TSBE head to steer region
Ali Davenport takes up group’s reins
TOOWOOMBA and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ali Davenport has hit the ground running.
From meeting with the nation’s leaders in Canberra on Tuesday - her first day heading up the lobby group - to celebrating Toowoomba’s unique hospital partnerships yesterday, Ms Davenport’s return to the TSBE fold has been a busy one.
And there’s no slowing down, identifying a busy agenda that covers the region’s diverse economic sectors and emerging industries.
“I think Toowoomba is on the map,” Ms Davenport said.
“People are talking about us outside the region, they talk about the airport, they talk about the Wagners, they’re talking about our community so there’s a lot of interest in Toowoomba ... and the high growth in our economy is of importance.”
It’s a return to colder climes for the TSBE leader, moving back to the Garden City after a tenure in Cairns from which there may be lessons to learn for Toowoomba.
“I think tourism is the next big thing for us; we need to get more tourists here,” she said.
“It’s an important part of any economy and I think we’re very lucky that we have a diverse economy, unlike some regions like Cairns that really do heavily rely on tourism.
“It’s never going to be our mainstay but it’s definitely worth a look.
“There are lessons we can learn from Cairns; we’ll never have their natural assets of reef or rainforest, but we have to play to our strengths.”
Tourism will be a major part of TSBE’s upcoming AccessNZ trade delegation, as well as growing and expanding the region’s agricultural reputation in overseas markets.
Ms Davenport said together with Food Leaders Australia, exploring how New Zealand exports its agricultural products under one brand with global success would also be explored on the trade mission.
The delegation will fly from Wellcamp Airport to Auckland on June 11.
Ms Davenport said TSBE would also focus on expanding the profile of its initiatives including TSBE Health.
She said the memorandum of understanding signed between the city’s two private and one public hospital was a major strength for the region’s health sector which benefited the community.