ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
EDA’s Annual General Meeting saw the retirement
of EDA Chair, Mark Holdsworth after 6 years at
the helm. On behalf of past and present Directors
and all EDA members, I thank Mark for his tireless
efforts in leading EDA through a period of growth and
transformation. Welcome and congratulations to new
EDA Chair, Jason McFarlane.
I encourage you to download EDA’s Annual Report
for a great snapshot of the last 12 months of activities
and initiatives from across Australia.
FROM THE CEO
As well as showcasing the National Economic
Development Awards finalists and winners, this edition
of EDA’s Journal features an article by EDA Study
Tour Scholarship winner, Ann Niddrie who presents
fascinating insights into the Creative Industries as a
lever for economic development. Ann, who visited the
US and Europe delves into the possibilities that exist
for Governments looking to revitalise communities via
investment in the creative industries, through place-
based branding projects.
Readers who attended the recent National Economic
Development Conference (NEDC) in Adelaide will
appreciate Stephen Sully’s article; Smart Cities
need Smart Main Street Centres. Stephen outlines
the attributes of a “Smart Centre” and highlights the
important role economic development professionals
can play in supporting mainstreets.
MEET EDA’s
NEW CHAIR
Jason McFarlane
Jason McFarlane
has spent over a
decade working
with entrepreneurs,
communities, government
agencies, and investors to deliver transformative
economic development projects and initiatives for
local benefit. His work focuses on delivering evidence-
based analytics and strategy that realises real-world
outcomes.
Jason has a Masters of Business Administration
(California State University East Bay) and a Bachelor
of Science (UWA), a Certificate in Strategic Foresight
(University of Houston) and is a graduate of the
Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Thank you to the practitioners and organisations who
have contributed to this edition and we encourage
other economic development professionals to
share their projects and insights for future editions.
Information regarding submitting an article for the
Journal can be found here.
If you are not already a member of EDA, please
check out all the benefits here: https://www.
edaustralia.com.au/membership/
We hope you enjoy this special edition of the EDA
Journal and if you would like further information about
any of EDA’s activities or initiatives, please don’t
hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Jacqueline Brinkman
Chief Executive Officer,
Economic Development Australia
Jason is founder and Managing Director of FAR Lane
and serves as a Director with Pollinators and Economic
Development Australia.
“I am proud and honoured to be the next Chair of
Economic Development Australia as I believe this
community of passionate professionals plays a critical
role in helping develop and realise the aspirations of
communities all over this fantastic country. EDA is
poised for a period of significant growth in the services
we offer our members and the impacts we have on
communities. This is in no small part to the tireless
work of our outgoing Chair Mark Holdsworth, who
has guided EDA through a period of consolidation
and change. I’d like to thank Mark for his tireless
6-years at the helm, and all of the board members who
worked with him over this period. Our new Board is
an amazing group and I look forward to working with
them, and you the EDA members, to continue to make
a lasting difference to the genuine prosperity of our
communities.”
VOL.12 NO.3 2019 | 4