The Regional Australia Institute team have a wealth of experience in regional research, policy-making and community consultation.
The RAI team works under the strategic direction of the Board and in conjunction with input from the Research Advisory Committee and Research Fellows.
Meet the team below.
LIZ RITCHIE
co-CEO
BArts(PubRel), MAppSc(OrgDyn)
Liz’s primary purpose at the RAI is to make a difference through providing leadership, engagement, information and connectivity. Heralding from country NSW, she understands the issues impacting regional Australia and has designed and executed programs across Australia to engage in economic and social issues affecting our regions.
DR KIM HOUGHTON
co-CEO
BSc(Hons), PhD(Econ)
Kim manages the RAI’s policy and research portfolio to ensure the Institute’s work has practical application and supports a better policy environment and more vibrant regional economies. Having worked on regional economic development in Australia for almost 20 years, Kim has a passion for engaging, motivating, informing and connecting entrepreneurial business owners.
HAYLEY ACHURCH
Senior Researcher
BSc(EnvBio)(Hons), BInterdis(Sust), GradCert(PA)
Hayley uses her experience in government and research to deliver a broad range of applied research projects which inform national, state and local government policies.
JULIE ANDERSON
Business Manager
Julie provides executive support to the CEO, Board and committees, and assists with event management, governance and financial matters. She ensures the organisation keeps ticking along smoothly.
AMANDA BARWICK
Editor in Chief
BBus (Major in Journalism)
Amanda is a media professional with more than 20 years industry experience across Australia. Having worked for media organisations, government, industry groups and agri-political organisations, Amanda has a true passion for, and understands, regional Australia.
RICHARD BEATON
Senior Data Analyst
BA(Computer Science)
Richard administers our research database and brings a creative approach to data analysis.
DR KYLIE BOURNE
Lead Researcher, Regions in Transition
BA, MAE, PhD (with Distinction)
Kylie is a researcher with extensive experience in knowledge brokering and research communication. She has worked in the policy space across the public, not-for-profit and higher education sectors. Kylie has published academic research and media commentary on a variety of social and public policy related issues.Kylie is passionate about regional issues. She lives in regional Australia and volunteers as an Ethics teacher and coordinator in NSW schools in the Yass Valley region.
NINA DAVIS
Graphic Designer and Communications Assistant
B GraphicDes, BA(Hons)
Nina is passionate about visual communication and the power of distilling content into easy-to-digest graphics. She creates visual materials to complement RAI’s research and ensures everything is visually on-brand and presented in a memorable format.
GERALDYNE HOW
Research Assistant
BComm, BSc(Hons), MEnv
As a Research Assistant, Geraldyne provides research support and contributes to work across a range of RAI’s research and policy projects.
BETH ORTON
Senior Researcher
BA(Comms), GDipSocInq, MDemog
Beth’s research interest is the demographics of regional Australia and understanding how populations and communities change in relation to social and economic factors. She has a background in communications and stakeholder engagement, and has worked within a diverse range of sectors for regional Australia including infrastructure, social welfare, and arts and culture.
BEN WALSH
Research Assistant
BA
Ben is responsible for working across a number of different projects in a research support role. He enjoys unearthing new pieces of information and collating them to form a narrative or story.
