Development leaders start director search

Northern Grampians Shire mayor Kevin Erwin is confident the region will find an appropriate replacement for Wimmera Development Association’s departing executive director Ralph Kenyon.

Cr Erwin, also association chairman, said the role was a unique position requiring broad advocacy, lobbying and strategic-planning skills.

But he added the Wimmera had been blessed with high-quality directors in the past who had provided a blueprint for what was needed in the role.

“We started a recruiting process when the WDA executive met in Horsham last week,” he said.

“We’ve appointed a consultancy company to find a new executive director and expectations are that it will take about 12 weeks to find the right person.

“It’s a unique type of role in a unique type of organisation that is really about building partnerships and developing links and fostering opportunities at a regional level.

“WDA is a standout group in Victoria.

“It is well respected and it is very important that we find the right sort of person to fill this role.

“We have had high-quality people fill the position in the past and we’re now in search of another one.”

Cr Erwin said the overseeing a variety

“We’ve appointed a consultancy company to find a new executive director and expectations are that it will take about 12 weeks to find the right person” – Kevin Erwin

development association was of ongoing and emerging projects and it would be looking for a specific type of person with ‘the right skill set’.

“I’m confident we will find someone – whether it’s from within the region or beyond,” he said.

Wimmera Development Association is at the heart of a development web and partnership including Northern Grampians, Horsham, Hindmarsh, Yarriambiack and West Wimmera municipal councils.

It is the peak economic development organisation for the Wimmera and southern Mallee with a charter of supporting business and promoting or stimulating regional investment opportunities.

It works as a conduit between industry and government and lobbies for projects that clearly benefit its footprint area.

The association’s executive director spearheads direction.

Mr Kenyon will retire from his role as executive director early next month.