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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

Terry Waldron

Chair
Terry Waldron
(Narrogin)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Chair, Central Eastern Accommodation Care Alliance
  • Chair, Rural Health West
  • Chair, WA sports star of the year award
  • Former Chair, WA Cricket Association
  • Former Member, State Parliament (16 years)
  • Former Minister for Sport & Recreation, Racing, Gaming & Liquor (6.5 years)
  • Former General Manager, WA Country Football League
  • Former Secretary, Australian Country Football Council
  • Former real estate business Owner/Director Great Southern & Wheatbelt South
K Strange

Deputy Chair
Karen Strange
(Bruce Rock)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Grain and Livestock Producer in Bruce Rock
  • Co-founder and co-Program Director, Wheatbelt & Beyond Youth Mentoring (WBYM)
  • Member, Wheatbelt Youth Council Committee Member
  • Deputy Chair, Lumen Wheatbelt Regional University Centre Reference Group
  • Community Liaison, Bruce Rock District High School (2011 – present)
  • Former Board Member, WA Women’s Advisory Council
Councillor Aspinall

Committee Member
Michael Aspinall
(Seabird)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Chair, Keep Australia Beautiful Council
  • Former Board Member, Keep Australia Beautiful National Body
  • President, Wanneroo Agricultural Society Inc
  • Former Councillor (13 years) and Shire President, Shire of Gingin
  • Former Member, WALGA Municipal Waste Advisory Council (13 years)
  • Former Member, Control of Vehicles (Off-Road Areas) Act Advisory Committee
  • Variety of roles, engine and fuel injection R&D company (28 years)
Lyn Baker

Committee Member
Lynette Baker
(Corrigin)

Qualification & Experience:

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

Committee Member
Wendy Newman
(Dowerin)

Qualification & Experience:

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

Committee Member
Stephen Gollan
(Beverley)

Qualification & Experience:

  • CEO, Shire of Beverley
  • Various roles, Local Government (across Beverley, Wickepin and
    Gnowangerup) (41 years)
  • Deputy Chair, WA Country Cricket Board
  • Committee Member, WA Veterans Over 50s
  • Secretary/Treasurer, Beverley Golf Club

Committee Member
Katrina Crute
(Brookton)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Councillor, Shire of Brookton (2009 – present)
  • Shire President, Shire of Brookton (2017 – present)
  • Working in the agricultural transport sector (30 years)
  • Small business owner (2003 – present)
  • Community volunteer
  • Diploma in Local Government (Elected Member) (2013)
  • Diploma in Accounting (2016)
  • Former Member, Inaugural Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network Steering Committee and Working Group (which 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
  • Former Member, Cooperative Bulk Handling Growers Advisory Council
  • Former Member, Grain Industry of WA Careers in Grain Board
  • Managing Director, Emu Hill Pastoral (mixed farming enterprise)
  • Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Fellow, Australian Rural Leadership Foundation
  • Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Arts (BCom, BA)

Committee Member
Mischa Stratford
(Wyalkatchem)

Qualification & Experience:

  • Councillor, Shire of Wyalkatchem
  • Chair, Senior Citizens Home Trust (Wyalkatchem)
  • Secretary, Central East Accommodation and Care Alliance
  • Vice President & Secretary, Wyalkatchem P&C