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.

LIZ RITCHIE
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.

KIM HOUGHTON
Chief Economist
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.

AMANDA BARWICK
Corporate Affairs Director
BBus (Major in Journalism)

SHYLA VOHRA
Policy Director
B.A, LL.B, LL.M
Shyla Vohra is a committed and passionate legal and policy professional with over 25 years national and international experience in the public sector. With a background in senior management at the United Nations, Shyla has also worked as a government adviser. Shyla has a Masters degree in Public International Law and particular specialisation in human rights, development and migration. Shyla joined the RAI in 2019 as its first Migration Director and has now become its Policy Director, working on a range of regionalisation issues.

DOMINIQUE SCHWARTZ
Associate Director Communications
As a foreign correspondent for the ABC, Dominique reported from more than fifty countries across the globe and was also a primetime TV news presenter and radio current affairs host.
Most recently Dominique was the ABC’s national rural and regional correspondent, and she’s delighted that with RAI, she can continue to fight for, and be inspired by, the people and places of regional Australia.

DIWA HOPKINS
Senior Economist
BA(Dev), BEc

KATIE BASSETT
Senior Researcher
BSocWk, MEcRegDev

NINA DAVIS
Digital Communications Advisor
BGraphicDes, BA(Hons)

EMILIE MACISAAC
Events and Projects Coordinator
BA (Int Dev), MSc (Project Management)
With a vision of creating engaging learning and experience-sharing platforms for all Regional Australians, Emilie develops and oversees the Regions Rising events series and other RAI projects. Trained in project management, she has a vast range of experience working for community development initiatives in Australia, Canada, Jordan, Mongolia and Bolivia.