Trevor John
CEO / Director of Regional Development

Trevor joined RDA Hunter in 2011 to fill research, writing and advisory roles. He was appointed CEO / Director of Regional Development in 2018.

In this role he leads an innovative organisation with a team of dedicated staff which promotes the strengths of the region, facilitates connections between Hunter business and industry leaders and creates opportunities to exchange ideas, attract investment and build the skilled workforce required by local employers.

Trevor’s previous roles include radio producer, TV audio director, film sound recordist/mixer, music recording engineer, university lecturer, chair of company board and communications manager for a local financial institution.

In his personal time, Trevor is Chair of charitable organisation the Taverners Hunter Branch, a Life Member of NUsport and occasional member of veterans’ cricket teams.

Trevor is a graduate of the Australian Film Television and Radio School, former Visiting Fellow University of London (Goldsmiths) and holds Psychology postgraduate and BA degrees from The University of Adelaide.

Chris Tola
Manager, Skilled Workforce Programs

Chris recently joined the team at RDA Hunter to manage a range of skilled workforce programs that encourage students to develop their skills in STEM, with the view of seeking employment in the Hunter Valley.

Chris has a long and valued association with community development, and previous roles include employment in Local Government, Commercial organisations and Philanthropic Trusts, along with several Board memberships.

Out of the office, Chris is a keen surfer and infrequent motorcyclist and active on a number of local and national Boards and Committees.

Chris is a Humanities Graduate from the University of Newcastle, publisher of “Surfing Roadies” and “The Newcastle Book” and father to three daughters.

Leigh Killian
Associate Director of Development

Leigh has joined the team to engage with regional partners and Industry to lead priority projects and collaborate with local stakeholders to understand regional capacity and capability whilst supporting and promoting Government programs.

Leigh previous roles include over 16 years’ experience in the training and vocational sector and 10 years’ experience in the Business development sector in Newcastle with industries including, education, technology, innovation, rail and construction. Her skill sets include understanding industry needs, regional profiling, providing training opportunities and creating partnerships and collaborations with speciality services to compliment and promote Industry outcomes.

Leigh is also the Co-Chair of the Crowdfunding committee for the women’s event at Surfest, which became a world first initiative back in 2016. The initiative engages 90+ businesses in a community like-minded collaborative approach who provide parody for the women’s event in prize money and prioritise and promote women in Sport.

Nicole Maxwell 
Specialist Liaison Officer 

As RDA Hunter’s Specialist Liaison Officer, Nicole facilitates projects with the focus of promoting the region’s strengths and prospects. Her main areas of work involve supporting industry stakeholder partners to meet skilled workforce needs, and providing evidence-based information on skills in the region. 

Nicole’s previous roles include working as a lawyer in a Sydney based firm, policy officer for the Professional Standards Councils Australia, and Student and Academic Services Officer, followed by Quality and Compliance Officer for Navitas. 

Nicole is a graduate of Southern Cross University, Newcastle University and Griffith University, completing studies in business, law, legal practise, and ethics. 

Outside of work, Nicole devotes much of her time to her family, particularly her two young children and being involved in community sporting activities. 

Brodie McNaughton 
Project Officer, ME Program 

Brodie joined RDA Hunter in the role of Project Officer for the ME Program early in 2023.

Brodie has extensive experience in the retail industry which he gained while studying and successfully completing a Bachelor of Business at the University of Newcastle.

When not at work, Brodie spends time playing a range of sports, and sharing time with family and friends