Tom Black

Chairman RDA Tasmania

Mr Tom Black recently retired from the Tasmanian Public Service having worked for 14 years in Regional and Economic Development. He has strong networks within the Tasmanian Government and across local government and the business community across Tasmania.

From 2009 to 2011 Mr Black was the General Manager in Regional Development with the Tasmanian Department of Economic Development and the Arts.

This role included stimulating economic and regional development across the state, fostering innovation and creating employment opportunities.

From 1997 to 2009 he was the Regional Manager North for the Department of Economic Development. This role was responsible for development and implementation of the Tasmanian Governments economic development strategies for Northern Tasmania. He worked closely with major industries and on major community infrastructure projects throughout this time.

Mr Black is a former executive Director of the Northern Tasmanian Development Board, and is a past or current board member of a number of not-for-profit organisations. He has national regional development experience through his State Government involvement on the COAG Regional Development Committee and the associated Ministerial Council.

Lou Clark - Deputy Chair RDA

Community Relations Specialist - Rio Tinto Alcan

Lou is Rio TintoAlcan's Community Relations specialist at their Bell Bay smelter operations.

Previously Lou was the former EO of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce until April 2011.
Lou is currently a member and Chairwoman of Tamar Sunrise Rotary Club , Launceston Festivale Committee Inc Board member, Scotch Oakburn College Board of Management Committee member, Bravehearts Tasmania Regional Committee Board member,Tasmanian Leaders Program Inc Committee member, Regional Development Australia, Tasmania Committee, Tasmanian Leaders Program Alumni.

Paul Lan

Principal Partner, Lan & Skinner Architects

Came to Australia in 1962 and settled in the Derwent valley in Tasmania for over 30 years.

Educated in South Australia & Sydney Universities in Architecture. TAFE Tas trained & registered as a medical herbalist.

A practicing architect in SA, NSW and TAS in both public & private sectors. Practicing medical herbalist in Tasmania.

Post held includes:
Past councillor of RAIA
Past Examiner for Board of Architects Tas
Past Tas & national Visiting panel for accreditation of UTAS Architectural School
Tas government ministerial adviser or building regulations
Municipal Architect for Derwent Valley Council
Member of HIA Technical, Environmental & Planning Committees
Past Chair of United Community Action Group (road infrastructure)
Member of Australian Traditional Medicine Society

Barry Easther

Mayor - West Tamar Council

Barry was first elected to Local Government in March 1983 and was the Mayor of West Tamar Council from 1990 - 1994. Since the introduction of popular election for Mayors in 2000 he has been successful at each subsequent election. His current term as Mayor expires in October 2013.

Prior to retirement from fulltime employment, Barry was involved for twenty years in the Tasmanian timber industry.

He continues to be an active member of the West Tamar Community and has been a Rotarian since 1978. In 2000 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to the community through service clubs and local government. In theAustralia Day honours in 2009 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service to Local Government and to the community of the West Tamar Region.

Barry is currently President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania, a Director of the Australian Local Government Association, Chairman of Northern Tasmania Development and Chairman of the Local Government Committee of NTD.

Dr Kathleen Broderick

Chief Executive Officer - NRM South

Kathleen has twenty years experience in natural resource management, working on national issues across three states. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of NRM South, the regional natural resource management body for Southern Tasmania. In this and previousroles, she has sought to develop integrated andcollaborative projects that seek to protect and sustainably use natural resources for benefit of regional communities.

Her experience in managing social and economic research for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority included developing an understanding of the contribution of reef dependent industry and business to the economy of Queensland and Australia. Her work also provided insights into social and economic acceptability of potential management approaches and the value of maintaining the health of the reef.

A case study of the recovery from salinity of a public drinking water resource in Western Australia formed the basis for Kathleen's PhD research and focused her attention on governance and the role of information and participation in decision making processes.

Tim Hess

General Manager, Sales & Logistics, Petuna Group

Tim Hess is General Manager Sales and Logistics at the Petuna Group located in Devonport Tasmania. Petuna is the largest vertically integrated seafood company in Tasmania.

