The Board of the new CRC for Remote Economic Participation (CRC-REP) was announced in Alice Springs today. It heralds work towards a new era of growth and dynamism for enterprise and employment across remote Australia.
"The members of the new Board are Australian women and men with an exceptional grasp and deep experience of the needs of remote Australia. I am sure that they will drive the new Centre's mission of helping to create jobs, livelihoods, enterprises and industries in remote areas, including many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities," CRC-REP chairman-elect Paul Wand said.
CRC-REP is a new Centre commencing on July 1, 2010, with a mandate to find new ways to overcome the challenge of economic isolation for the 5% of Australians who inhabit the 75% of the continent outside its towns, cities and coastal regions.
The new Board has been carefully chosen by the CRC's 19 essential participants for its remarkable blend of experience, skill, insight and vision. This will enable the Board to drive the research agenda of the CRC in ways that will meet its goals of enhancing the engagement of remote Australians with national and world economies and assisting the Federal Government to ‘close the gap' between Aboriginal and other Australians.
The inaugural members-elect of the CRC-REP board are:
Paul Wand, Chair: Currently Chair of Desert Knowledge CRC. A director of Wand Associates, Paul provides expert advice to corporations and governments in the areas of Aboriginal relations and employment.
Tom Calma, Deputy Chair: Previously Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission, Tom has a long and distinguished career in social justice, community development, education and training and as a senior policy adviser.
Glenise Coulthard: An Adnyamathanha Woman from the Northern Flinders Ranges, Glenise is the Manager Aboriginal Health for the Port Augusta Hospital Cluster (Roxby, Woomera, Leigh Creek, Hawker and Quorn) and a Director on the board of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Central Operations. She is one of a team of founding members of the Iga Warta Cultural Tourism Venture in the Northern Flinders Ranges.
Ian Davey: Emeritus Professor at the University of South Australia and a former Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President for Research & Innovation at the University of SA, Ian also has extensive CRC Board experience.
Jan Ferguson: Managing Director of the CRC for Remote Economic Participation, with long experience in public administration, research management and desert living.
Harold Furber: Has long-term experience on Aboriginal land councils, in education and as a public administrator. He is a board member of Desert Knowledge Australia.
Tanya Hosch: Consultant working with corporate, philanthropic, government and non-government organisations in areas of social policy including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, youth and leadership development, women's issues and health.
Alison Page: An Aboriginal Tharawal woman, she is a designer, artist and cultural planner living on the NSW north coast. Alison's work explores links between cultural identity, art and the built environment. She is also a regular member of the judging panel on the ABC's ‘New Inventors'.
David Ritchie: Chief Executive Officer of the NT Department of Lands and Planning.
Tony Tate: Director, Research and Development, Curtin University. Tony is an experienced research manager with a long record of working in community organisations. He has been involved with a significant number of CRC.
CRC-REP is a 'public good' research organisation delivering better business models and tools to remote populations. Over 15 years it aims to help achieve:
- Over 2,000 more direct jobs for Aboriginal people
- Savings in welfare payments of $160 million
- Increased profitability in remote pastoral industry of $292 million
- Improved educational and health outcomes of residents in remote regions
- Increased health and wellbeing in remote communities due to regular livelihoods.
Media are invited to interview the CRC-REP Chairman, Mr Wand, Managing Director, Jan Ferguson or other Board members.
More information:
Paul Wand, Chairman, 0419 011 440
Jan Ferguson, Managing Director, 08 8959 6041 or 0401 719 882
Craig James, General Manager Commercialisation and Communication, 0408 838 194
Julian Cribb, media, 0418 639 245
http://www.crc-rep.com/
