ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
synopsis of winners and finalists in this special edition
of the EDA Journal and encourage you to get in touch
for more information in regards to any of these excellent
economic development case studies.
FROM THE CHAIR
We have just wrapped up another successful
National Economic Development Conference with
hosts, Rockhampton Regional Council delivering a
dynamic and highly engaging program, drilling down
into the themes of; Winning in Job Creation and
Disruptive Innovation to Diversify Economic Growth.
The Conference also featured the announcement of the
winners of the 2018 National Economic Development
Awards of Excellence. EDA received an unprecedented
number of entries this year and the projects and
initiatives which were acknowledged at the stunning
Riverside Gala event in Rockhampton illustrated the
high quality of economic development work being
undertaken across the country. We hope you enjoy the
During the Conference, we also announced Ann
Niddrie and Paul Johnson as the winners of the
recent round of the EDA Study Tour Program.
Ann is the Creative Industries Cluster Manager at
Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise and will visit
the US and Europe to study and liaise with other
globally competitive creative clusters to inform the
future direction of this innovative Australian creative
industries cluster. Paul Johnson from Wellington
Shire Council in Victoria will be visiting the United
States and New Zealand to gain much needed
insight into the secrets to success of some of the
world’s leading digital co-working spaces. He will
build on the vast research that already exists to
ensure the proposed development in Wellington is
globally competitive. This EDA member exclusive
program offers funding up to $5,000 for economic
development practitioners to undertake research,
attend professional development or conferences
overseas in order to report findings back to economic
development peers.
The National Economic Development Conference is
an ideal opportunity for the EDA Board to meet face
to face and reflect on the previous 12 months and
review the strategic direction of the organisation.
We look forward to continuing to add value to the
membership offering of EDA and to building the
capacity of the economic development sector
across Australia through professional development,
advocacy and member support. I would like to extend
my sincere thanks and great appreciation to each
of the current EDA directors, Virginia Miller, Paul
Martins, Paula Brennan, Greg Fenwick, David Power,
Susie Bower and Jason McFarlane for investing their
valuable time and effort in directing the organisation
with innovation and vision.
Membership of EDA has now exceeded 580 and
continues to grow at a rapid rate thanks to the many
initiatives being undertaken by the national executive
as well as the fantastic events and projects being run
by the wonderful volunteer EDA State Practitioner
Networks across the country.
Thank you all for your support for EDA and we look
forward to continuing this exciting work together.
Kind regards,
Mark Holdsworth ACEcD
National Chair,
Economic Development Australia
VOL.11 NO.2 2018 | 4