The South West Development Commission’s refreshed leadership team has been further buoyed by the arrival of Rebecca Ball, who has taken up the position of acting chief executive officer.
Following an announcement of the appointments of Nick Belyea and Jennie Franceschi to the top positions on the state government agency’s board, Ms Ball has arrived in the South West to lead the commission.
Ms Ball brings to the commission 20 years’ of experience in senior advisory and management roles in both public and private sectors in Australia and overseas.
A dynamic senior manager, Ms Ball has wide-ranging and diverse experience across business development, marketing, international trade, education and tourism, strategy and policy development and implementation, community engagement, and program design and delivery.
She was most recently the executive director at the office of multicultural interests and a member of the corporate executive of the department of local government, sport and cultural industries.
Her previous roles have included WA state director with Austrade Perth, trade and investment commissioner Indonesia with Austrade Jakarta, and trade commissioner south Asia with Austrade New Delhi.
Ms Ball said she was delighted to have the opportunity to work with the team to build on the commission’s solid foundation of work, including the legacy created by former CEO Don Punch and most recently led by Anna Oades.
“I’m honoured to be part of the team,” Ms Ball said.
“It’s an exciting time as we strengthen partnerships across community, industry and the government – develop new ones – and work together to realise a major program of investment and enterprise in the region.
“I look forward to working with a wide range of stakeholders to further enhance the creative, economic and tourism potential of the region.”
Ms Ball said the South West region had many outstanding attributes including its unique natural environment and an increasingly diverse economy underpinned by creativity and strong community spirit.
“We’ll be looking at how we can make Bunbury and the South West even more welcoming to people from far and wide,” Ms Ball said.
SWDC is part of the WA government and works to grow the economy and enhance the quality of life for those living in regional areas.
For more information, visit swdc.wa.gov.au.