About the Board

OBJECTIVES

The Mid North Coast Regional Development Board (MNCRDB) is an independent not-for-profit body sponsored by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD), and is one of thirteen throughout NSW. The MNCRDB is comprised of nine business and community leaders from across the NSW Mid North Coast, appointed by the NSW Cabinet for two and four-year terms. Profiles on Board members appear in Board Members.

Regional Development Boards are tasked to advance and champion the economic development interests of their respective regions. Board activities are broadly governed by a series of performance obligations under a funding contract with DSRD. These obligations require the Board to:

Promote regional economic development initiatives (and hence sustainable jobs) in the Mid North Coast through:
- encouraging communities to work together to attain the necessary critical mass to be competitive international investment locations
- marketing Local Government Areas and regions as business locations
- hosting Commonwealth and State initiatives or programs which have as their aim the strengthening of the profile of non-metropolitan regions as business locations and to attract skilled labour
- co-hosting initiatives of the NSW Government aimed at attracting investment and developing exports.
Provide advice to the NSW Government and the Minister for Regional Development on important business and regional development issues.
Involve Local Government and other key stakeholders in regional business and economic development through:
- project partnerships
- acting as a point of advice to Government on Local Government and key stakeholders’ economic development initiatives
- encouraging participation of Local Government and key stakeholders in NSW Government regional economic development forums and initiatives
- encouraging collaborative marketing of the Mid North Coast.
Provide advice to the NSW Government and the Minister for Regional Development on strategies for regions and communities to better plan for drought and other natural and economic challenges, including the development of generic business recovery measures.
Develop local business and economic development leadership.
Work with DSRD to implement the State Plan initiatives relevant to P1 and P6 and the NSW Innovation Statement.
Collaborate with other regional development organisations, including the Regional Tourism Organisation.
Host NSW Government business related initiatives.

The MNCRDB’s responsibilities cover the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Greater Taree, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey, Nambucca, Bellingen and Coffs Harbour. The region is extended to include the Great Lakes and Gloucester LGAs in joint initiatives with the MNCRDB’s Federal counterpart, Mid North Coast Regional Development Australia (MNCRDA).

The MNCRDB’s mission is “to advance and champion the economic development interests of the Mid North Coast in partnership with the public and private sectors”. The MNCRDB’s motto is “enhancing our region by supporting sustainable enterprise”. The MNCRDB’s activities are primarily directed towards increasing private sector employment by identifying and progressing opportunities to enhance the business and investment environment and supporting private enterprise.

The MNCRDB also manages a number of specific industry development projects (one-off) and programs (ongoing), using funding from relevant State and Federal Government programs where appropriate. Projects are typically undertaken in partnership with industry and other Federal, State and Local Government bodies. The MNCRDB does not directly assist individual businesses, but supports networks and industry groups.

The MNCRDB seeks and welcomes inquiries and submissions from the community, businesses and industry on opportunities to facilitate regional economic development. Inquiries should be directed to:

STRATEGIES

The MNCRDB has adopted a range of strategies that provide practical and realistic ways of advancing economic development priorities. These include:

Establish collaborative industry networks - support the formation of mutual interest industry networks (typically as not-for-profit incorporated associations or cooperatives). Industry networks are particularly important in a regional economy dominated by small businesses, where individual businesses lack the resources and critical mass to gain adequate access to consumers and markets.

Industry network benefits can include initiating cost-effective collaborative marketing; sharing information and expertise, and raising skill levels and awareness of new technologies; realising clustering opportunities; implementing industry development plans; undertaking collective bargaining; leveraging additional resources; and lobbying and gaining Government recognition of the value of the industry sector.
Sponsor the formulation and Implementation of industry development plans – a natural progression from the establishment of industry networks is the formation and implementation of industry development plans. Such plans can identify opportunities for industry growth and provide a framework for ongoing cooperation and coordination and the achievement of mutually beneficial objectives
Provide credible information to reduce investor uncertainty – one of the obstacles to private investment in many industries and areas is uncertainty. The MNCRDB is strongly committed to the publication and dissemination of credible information that assists potential investors to evaluate potential risks and returns. The publication in April 2008 of the Mid North Coast Regional Economic Profile provides valuable contemporary information for investors on economic conditions and industry growth prospects in the region.
Convene and support regional stakeholder networks – to facilitate information sharing and coordination and build support for regional initiatives, the MNCRDB and its Federal counterpart, MNCRDA, convenes a network of economic development stakeholders that meets quarterly to progress regional initiatives
Sponsor pilot projects – the MNCRDB initiates a variety of pilot projects to demonstrate how local innovative and collaborative solutions can increase the commercial viability of specific industry sectors
Advocacy – the MNCRDB has a responsibility to advise the Minister and Governments on a range of issues that may impact on the region’s economic development needs and opportunities

Board Members

Mr Mark Livermore - Chairperson
Mark has worked at senior levels in both the public and private sectors, contributing to the development and implementation of national policies and guidelines for a major agricultural industry, as well as leading the expansion of a major regional manufacturing operation into national and international markets. Mark is a director of a consultancy working in the fields of strategic planning, change management, mentoring business development, community liaison, food safety auditing and the development of quality systems. Mark has an extensive background building networks and relationships that benefit all parties and sustain their future.

