RDA ACT Committee Members are committed volunteers who represent the broad ACT communities of interest. Members use their broad and diverse skills base and their networks to:
- build partnerships to ensure governments and stakeholders are responsive to local priorities and needs;
- be a conduit between government and the community - a provider of information and driver of change; and
- advocate on behalf of the region to ensure the long-term sustainability of the region.
Are you interested in being an RDA ACT Committee Member?
The Australian and ACT Governments are currently seeking expressions of interest for committee members to serve on the RDA ACT from July 1, 2012.
The RDA ACT has a ten member committee jointly appointed by the Federal Minister for Regional Australia and the ACT Chief Minister. Five positions will be filled on July 1.
Terms for Committee Members are generally four years in length, and members are expected to attend regular committee meetings (up to 8 per year), sub-committee meetings (4-6 per year) and represent the RDA at other events and groups they are involved with. For further information about what the RDA does, please peruse this website as well as the national RDA website. The RDA ACT is one of 55 RDA Committees across the country. If you require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
The current Committee of Regional Development Australia (ACT) comprises the following members:
Craig Sloan – Chair
Craig Sloan is Chairman of RDA ACT, and a Member of its Governance Sub-Committee and Education Sub-Committee. His particular interest is in growing and developing the economy of Canberra and its surrounding region in partnership with government and public and private sector organisations, to which he takes a proactive approach.
He is a Chartered Accountant – Partner with KPMG, Government Advisory Services Division, specialising in the provision of financial, business and program advisory services. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Taxation Institute of Australia, and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Society of CPAs.
Born and bred in Canberra, Craig graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Canberra (1986) before embarking on a career that took him to the United States, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Since returning ‘home’, he has been actively involved in a broad range of business, charity and community activities, including Chairman (2002-2009) of the Canberra Business Council.
He is a Chartered Accountant – Partner with KPMG, Government Advisory Services Division, specialising in the provision of financial, business and program advisory services. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Taxation Institute of Australia, and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Society of CPAs.
Born and bred in Canberra, Craig graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Canberra (1986) before embarking on a career that took him to the United States, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Since returning ‘home’, he has been actively involved in a broad range of business, charity and community activities, including Chairman (2002-2009) of the Canberra Business Council.
Professor Barbara Norman – Deputy Chair
Barbara Norman is Deputy Chair of RDA ACT and a Member of the RDA ACT Environment Sub-Committee. She has over thirty years’ experience in urban and regional planning in the public, private and academic sectors, with particular interest in urban and regional planning, sustainable coastal planning and climate change adaptation.
She is currently Foundation Chair and Head of Discipline, Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Canberra. Barbara holds a PhD from RMIT University (2010), a Master of Environmental Law (ANU) and a Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning (Melbourne University). She is a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Planning Institute and a Member of the Coasts and Climate Change Council.
Barbara is Co-Director of Canberra Urban and Regional Futures, a portal for research and education in the Canberra region on sustainability and climate change. She is widely published and presents at a range of conferences and forums, with a current focus on urbanisation and climate change.
She is currently Foundation Chair and Head of Discipline, Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Canberra. Barbara holds a PhD from RMIT University (2010), a Master of Environmental Law (ANU) and a Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning (Melbourne University). She is a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Planning Institute and a Member of the Coasts and Climate Change Council.
Barbara is Co-Director of Canberra Urban and Regional Futures, a portal for research and education in the Canberra region on sustainability and climate change. She is widely published and presents at a range of conferences and forums, with a current focus on urbanisation and climate change.
Des Walsh
Des Walsh is Convenor of the Transport Sub-Committee. He is currently a Board Member of both Australian Business Volunteers and the Rotary Club of Belconnen. He has a strong interest in the ACT business, community and social environments.
He had early careers in Chartered Accounting and Telecom and holds a Diploma of Public Administration. Throughout the 1970s he was a Commercial Attaché at the Australian Embassies in Tehran and Berne and the Australian Consulate-General in Bahrain, delivering export related services.
In 1987 Des was appointed Trade Commissioner for Austrade at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby and in 1990, at the Australian Consulate-General in Los Angeles. Following five years managing Austrade’s South-East Asia Desk, he was Trade Commissioner for the ACT and Southern NSW, before taking up the position of National Manager, TradeStart, assisting small-medium businesses to become sustainable exporters.
He had early careers in Chartered Accounting and Telecom and holds a Diploma of Public Administration. Throughout the 1970s he was a Commercial Attaché at the Australian Embassies in Tehran and Berne and the Australian Consulate-General in Bahrain, delivering export related services.
In 1987 Des was appointed Trade Commissioner for Austrade at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby and in 1990, at the Australian Consulate-General in Los Angeles. Following five years managing Austrade’s South-East Asia Desk, he was Trade Commissioner for the ACT and Southern NSW, before taking up the position of National Manager, TradeStart, assisting small-medium businesses to become sustainable exporters.
Christine Macauley
Christine Macauley is a Member of the Transport Sub-Committee. She is also Director and co-owner of Robbo’s Motorcycles Pty Limited. With some thirty years in this role, she provides a depth of knowledge ad experience in small business management in the Canberra environment.
She holds a Master of Marketing Communication (2002) and a Bachelor of Communication (1998). She has presented conference papers, been a professional consultant, and is a Member of the Chamber of Women in Business and the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
Christine has contributed to community, business and government committees, with current positions on the ACT Fair Trading Advisory Committee and the Australian Motorcycle Industry Association. She has also shared her small business knowledge as a Mentor to a range of community groups, receiving numerous personal and business awards including the ACT Small Business of the Year (2003).
