Wendy Harris Email and Phone Number

Reviewed and recommended changes to current strategic plans and policies for Keystart and the Country Housing Authority; Investigated new lending initiatives/products relevant to low to moderate income earners in WA; Developed framework and funding model for Aboriginal Corporations to enter joint venture housing initiatives; progressed an MOU and Tripartite Agreement for a housing initiative in Broome, WA; Annual Report preparation.Roles previously held at Keystart including:Executive Manager, New Lending Providing high level leadership, people development and change management; oversight of all new loan application processes, development of workflow models and implementation of best practice in processing; close collaboration with Department of Housing and key stakeholders. Dramatically improved lending results from 564 to 2,723 loans in twelve months.Executive Manager, Business Services:Established and managed a new Business Services department responsible for strategic, business and workforce planning, initiated a dedicated Human Resources function, staff training and development, including leadership development program, initiated a new payroll system, introduced procurement function and project planned utilising Prince2 methodology.Manager, Business Development and Planning – December 2009 to October 2010 A strategic role that linked trend and product analysis to housing affordability, consideration of future infrastructure needs of the company and establishing continuums for effective working relations with key stakeholders and third parties. Manager, Strategic Relationships I managed the relationship between the Country Housing Authority and Keystart to ensure no loss of agency or rural identity,carried out strategic planning for Country Housing and managed key external stakeholder relationships particularly in rural Western Australia.

As Executive Officer I was and responsible for delivering effective regional development into the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia on behalf of the federal government. Other responsibilities included overseeing all administrative and organisational agency functions, reporting to a Board and the Federal government, prudently managing regional third party contracts on behalf of other federal government agencies and acquitting all funding/grants. Results included:Delivering $3.4m of federal funding grants into the Wheatbelt region over 3 years;Funding 13 major projects worth a total of $10m from bio-fuel initiatives to regional infrastructure projects;Ran programs such as: Early years program, Youth Pathways program, Aus-Industry program for small business in regional WA;Successfully marketed the strategic direction of the federal government regional funding programs;Performed a review of existing infrastructure and future infrastructure needs across the region in consultation with 43 local governments;Developed extensive networks and consulted across all levels of government;.Successfully managed staff and developed a strong working relationship with the board;Successfully marketed the WACC throughout regional Western Australia;Conducted information and training sessions for external agencies and community groups throughout the region on capacity building, strategic planning and business planning;Developed tools, templates and resources relevant to the Wheatbelt and the wider rural regions including strategic planning, project planning and risk management;Developed regional guides relevant to attracting grants and funding, including assessment processes to gain entrepreneurial edge; and,Successfully managed and delivered a Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program.

The role included identifying new initiatives for Council and the community. This included strategic land purchases and business opportunities for future waste disposal and recycling having regard for appropriate buffers, soil types and transport corridors which I was successful in achieving. Other projects led by me included a regional recreation facility, a purpose built medical facility and securing medical practitioners to the region. I was also the conduit between Council and the community, reviewing and preparing updated strategic plans and policies, providing strategic advice to the CEO and Council on possible future alliances and funding opportunities and assuming responsibility/accountability for all major council projects.

The role included all library duties for students from Pre-Primary to Year 10, teaching student research techniques and teaching technology in the library. The role also afforded me the opportunity to work with the Regional Education District Office on the Local Area Education Plan and working on skill validation of non-teaching staff.