As chairperson Mark is committed to the economic, social and environmental growth of the region through the development of a clear strategic approach to the challenges and opportunities facing regional Australia. Mark lives in the Hastings LGA.

Ms Janet Hayes - JP Deputy Chairperson
Janet has a substantial record of involvement in community and Local Government, with a particular interest in environmental and educational issues. Janet has been a Councillor with Kempsey Shire Council for ten years, five and a half of them as Mayor. Her participation in Local Government has seen her elected to the Executive of the Shires Association of NSW, and she sits on their Social and Natural & Built Environment Committees.

Janet is one of two Councillors who represent NSW on the Executive of the National Sea Change Taskforce. She was appointed to the Department of Corrective Services’ Serious Offenders Review Council and was previously Official Visitor at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre. In 2008 she was appointed to the Regional Community Consultative Council, Country Energy’s Rural Advisory Group and is the community representative on Sydney Water. Janet chairs the Board of Community Housing Mid North Coast and is the Administrator of the Kempsey Showground. Janet lives in the Kempsey LGA.

Mr Grant Burtenshaw
Grant has over 20 years in senior general management and business development positions in the telecommunications, tourism and education sectors and is chair of the Mid North Coast advisory board of the NSW Business Chamber and a member of the Mid North Coast Regional Tourism Organisation. Grant lives in the Port Macquarie Hastings LGA.

Mr Peter Clark
Peter has a Masters degree in Science, a Masters degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Post Graduate Certificate in Marketing. He is a self employed dietician. Peter was previously employed in the pharmaceutical industry for 17 years during which time he had various sales and marketing roles, including as Director of Marketing for Australia and New Zealand for a company with sales of $250M. He also spent three years in the United States completing roles in Global Marketing and Corporate Strategy and Business Development. He has lived on the Mid North Coast for four years. He is married and has 3 children. Peter lives in the Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA.

Mr John Meyers
John has spent his working life as a business strategist in the food, horticultural and agricultural industries and recently retired as Managing Director of the Meyers Strategy Group. He has held positions on various boards including the Australian Horticultural Corporation as a government appointment and the Port Macquarie Hastings Development Board. His other activities involve several working groups and committees of Port Macquarie Hastings Council. John is vice president of the Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association and a judge for tourism awards on the Mid North Coast and NSW. John lives in the Port Macquarie Hastings LGA.

Ms Kay Morrison
Kay has a background in small/medium business management having been a Financial Controller and Director of a number of businesses. Kay has been on the Board of several natural resource management instrumentalities in Victoria, South Australia and NSW, and is currently a Director of the Pet Porpoise Pool in Coffs Harbour. Kay has a particular interest in issues affecting working women, and is the immediate past National President of Business and Professional Women Australia, and Deputy Chair of the women’s secretariat, Security for Women. Kay lives in Coffs Harbour LGA.

Ms Alison Page
Alison is an interior designer, artist and planner with a multi disciplinary practice working on various projects in health, education, office design, exhibition design, cultural art centres and public art. After studying Interior Design and graduating from the University of Technology in Sydney, Alison joined Merrima Design, an architectural practice delivering culturally appropriate design services to aboriginal communities in urban and rural areas of Australia. In 2001 Alison moved her consultancy practice with Merrima Design to the Coffs Coast. In 1999 she received an award from the International Federation of Interior Architects for making a “contribution to the design environment with an emphasis on social awareness and responsibility.”

Alison is currently working with aboriginal communities to foster business enterprise and is a panelist on the ABC television show The New Inventors. Alison lives in the Coffs Harbour LGA.

Ms Jan Strom
Jan currently works for the Office of Regional Engagement at Southern Cross University, and describes herself as a “speaker, facilitator and catalyst”. She has a Master of Professional Management and is undertaking a PhD in regional engagement at Southern Cross University. Jan regularly presents at various forums, seminars and events as well as at regional and national conferences. She is an active contributor to regional development, was Deputy Mayor of Coffs Harbour City Council (2000-2004) and has been a director of the Enterprise and Training Company (ETC) in Coffs Harbour since 2004 and was chair of ETC (2005-2007). Jan previously operated her own fitness businesses and since 1995 has been principal of a consultancy business specializing in communications (personal and business), events management, marketing and local government. Jan lives in the Coffs Harbour LGA.

Mr Richard Wilson
Richard has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelors Degree in Engineering and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and former member of the Institutes of Management and Project Management. Richard was an engineer and project manager in the public and private sectors for 30 years and is on the Committee of the Mid North Coast Group, Engineers Australia. He was a Councillor on Greater Taree City Council from 2004 to 2008 where he chaired the Economic Development Planning Group. He is also a keen private pilot and bird watcher. Richard lives in the Greater Taree LGA.