She holds a Master of Marketing Communication (2002) and a Bachelor of Communication (1998). She has presented conference papers, been a professional consultant, and is a Member of the Chamber of Women in Business and the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
Christine has contributed to community, business and government committees, with current positions on the ACT Fair Trading Advisory Committee and the Australian Motorcycle Industry Association. She has also shared her small business knowledge as a Mentor to a range of community groups, receiving numerous personal and business awards including the ACT Small Business of the Year (2003).
Jean McIntyre
Jean McIntyre is a Member of the Environment Sub-Committee. Her interests include business development through strategic management to improve sales and service outcomes. She is a self-employed Marketing Consultant (Marketing Angels), Managing Director of Sponsors Select, and a casual lecturer at the CIT in Managing Risk, Marketing, and Management.
She holds a Graduate Diploma in Marketing (2006) and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (1988). She is a Board Member of the Exhibition Park Corporation, Tandem Respite Inc and the Capital Region Business Enterprise Centre, and has been a volunteer with the Canberra Business Council Small Business Taskforce, Lifeline and Snowy Hydro Southcare.
Jean is a member of the Risk Management Institute of Australia, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australian Marketing Institute and Business Tuggeranong. She has received the Chamber of Women in Business Award for Outstanding Community Spirit.
She holds a Graduate Diploma in Marketing (2006) and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (1988). She is a Board Member of the Exhibition Park Corporation, Tandem Respite Inc and the Capital Region Business Enterprise Centre, and has been a volunteer with the Canberra Business Council Small Business Taskforce, Lifeline and Snowy Hydro Southcare.
Jean is a member of the Risk Management Institute of Australia, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australian Marketing Institute and Business Tuggeranong. She has received the Chamber of Women in Business Award for Outstanding Community Spirit.
David Gregory
David Gregory, Convenor of the Environment Sub-Committee, is interested in how local businesses can be innovative and remain competitive in the face of on-going change in markets, the environment and the economy. As a resident of Canberra and a Braidwood beef producer, he has a strong interest in natural resource management and the production and marketing of regional food and fibre products.
David has degrees in Science and Economics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Agribusiness Marketing a Master of Philosophy (Economics). His research focussed on value chain development in food and fibre businesses as the basis for a more consumer focussed business model for Australian agriculture.
David has a public service background in industry development, trade policy and international aid and development. He was Australian representative to the Rome-based food agencies and Trade Commissioner (Agriculture) in Italy in the mid-1980s. More recently he has managed a large range of government food and fibre enterprise development programs.
David has degrees in Science and Economics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Agribusiness Marketing a Master of Philosophy (Economics). His research focussed on value chain development in food and fibre businesses as the basis for a more consumer focussed business model for Australian agriculture.
David has a public service background in industry development, trade policy and international aid and development. He was Australian representative to the Rome-based food agencies and Trade Commissioner (Agriculture) in Italy in the mid-1980s. More recently he has managed a large range of government food and fibre enterprise development programs.
Nargis Carnahan
Nargis Carnahan is Convenor of the RDA ACT Education Sub-Committee. She is also a Teacher at Narrabundah College, teaching senior secondary courses in mathematics and economics.
She holds a Masters in Public Affairs – Economic Policy from Princeton University, a Graduate Diploma in Education – Secondary Teaching (UC), and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the ANU. She has won numerous scholarships and prizes including the Treasury Prize in Economics (1994) and ANU’s Distinguished Scholar in Science (1992).
Her professional experience includes positions at The Treasury of Australia, The Treasury of New Zealand and the Reserve Bank of Australia, and internships that include research work for the United Nations Capital Development Fund. Nargis also has experience working overseas with non-government organisations.
She holds a Masters in Public Affairs – Economic Policy from Princeton University, a Graduate Diploma in Education – Secondary Teaching (UC), and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the ANU. She has won numerous scholarships and prizes including the Treasury Prize in Economics (1994) and ANU’s Distinguished Scholar in Science (1992).
Her professional experience includes positions at The Treasury of Australia, The Treasury of New Zealand and the Reserve Bank of Australia, and internships that include research work for the United Nations Capital Development Fund. Nargis also has experience working overseas with non-government organisations.
Gary Chapman
Gary Chapman is a Member of the Transport Sub-Committee. He is also General Manager of the Queanbeyan City Council (since 2007), one of the fastest growing regional centres in NSW. Previously General Manager at the Yass Shire Council, his experience in Local Government in the ACT region helps to bring a regional perspective to the work of the RDA ACT Committee.
He holds Masters degrees in engineering and business management, and has worked for many years in the field of civil engineering. He commenced his career with the Sydney Water Board and then took up a number of senior engineering positions in NSW local government. He is currently Chair of the Googong and Tralee Rezoning committees.
Gary has extensive experience in the provision of local government services, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and transport planning, urban design and development, economic development and the provision of community services.
He holds Masters degrees in engineering and business management, and has worked for many years in the field of civil engineering. He commenced his career with the Sydney Water Board and then took up a number of senior engineering positions in NSW local government. He is currently Chair of the Googong and Tralee Rezoning committees.
Gary has extensive experience in the provision of local government services, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and transport planning, urban design and development, economic development and the provision of community services.
