Chairman of Regional Development Australia (RDA) Hunter, Michael Slater and Deputy Chair, John Turner last week announced the appointment of the organisation’s new Board of Directors for the period to 30 June 2018.

Endorsed by Federal and State governments, the Board includes returning Directors Dr Cameron Archer, Mr Paul Hughes, Ms Susan Ivens and Mr Geoff Lilliss who will be joined by Ms Caroline Mara, Dr Kirsten Molloy and Mr Ian Pedersen.

RDA Hunter is the region’s principal economic development organisation. Established by the Australian and NSW governments to advise them on critical issues affecting the Hunter, the organisation provides leadership on a range of issues and initiatives to help drive economic growth and improve productivity in the region.

“Boosting the Hunter’s economic performance to create jobs is a primary focus for Regional Development Australia (RDA) Hunter. I am very pleased with the calibre of regional representatives appointed to our Board to lead this work for the next two years,” Chairman, Michael Slater, said.

“Since 2009, RDA Hunter has elevated the region’s profile nationally and internationally by providing a strong regional voice and advocating the Hunter’s priorities to government.”

“It’s high endorsement that so many of the region’s business leaders recognised our influential role and expressed their interest in joining the organisation. We had an unprecedented response to the government’s call for expressions of interest – the highest number of nominations of any RDA in the state, in fact.”

“Together with John and the new Directors I am looking forward to building on RDA Hunter’s impact to date by providing both state and federal governments with input about the region’s priorities to inform regional policy and drive economic growth.”

RDA Hunter facilitates policies, programmes and projects designed to strengthen human capital, productivity, infrastructure, access to markets, regional comparative advantage and business competitiveness, leading to increased economic activity and the creation of new jobs.