Tim has played a central part in the development and growth predominantly in the sales/marketing and freight logistics of an internationally renowned aquaculture and wild fishing enterprise which produces and exports fine Tasmanian seafood including Ocean Trout and Atlantic Salmon.

Tim also has a background in the Shipping Industry as the Victorian State Manager with the German Shipping Company Hamburg Sud/Columbus Line and marketing/managerial roles with the ACTA Shipping Company and Tasmanian Cargo Services. Tim was the recipient for the 2003 Austrade Agribusiness Export Award.

His background in aquaculture/wild fish production has seen him undertake roles on industry-related groups. These have included being the inaugural Chairman of the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association and the Tasmanian representative on the South East Trawl Management Council. He was also on the Board of Seafood Australia Marketing.

Tim is the current Chairman of the Tasmanian Freight Logistics Council.

Phyllis Pitchford

Chairperson, Meenah Mienne

Currently I am working with Aboriginal youth at risk in the justice system and am a Mentor within the program.

Am also a member of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC) Advisory Group, the Aunty Ida West Wybalenna Trust Board, ya pulingina kani (good to hear you talk) - Family & Domestic Violence program.

I have worked with and for my people over the past 37 years at National, State and Local Government levels in the areas of - health, education, housing, sports, arts and recreation and continue to do so if at all possible as health and wellbeing is vital to the welfare of all communities, everywhere.

Lisa Nelson

Environmental Officer

Lisa has worked in both private and public sectors in several countries.

In Australia Lisa has participated in committees at the Local, Regional, State and Federal level, in areas ranging from economic development and tourism marketing to threatened species protection. She has also spent time as a Company Director in the field of philanthropy.

Lisa has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and a Master of Project Management. She also has qualifications in Ancient History.

Lisa is employed as an Environmental Officer in the mining sector.

Bob Frost

Retired

Bob was a Chief Executive with broad International experience in business development, Company restructuring and management change initiatives within Transport, Tourism, Service and Communications Industry Organisations.

Bob also has past experience as a Board member of the Area Consultative Committee Tasmania, Chairman of the Huon Eldercare Foundation - Franklin Tasmania, member of Franklin Progress Association, Franklin Palais Management Committee and Franklin Township Development Committee and a past Consultant and Adviser to The MS Society of Tasmania.

He was also Interim Chief Executive with various companies prior to retirement in Tasmania including the Brooke Hospital for Animals - an International Equine Charity, National Milk Records plc - with 11000 cattle herd clients and the St John's Eye Hospital based in Jerusalem.

Bob has spent over 20 years in International Car Rental, Shipping and Airline businesses, while also heading up a variety of service operations in the UK. He is married with three adult children and currently resides at Franklin in Southern Tasmania.

Andrew Morgan

Managing Director - SFM Environmental Solutions

Andrew is the founding director of SFM Environmental Solutions (SFM). SFM is one of the leading independent forest managers operating in Australia. He has over 10 years of forestry and environmental management experience in Australia. He graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Plant Science.

Andrew oversees the business development activities of SFM as well as maintaining corporate and governmental business relationships and develops broader strategic directions for the company. He has overseen the implementation of SFM's ISO9001 Quality Management System as well as the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifications for forest management.

His focus is on the continual development of SFM as a leading forest asset manager in Australia providing for both traditional sustainably managed forest products and emerging markets in carbon and biodivesity.

Andrew is a Director of the Forest Industry Association of Tasmania and sits on the Forest and Wood Produces Australia, Sustainability and Resources Advisory Group.

Madeleine Skerritt

Community Liaison Consultant

Madeleine has recently become a self-employed consultant undertaking community and landowner liaison within the energy industry, after spending six years working as a Project Administrator for Roaring 40s Renewable Energy.

While there she worked on wind farm projects in Tasmania and South Australia, focusing largely on pre-construction activities, consultation and planning issues. Prior to Roaring 40s, Madeleine worked as an Environmental Consultant at Hydro Tasmania, where she worked on sustainability, wind farm and water management projects.

Madelaine has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Certificate of Environmental Management.