doug Johnstone (Gatton), and Warren Ryan (Warwick).