Why did you take on the job?
Over the years, I have grown my ability to bring people together to make shared progress in what really matters to them. One of my ‘super-powers’ is a ‘dot-joiner and glue-stick.’ Through tapping into collective intelligence throughout my career, I have been really fortunate to hone my ability to see systems, patterns, connections, and opportunities in ways that have delivered new forms of value to the regions, systems, communities and industries I continue to serve, no matter what position I am in.
My broad experience spans being firstly a jillaroo, then woolgrower and woolclasser for 20 years in the NSW Riverina, to learning and innovating in community development from the ground-up . One of my career ‘ J curves’ where I learnt the most was as Chair of the NSW Year of the Outback Working Party from 1999-2002.
Since then I’ve worked to establish, shape and amplify impact-focused research in regional development and the development of Australia’s manufacturing, and transport and logistics sectors. I’ve developed programs that help people to grow their soft skills – which is absolutely essential in supporting communities and industries to thrive. I’ve also been privileged to bring high levels of collective innovation and collaboration to my roles managing economic development in the regional cities of Griffith (NSW) and Launceston (Tas), and I’ve also spent over seven years consulting, where my government, industry, and not for profit clients learnt that I was as invested in realising their goals as they were.
The hallmark of my career is a deep and long-game approach to helping individuals, communities, industry sectors, research and learning institutions, and government at all levels, to build their capacity to innovate and collaborate through shared learning and activating collective intelligence – where the solutions and the next steps always lie.
I’ve been lucky enough to be in positions of trust that have enable me to pursue this work - always learning, always deep diving into how regions work, what they need, what is working, and also what isn’t. As a deeply reflective and curious human, I bring all that knowledge set, deep curiosity, skills and know-how to the work that I’m doing now with the people working in and across regional Australia.
My big passion is helping people build the capacity to do what they want to do, in way that realises shared hopes and ambitions, and my role with RAI provides me with absolute joy.
Where do you live?
I have just moved to Albury and am still discovering what this beautiful city and its surrounds have to offer. My backyard looks up towards Nail Can Hill - part of the hilltops and ridges that run more or less north to south through the city of Albury. I just love the perspectives my new home gives me, watching the sunrise and sunset from either side of my house, and the grounding I always need by making sure I live close to nature.