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Phone RDA Wheatbelt

The RDA Network

Regional Development Australia (RDA) is a national network of 53 committees across Australia, committed to supporting the development of Australia’s regions.
RDA Committees are strong advocates for their region and drivers of change, with a pivotal role in fostering regional economic development.
The RDA network strengthens partnerships across all three tiers of government, business networks, and the wider community to boost the economic capability and performance of regions. RDA Committees are active in promoting Australian Government programs and shepherding communities towards appropriate funding sources that will assist projects that work towards economic development.
Through strategic partnerships, innovative opportunities, ideas with implementation, providing advice and connections, the collection of data and regional intelligence to support investment decisions, partnerships with businesses to leverage project potential, the exchange of information, and communication across all three levels of government.

Role of RDA Wheatbelt

The vision for our organisation is to actively shape the future of the Wheatbelt Region.

To realise this vision, we commit to our mission of collaborating across communities, advocating with key decision makers and harnessing innovation to create local opportunity, growth and impact.

And we do this because our purpose is to be the Wheatbelt’s local voice to Federal Government to facilitate social and economic development.

The RDA Charter:

RDAs play a role in helping to drive economic growth, innovation and entrepreneurship in regions through facilitating investment in community, industry and the environment.

RDAs assist to bridge the regional development gaps in regions by working with a broad range of stakeholders across sectors and supporting the delivery of identified Australian Government strategic priorities.

As representatives of their local communities, RDAs will:

  • Focus their activities and strategy on delivery of the Regional Investment Framework (RIF) in their region, including investment in people, places, services, and industries and local economies. (See the RIF diagram)
  • Support regional stakeholders, including local government and the not-for-profit-sector, to seek grant opportunities that advance strategic regional priorities
  • Support decarbonisation efforts and the transformation to a net zero economy and enable regional linkages between sectors to achieve these aims
  • Build the evidence for economic development, including innovation and diversification strategies
  • Facilitate meaningful engagement across the three levels of government to ensure investments deliver better outcomes for regions, and
  • Contribute relevant data and local intelligence to support the evidence base to inform regional
    development strategies, program design and policy responses.
  • RDAs use their local, cross-sector expertise and regional voice to:
  • Collaborate with integrity, transparency, respect and accountability
  • Engage with diverse communities, especially First Nations people
  • Support the Government’s ambition of ‘no one held back and no one left behind’, and
  • Support gender equality opportunities in their regions.

Our stakeholders include:

  • The 42 Local Government Authorities that make up the Wheatbelt region.
  • The Wheatbelt Development Commission (WDC) – a statutory authority charged with the role of implementing the State’s Regional Development Policy.
  • Local community members and community groups.
  • The 41 Wheatbelt Community Resource Network Centres and Network.
  • WA Local Government Association – Three zones Great Eastern Country, Avon-Midland Country and Central Country. 
  • Regional Organisation of Councils (ROC) – Seven active groups.
  • The Wheatbelt Business Network (WBN).
  • Local industry groups (such as Wheatbelt Grower Groups).
  • State and Federal government agencies and departments.

Committee




(Photo pending)





Chair

Karen Oborn
(Highbury)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Member, Australia Parents Council
  • Member, North Midland Project
  • Member, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee
  • Member, Australian Institute Company Directors
  • Completing a PhD on Aboriginal identity and connection to Country
  • Over 20 years in Local Government executive positions
  • Small scale farmer with an interest in regenerative practices, and developing new and innovative products and markets for the WA agricultural sector. 
K Strange

Deputy Chair
Karen Strange
(Bruce Rock)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Reference Group Member – Lumen University Study Hubs
  • Grain and Livestock Producer in Bruce Rock
  • Co-founder/co-CEO Wheatbelt & Beyond Youth Mentoring (WBYM) (Supporting youth since 2011)
  • Former Community Liaison at the Bruce Rock DHS
  • Former Board Member of WA Women’s Advisory Council
Councillor Aspinall

Committee Member
Michael Aspinall
(Seabird)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Chair, Keep Australia Beautiful National Body
  • President, Wanneroo Agricultural Society Inc
  • Former Shire of Gingin Councillor (13 years) and President
  • Former member of WALGA’s Municipal Waste Advisory Council (13 years)
  • Former member of the Control of Vehicles (off-road Areas) Act Advisory Committee
  • 28 years in a variety of roles, for an engine and fuel injection research and development company.
Lyn Baker

Committee Member
Lynette Baker
(Corrigin)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Partner and part-time worker in farming enterprise
  • Former Shire of Corrigin Councillor (16 years) and President (10 years)
  • Honorary Freeman, Shire of Corrigin
  • Former Board Director Rural Health West (6 years)
  • Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Former member, Working Group Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network
  • Special interest in rural health
Wendy Newman

Committee Member
Wendy Newman
(Dowerin)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Chair, Regional Early Education Development Inc (REED)
  • Chair, Lumen University Study Hubs Reference Group
  • Deputy Chair, WA Country Health Service
  • Principal Consultant, Quintessence Consulting
  • Member, Dowerin Events Management
  • Member, Women on Boards
  • Member, Directions Workforce Solutions (Inc)
  • Member, Australian Council Health Service Managers
  • Member, RRR Network
  • Member, Wheatbelt Business Network  
  • Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Steve Gollan

Committee Member
Stephen Gollan
(Beverley)

Qualification & Experience:

  • CEO, Shire of Beverley
  • Over 40 years experience in local government across Beverley, Wickepin, Gnowangerup
  • Deputy Chair, WA Country Cricket Board
  • Committee Member, WA Veteran’s Over 50s
  • Secretary/Treasurer Beverley Golf Club

Committee Member
Katrina Crute
(Brookton)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Shire of Brookton Councillor (2009 – present)
  • Shire President, Shire of Brookton (2017 – present)
  • 30 years working in the agricultural transport sector
  • Small business owner (2003 – present)
  • Community volunteer
  • Diploma in Local Government (Elected Member), 2013
  • Diploma in Accounting (2016)
  • Member of inaugural Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network Steering Committee and working group that secured $187.5 million for Wheatbelt
    local government freight routes

Committee Member
Renee Lynch
(Narembeen)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Member, Grain Growers National Policy Group
  • Member, Narembeen District High School Board
  • Member, Narembeen Volunteer Fire & Emergency Services Committee
  • Managing Director, Emu Hill Pastoral mixed farming enterprise
  • Former Member, Cooperative Bulk Handling Growers Advisory Council
  • Former Member, Grain Industry of WA Careers in Grain Board
  • Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Fellow of the Aust Rural Leadership Foundation (FARLF)
  • Bachelor of Commerce and a Batchelor of Arts (BCom, BA)

Committee Member
Mischa Stratford
(Wyalkatchem)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Chair, Senior Citizens Home Trust, Wyalkatchem
  • Chair, Wyalkatchem Local Health Advisory Group
  • Member, Eastern District Health Advisory Council
  • Councillor, Shire of Wyalkatchem
  • Secretary, Central East Accommodation and Care Alliance (CEACA)
  • President and Secretary, Wyalkatchem P&C

Staff

Josh Pomykala - Director Regional Development

Josh Pomykala

Director Regional Development

Chris Evans

Research, Evaluation & Project Officer

Pippa Harris

Administration and Finance

Elise Woods

Director University Study Hubs