Developing the Hunter’s business case and raising its profile nationally and internationally has been an easy job for me in my seven years as CEO of RDA Hunter. The Hunter is a go-ahead region that’s in charge of its own destiny. It’s smart and collaborative with a collective eye on its future.
Through the RDA Hunter Board, we have implemented projects to help attract investment; build economic infrastructure; and develop our innovation eco-system. We’ve also worked to see the region’s strengths, achievements and ambitions for the future recognised on the world stage. The initiatives have delivered over $860million for the region.
RDA Hunter has fostered entrepreneurialism with the Hunter Innovation Festivals; measured and benchmarked the Hunter’s innovative capability in our Hunter Innovation Scorecards; encouraged the development of the innovation eco-system through our Innovation Hub project which has now been realised; and we’ve identified the Hunter’s competitive advantages in our Smart Specialisation Strategy for the Hunter Region which saw us awarded internationally. We’ve prioritised the region’s infrastructure needs in our Hunter Economic Infrastructure Plan, which have all now been recognised nationally and funded. We’ve co-ordinated the Hunter High Speed Broadband group, worked on high-speed rail and growing the Hunter’s defence and aerospace industry. We’ve promoted the region as a destination in which to do business, live, study and work through Study Hunter, Smart Happens Here, and the Hunter Investment Prospectus.
We’ve invested in a workforce that is skilled and prepared for the jobs of the future through our ME Program, which has changed the face of STEM education in the Hunter and seen RDA Hunter recognised nationally as an exemplar of best practice.
View the Newcastle Herald story http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4349318/destiny-in-regions-hands/?cs=4200