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Help your region forge a new path

Help your region forge a new path

Blogs, Pathfinder Pathfinder, pathfinder initiative November 13 2019

As we near the end of 2019, no doubt you are thinking about what new projects to kick off when everyone returns reinvigorated in 2020.

If you work with a Council and want to embark on a mission to refocus targets and work to understand and influence your local economy over the long-term, you need to consider undertaking in our Pathfinder Initiative.

The Pathfinder Initiative is a strategy development process led by your community and informed by our research. We would work together to identify the most important Future Factors for economic prosperity in your region, and what you can do about it.

A Pathfinder combines the experience and knowledge of your local leaders and stakeholders with our unique analytical capability and unparalleled access to the best available information on regions. This process is no ordinary consultancy project; a collaborative approach allows regions to build a shared understanding of key drivers of change, how they might play out in 10-15 years, and how they can organise themselves to take meaningful action.

If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information. You can call our team on 02 6260 3733 or email [email protected], and we will ensure the right team member gets back to you.

So, what kind of findings should you expect from a Pathfinder of your area?

In 2016 we completed a Pathfinder Initiative with Toowoomba and Surat Basin. The key project finding highlighted that the agriculture and transport and logistics sectors would play a vital role in assisting the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region reach $10 billion of growth by 2030.

Our Pathfinder with the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) in 2017 found the region is in a time of transition and needs to capitalise on its strengths and manage its constraints to grow through cluster fencing, stimulating local entrepreneurs, delivering enhanced digital connectivity and strengthening its diversified economy. This transition could deliver an economy worth $1.5 billion in gross value added in 2031.

We also worked with the Cradle Coast Authority and Councils of the region in 2018. This collaboration found the West and North West Tasmania regional economy is projected to add around 3,800 jobs by 2022. To realise this potential, the Cradle Coast regional will have to develop and rely on competitive strengths, target priority constraints and work collectively.

And here are a few things people have said about our Pathfinder Initiatives in the past:

“This [Pathfinder] project helped us understand our own backyard, drill down to find the few things that really matter and provide clear opportunities, and we’ve been working on them ever since. The RAI’s approach always made it clear this was our project, and their contribution included balanced and credible data which arms us to go to government with confidence in our position. I think Pathfinder is something all regions should consider.”

Col Murray, Mayor, Tamworth Regional Council (Pathfinder completed in 2017)

“[The RAPAD Pathfinder project] was a holistic and organic process of fleshing out and gathering data, opinions and ideas from a region and bringing the common synergies together into a single report that will provide direction, complement other pieces of work and plans, and support the Central West Queensland RAPAD region’s social and economic ideals and initiatives into the future. The Report has captured the common themes that came from the consultative processes, and will prove to be a valuable document that gives the RAPAD region clear objectives as well as the longevity and consistency for its succession toward a sustainable and functional region in its own right”.

Bruce Scott, Mayor, Barcoo Shire Council (Pathfinder completed in 2017)

“The RAI helped TSBE quantify the growth prospects for our region and helped us clearly understand the full spectrum of opportunities available to us. The Pathfinder work provided valuable information which helped lead to string investment interest.”

Stacey Burrell, COO Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise

Find out more about our Pathfinder Initiative here, including previous Pathfinder outcomes. If you are interested, contact us:
P. 02 6260 3733
E. [email protected]

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