ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
Throughout his career to date, Ben has achieved
significant success through engaging his peers,
clients, and community to advance national and
international economic development, and is an
asset to the profession. the growth of Wyndham’s economy through the
development of strategic plans, facilitating and
attracting investment and jobs, providing advice
and implementing innovative programs that enable
the growth local SMEs.
PETER CHAFFEY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP
AWARD FINALIST
WINNER As Head of Economic
Development, Paul has been
instrumental in developing,
leading and guiding the
Sunshine Coast Regional
Economic Development
Strategy (REDS) 2013-2033,
accompanying action plans,
High Value Industry teams,
industry taskforces, the local
business community and community groups toward
successfully delivering impressive economic
outcomes for the region.
DARYL WILSON
Wyndham City Council
Commencing at Wyndham
City Council in 2002 as
Small Business
Development Officer, Daryl
soon emerged as a leader
at both an organisational,
local business community
and regional level.
Currently he holds the
position of Manager
Economic Growth &
Tourism having led the Economic Development
team at Wyndham for the past seven years.
With a passion for promoting the professional
growth of the economic development practitioner,
Daryl has been one of Economic Development
Australia’s greatest supporters.
Daryl served as a member of the Victorian State
Practitioner Network for a period of seven years,
including three as Chairman; when he led a
significant period of change in the adoption of a
more professional and commercialised approach
by EDA in the delivery of conferences and
forums which ultimately delivered high standard
professional development opportunities, paired
with a significant increase in revenue streams.
Daryl is very much a “hands-on” practitioner
and whilst he references theoretical models
to underpin his approach it is his capacity to
interpret the economic conditions that prevail
both globally and within his community, the
challenges and opportunities for business
and his strong connection to key stakeholder
groups and individual business operators that
drives his “outside the square” thinking and the
implementation of initiatives that deliver on the
aspirations of Wyndham’s community.
PAUL MARTINS
Sunshine Coast Council
Paul has applied his local, national and international
private sector experience during his four years as
Head of Economic Development. He is a big picture
thinker, a collaborator, strategic thinker, aspirational
goal setter and supporter of big vision projects.
Nurturing this culture across his team of 25 high-
functioning economic development professionals
has resulted in projects and economic benefits to
their regional economy that would not have been
possible without his support and guidance.
Paul sets a bar of aspiring to deliver to world-class
standards, and as he leads by example, he is
highly respected amongst his peers. Paul is always
seeking ideas and technology to support the team
and is not afraid to be an early adopter. His branch
was the first to pilot mobile devices and technology,
raising the team’s efficiencies and service delivery
standards.
Paul’s continued acknowledgment of team and
individual efforts inspires and motivates members
to achieve continued success, and he is highly
encouraging of employees’ personal and career
development.
Daryl has made a profound contribution influencing
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