THE State Government recently announced its continued support for Hume Regional Development Australia (RDA) with its annual board appointments including former Mitchell Shire Council (MSC) Chief Executive Brett Luxford as its chair.
The RDA is the Government’s lead agency responsible for rural and regional economic development and it’s uniquely placed to leverage and coordinate regional effort and influence policy decisions from within State and Australian Government.
The Hume RDA was established in 2010 to play a key role in advocating for investment in the region as well as developing a single, unified voice actively working to align government funding with regional priorities.
Taking a whole-of-region approach, RDA Hume has a bird’s eye view of the challenges and opportunities that exist within Mitchell, Murrindindi, Alpine, Benalla, Greater Shepparton, Indigo, Mansfield, Moira, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, and Wodonga Local Government Authorities (LGA’s).
Committee members were selected for their business acumen and understanding of their respective regions, and experience gleaned from local government, private businesses, local communities, and not-for-profit sectors is also important.
As newly appointed chair, Mr Luxford brings invaluable expertise from his former position at MSC.
“I am excited to work alongside the new committee as we continue to strengthen our engagement and support for our vibrant region here in Victoria,” he said.
“The coming years hold great promise for RDA Hume as we work to cement our position as a trusted partner and a driving force for positive economic growth across the region.”
Incoming deputy Chair, Committee for Greater Shepparton Chief Executive Linda Nieuwenhuizen is known for her passion, enthusiasm, and energy for improving economic prosperity across the region. Ms Nieuwenhuizen is also the deputy chair of Goulburn Valley Water, the Director of Goulburn Valley Health and a board member of Valley Sport.
Samar Patel is the Manager of Operations Control and Maintenance at Goulburn Valley Water, overseeing the reliability and performance of critical water and wastewater urban systems across the region.
Geraldine Christou is the Sustainable Development Director of the Greater Shepparton City Council and is responsible for its economic development, environment, planning and building services. Ms Christou is passionate about bringing people and ideas together to identify opportunities and consolidate strengths.
Mike Dalmau served as a Murrindindi Shire Councillor for nine years, including one term as Mayor and he hopes to use his knowledge of business and community to encourage positive initiatives that will make a difference to the communities in the Hume Region. Mr Dalmau’s past experiences include representing his LGA on many Business, Tourism and Community committees, and notably as a Bushfire Case Manager assisting small businesses to recover after Black Saturday.
Claire Ewart-Kennedy is the Mayor of Strathbogie Shire Council, and she also manages two cropping and livestock farms on the outskirts of Nagambie and a family business in central Melbourne. Ms Ewart-Kennedy co-founded the Hush Foundation; transforming healthcare through kindness and the arts and notably, she has a career spanning 13 years in politics, being Chief of Staff and Media Advisor for Josh Frydenberg, Ted Baillieu, John Pesutto, Tim Wilson, and Damian Drum.
Katie Bowker is the Economic Developer Manager for Alpine Resorts Victoria and also a former Board Member of Business Events Victoria. During her time on the board, Ms Bowker is committing to balancing economic development objectives with social, environmental, and cultural priorities.
Grant Jones is the Business Group Leader of Geotechnical and Hydrogeology (Victoria) and a Technical Director with GHD Pty Ltd, a leading global, employee-owned professional services company that leads through engineering, construction, and architectural expertise.
Rob Tanti is the Chief People Officer of Opal ANZ, a national and global leader in paper and packaging manufacturing and distribution who already have a strong presence in the Region.
Dr Werner Vogels is a neuropsychologist and systems thinker with a background in academia, complex care, and regional innovation. Mr Vogels is the Manager of Impact and Reporting for the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation; a for-purpose organisation growing bold, courageous leaders for a thriving rural, regional, and remote Australia.
Kate Coffey brings extensive experience in agricultural economics, in-field research, and project management as she has been working with local farm businesses for over 20 years and is an expert in extension and adoption, currently working to lead significant multi-stakeholder projects including such as the Robust Weather Station project.
RDA committees are required to deliver on their 2025-2026 Business Plan to help diversify and grow its regional economy.
Hume has identified water, housing, energy security and transition, workforce and skills development, and infrastructure to unlock regional growth as strategic areas to focus on.
“RDA Hume will continue to play a vital role in supporting the many institutions that contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of our communities,” Mr Luxford said.
To find out more, visit rdv.vic.gov.au/regional-development-australia