David Hughes Email and Phone Number

- Overseeing the development of Council’s strategic direction for tourism to support, guide and grow the tourism industry across the Shire through the implementation of the new Tourism Strategy.- Attracting, advocating, and facilitating continued development of the tourism industry, arts & cultureevents, and related funding.- Working with key industry stakeholders and investors to attract and facilitate continued investment in new tourism industry products, attractions, events, and suppliers to the Shire.- Developing and implementing an Arts and Culture Plan with a focus on both contemporary arts practices and the history of local art.- Development and delivery of an Arts and Culture Strategy that aligns with the Council Plan.

Emporium Creative Hub is an initiative of Creative Victoria, the state government body dedicated to supporting and developing local creative industries. It is a place for creative practitioners, entrepreneurs and businesses to work, connect, build their skills and expand their networks, creating economic wealth for the local community. In this role I advocate strongly for regionally based creatives while creating the space and the opportunities for them to develop and grow their creative practices.- Establishment and management of regionally based creative industries hub with innovative events and programming.- Development of partnerships with state government, local government, industry and education.- Leading development of a strategic framework for creative hubs across regional Victoria.- Securing additional funding from Creative Victoria to underpin ongoing financial sustainability.- Development and delivery of 2 day regional arts, culture and innovation festival 'Conflux'.

In a world that is changing at a forever quicker pace, the ability to invent, innovate, and capitalise on new ideas are key to business success, whatever the size or the industry. The Bendigo Invention and Innovation Festival (BIIF) is a week-long event that promotes Bendigo as Australia’s regional innovation hotspot. The festival celebrates and promotes local invention and innovation, helps create the environment for great ideas to flourish and brings world-class innovation thought leaders to Bendigo.Our vision is that Bendigo is internationally regarded as an innovation hotspot that quickly identifies and offers solutions to issues. A place where problems are shared, ideas are freely discussed and solutions are collaborated on. We want to foster our strong entrepreneurial culture with support through local government policy, infrastructure, access to funding and networking opportunities. BIIF attracts a wide range of attendees, seeking a global perspective on regional challenges. These include CEOs, founders, change-makers, innovators, provocateurs, disrupters, entrepreneurs, students and government sector representatives. Be a part of the conversation.“Bendigo is a model for other regional Victorian cities considering ways to boost innovation.”AECOM BRILLIANT CITIES REPORT“Regional Australia is becoming a major driver of economic output and productivity growth (and) innovation in regions will be crucial to embrace this cultural shift. Innovation will be the major driver of any productivity growth.”REGIONAL AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE

Delivering multiple projects around innovation and leadership.- Establishing key partnerships with, and funding from, state government, local government, industry and education.- Development and delivery of multi-year Bendigo Innovation Festival.- Development and delivery of multi-year Festival of Failure.- Development and delivery of leadership development and mentoring programs.- Acting CEO responsibilities.- Contributing to development of strategic plans.

Based at our manufacturing facility in Bendigo and reporting directly to the CEO and Directors, I was responsible for up to 10 retail stores across Australia, plus two online stores, selling high end furniture and homewares, with an annual turnover of $15m+. Specific accountabilities included:- Development of strategic direction and achievement of strategic goals- Decision making at both strategic and operational levels- Ensuring profitability of individual stores and retail group through sales achievement & cost control- Setting, driving and reviewing yearly and monthly budgets and targets for individual stores and group- HR - staff recruitment, training, performance management, mentoring for around 30-40 retail staff- Analysing sales data and other related KPIs for reporting to Senior Leadership- Coordinating and delivering training conferences- Contributing to overall marketing strategy and implementation- Driving sales to achieve set targets- Identifying and implementing customer service improvement initiatives- Working with our manufacturing division to ensure efficient and effective supply chain management- Instigating and managing process improvement projects- Addressing escalated customer concerns- Attending international trade shows to source and import homewares

As part of the Leadership Group I was responsible for a team of Quality Assurance Advisers who would assess and provide feedback to service and sales consultants dealing with a variety of insurance products. Specific accountabilities included:- Working with the leadership group to fulfil a variety of KPIs including provision of exceptional levels of service and achievement of sales targets- Designing and implementing service and sales criteria based on best practise benchmarking- Providing feedback and training to service and sales representatives- I also undertook a business-wide, cross functional project that sought to improve the customer experience utilising Business Process Improvement methodology to identify and address key issues

Working across multiple sites, I was responsible for all aspects of restaurant and bar management for a popular high end chain. Specific accountabilities included:- Development of business plans- Driving sales to achieve set monthly targets- Ensuring profitability through effective cost control- HR - staff recruitment, training, performance management and mentoring to around 50 hospitality staff