A passionate advocate for regional Victorian women and families will head up the new 15 member Great South Coast Regional Partnership.
Ms Emily Lee-Ack, Executive Officer of Women’s Health Barwon South West, has been appointed Chair of the Partnership. She will be joined by a diverse and high-calibre team drawn from local industry, including transport, tourism and agriculture, as well as the arts, regional education and the Aboriginal community.
Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford congratulated the eight successful applicants who were today appointed as the community and business members of the Partnership. They were chosen for their broad skills and experience, know-how and ability to positively contribute to the development of their communities.
Regional Partnerships are also being established in Barwon, Central Highlands, Gippsland, Goulburn, Loddon Campaspe, Mallee, Ovens Murray and Wimmera Southern Mallee to give rural and regional Victorians greater say about what matters to them and direct regional priorities straight into the heart of Government decision making.
Ms Felicity Melican, Principal of Sinclair Wilson (accountants and business advisors) will be Deputy Chair of the Great South Coast Regional Partnership. The other members include:
- Ms Lisa Dwyer, dairy farmer and non-executive Director, Dairy Australia and LiveCorp
- Mr David Pope, Operations Manager, Popes Timboon
- Ms Felicity Melican, Principal, Sinclair Wilson (accountants and business advisors)
- Mr Wayne Kayler-Thomson, Chairman, Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism
- Mr John Bell, CEO, Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service
- Ms Sarah Schmidt, Director, Hamilton Gallery
The community members will be joined by local council CEOs, Regional Development Australia representatives and senior Victorian government officials.
Boosting tourism opportunities, creating new jobs, supporting local food and fibre and improving education outcomes, are likely to be among the matters addressed by the Great South Coast Regional Partnership.
As Chair of the Great South Coast Regional Partnership, Ms Lee-Ack will also sit on Victoria’s Regional Development Advisory Committee, working with the other Partnership Chairs on cross-regional issues and opportunities.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“Regional Partnerships are a game changer – we have appointed people as members who are passionate about their region and who will think out of the box to strengthen local communities and economies.”
“The new Great South Coast Regional Partnership members are from diverse backgrounds, with a range of experience and an ability to collaborate across community and industry groups.”
Quotes attributable to Great South Coast Regional Partnership Chair, Emily Lee-Ack,
"It's a time of great opportunity – a time to think really carefully about what kind of future we want for our region."
"My priority as chair is thinking of the region as a whole and spreading the benefits across the entire region, including our smaller rural communities and regional centres."
Reviewed 19 August 2020