Reflections on Regional Stint
15 October 2025
It has been a busy and enlightening seven weeks as the relieving CEO of CHDC whilst the incumbent Peter Dowling enjoys some well-earned downtime in Europe with his family.
When Peter asked if I was interested in a nine-week stint in the Central Highlands, I didn’t hesitate to come out of semi-retirement and put the regional development hardhat on again.
After a 40+ year career in shipping, ports and logistics, major projects, resources and regional development, I thought I could help support the dynamic team at CHDC with the good work they’re doing for the region and the planning for an evolution in the regional economy in the not-too-distant future.
I arrived just in time for the 2025 Business Excellence Awards. That was a baptism of fire, with all hands on deck for days beforehand with the set up, then making sure the big night ran smoothly and everyone enjoyed themselves, and them the pull down and pack up over the following couple of days. The event was a raging success, showcasing the immense business talent, drive and innovation in this region.
It was then down to business to see how I could best support CHDC during the ensuing nine weeks. It was no surprise that the team and the region are deeply engaged in delivering outcomes across multiple sectors and with multiple stakeholders.
What has struck me as an outstanding piece of regional development with real outcomes is the Workforce Development and Accommodation Strategy (WDAS). This has seen residential blocks released across the region by Council, innovation in delivering housing stock, and the Smart Move talent attraction campaign. An often-forgotten sector of regional development is the need for childcare and early education so it’s pleasing to see the WDAS’ Enhancing Early Childhood Education and Care project, which has identified the gaps that need attention so families can access and feel comfortable with the care being provided in the region. Believe it or not, childcare and education play a big role in attracting and retaining people to a region.
The WDAS has recently been acknowledged by the Regional Institute of Australia (RAI) by selecting the Strategy as one of just six projects from across the country to showcase at RAI’s inaugural Regional Dialogue Day at Parliament House, Canberra last week. The event brought together politicians, regional changemakers and national decision-makers under one roof. CHDC officers attending even managed to hand the Prime Minister a copy of the WDAS – that’s regional tenacity for you!
The good work by CHDC continues across agribusiness, regional tourism and advocacy across all levels of government for the region. I encourage everyone to explore the CHDC website and have a look at the recently released Annual Report; Central Highlands Agricultural Capability Statement showcasing the region’s $1 billion agriculture sector; and the 2025 Business Survey Fact Sheet.
Like all resource regions, the Central Highlands economy is facing future challenges as the State and nation deals with changes in energy supply and the manufacturing sector. CHDC is well placed to be a leader in this discussion and is already activating planning for a future-ready economy for the Central Highlands.
I have really enjoyed my time out here. Thank you to the staff and Board for entrusting the CEO’s chair to me for a short time.
