Management of RDA Melbourne CommitteeCoordination of Capital City RDA with five Victorian Regional RDAs

GDP Global Development (GDP) is the leading London-based provider of strategic consulting services for economic promotion organisations in the area of trade and foreign direct investment (FDI). Our principal services include:Strategic consultancy – economic development strategy, organisation and operationsInvestment attraction services – delivering new investment leadsTraining, personal development and mentoring – public, in house and personal coachingIndependent audits – benchmarking, monitoring and evaluation servicesEstablished in 1999, GDP has its offices in London and Johannesburg, and associates located in Spain, Sweden, elsewhere in Europe, the Americas, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia.The depth and quality of GDP’s economic consulting is delivered by a core team of seven consultants, and the GDP network of 80 associates worldwide.GDP specialises in international business development, economic and investment promotion. We are involved at all stages in the investor road map and in all areas of international economic promotion.GDP links companies to other companies, to sources of finance and to places. We work with governments, ministries, local authorities and agencies to develop policies, strategies and performance standards that meet their needs. Much of GDP’s work for its government clients involves substantial levels of contact with international corporate investors and business intermediaries.

Responsible for Inner Metro, Inner South-East, Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern Economy and Planning Working Groups (EPWGs) in the Melbourne Metropolitan area. The EPWGs are six regional groupings in the Melbourne metropolitan area made up of senior executive representation from all 31 metropolitan local government organisations. Each is chaired by a CEO of one of the councils in the region and acts a forum for policy and program design and implementation and collaboration between State and local government at a regional level on planning, jobs and economic developmentManaging RDA Melbourne a federally funded committee of Melbourne based business people charged with economic and employment outcomes in the Melbourne metropolitan area.Projects include:RDA Melbourne Comprehensive Economic and Employment AnalysisBayswater Business Precinct Transformation StrategyNorthern Melbourne Advanced Manufacturing ClusterMetropolitan Counci Plan Analysis

ResponsibilitiesManaged and led a team of six project managers charged with facilitating economic development and business growth opportunities for business in the City of Melbourne including fostering of innovation and start-ups as well as supporting key sectors of Melbourne's economy. A focus on small business and precinct development.Key AchievementsOverall responsibility of the annual $1.5 million Business Development Fund to provide grants to start up organisations and to resource business attraction development and retention initiatives. In the past ten years $3.5 million in grants have been provided to 200 organisations providing 940 new jobs in the City of Melbourne and $59 million dollars of direct investment in the City. Of those organisations funded 95% are still in existence giving a survival rate of 95% compared to the national failure rate of small business of 75% in the first 2 years of existence. Facilitated the migration of the grants program onto a web-based system that increased efficiency and reduced time to process application and reduced amount of paper required.Attracted interstate and overseas business and investment to Melbourne. Attracted a major UK aerospace design organisation to Melbourne which has created 250 jobs and turnover of $20 million.Managed and had overall responsibility of the annual $1.5 million Business Development Fund to provide grants to start up organisations and to resource business attraction development and retention initiatives. In the past ten years $4 million in grants have been provided to 150 organisations providing 360 new jobs in the City of Melbourne and several million dollars of direct investment in the City. Of those organisations funded 95% are still in existence giving a survival rate of 95% compared to the national failure rate of small business of 75% in the first 2 years of existence

ResponsibilitiesLeadership and management of a team of 80 staff and 400 volunteers responsible for delivery of business and tourist promotion services including the Melbourne Visitor Centre. Melbourne Visitor Booth and Fitzroy Gardens Visitor Centre and Cook’s Cottage.Key AchievementsSteered the draft City of Melbourne Tourism Action Plan through to the approval process of Council which will result in a new model of service delivery to the visitor economy particularly through an extended period of disruption in the City due to major infrastructure projects like the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Market and Western Tunnel project.

ResponsibilitiesResponsible for running of the international activities of the capital city. Key AchievementsLeadership of a high-performing team of 11 individuals, eight in Melbourne and three in the Council's international business office in Tianjin. All individuals are responsible for trade and investment outcomes.Managing a team of individuals of a Chinese-born Mandarin speaking background and dealing with cultural and different approaches to work.Organising and facilitating inbound and outbound business missions to major overseas markets of focus including China, Japan and IndiaFacilitating inbound investment inquiries and approaches including business matching and identifying potential local businesses to collaborate or form joint ventures with.Participating in outbound business missions to China to promote Melbourne's capabilitiesProviding briefings and presentations to inbound business missionsCollaborating with RMIT University on the Tianjin Leaders Program an intensive international MBA for Tianjin government officials to immerse themselves in the Melbourne business and cultural environment. Many officials have gone on to become senior officials in the Tianjin government and have facilitated deals between Melbourne businesses and Tianjin business and government.Organised and participated in courtesy calls from diplomatic corps to the Lord Mayor providing briefings and support .

ResponsibilitiesResponsible for the development and promotion of the Port Melbourne advanced manufacturing precinct including producing an investment prospectus, structure plans and convening the Port Melbourne Business and Industry GroupProject managed numerous economic development projects such as Business Clusters & Linkages Analysis, Future Infrastructure Needs Analysis Responsible for managing Council's support for the Advanced Manufacturing SectorDevised and implementation of strategies to facilitate the economic well being of the City of Melbourne.Accomplishments:Prepared Branch Business Plans, Budget and Capital Works bids resulting in the investment of over $3.5 million in public infrastructure to improve the business environment in Port Melbourne/Fishermens BendProject managed and wrote Port Melbourne Marketing Prospectus and Structure Plan which were the two major positioning documents in business attraction effortsProject managed preparation of submission to Industrial Synchrotron Roundtable on behalf of Council which subsequently led to the State government decision to build a synchrotron in Melbourne's eastern suburbsProject managed studies into proper standards of student housing which led to the development of Student Housing Development & Management Guidelines to address the issues associated with 25% of the City's population being tertiary studentsConvenor of the Port Melbourne Business and Industrial Group a group of senior executives that meet to discuss and develop strategies to attract more business and investment into the Port Melbourne/Fishermens Bend areaWas responsible for Advanced Manufacturing Sector on behalf of Council involving building on the cluster of automotive and aerospace activity in the Fishermens Bend area

Responsible for an integrated town planning service delivery within the municipality including statutory & strategic planning, policy development rezoning, planning appeals, advocacy on behalf of Council and presentation to Council of issues relating to town planningRepresented the municipality on numerous special issue task groupsLiaised on behalf of Council with the community, developers, government authorities and interest groupsMajor Achievements:Project managed Council's position on major redevelopments such Beacon Cove, Docklands & Coode Island relocation including briefing of consultants, legal representatives and managing government relations in order to secure acceptable community outcomesManaged all major projects including development of a printing plant for a major global media/communications company, a number of business parks, two major car manufacturing establishment expansions including negotiations regarding amelioration of impacts on the public realm.Prepared position papers & coordinated the Corporate Planning process of Council in the lead up to Council amalgamations.