Our Organisation
RDA Kimberley is made up of a Director and professional staff, guided by a federally appointed committee of local community leaders from across the Kimberley region. Our organisation provides advice on government initiatives, funding proposals, regional project planning and project ideas.
Working in close partnership all levels of government and the private sector we:
Collaborate
Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to identify economic opportunities and leverage private and public sector investment
Connect
Connect regional
businesses, councils and industry sectors with international trade partners, financial
markets and potential investors
Promote
Promote and disseminates information on Australian Government policies and grant programs to state and local governments and industry, business and community sectors
Support
Support community stakeholders to develop project proposals to access funding.
Develop
Develop and maintain positive working relationships with the local government bodies in the Kimberley.
Facilitate
Facilitate public and private sector decentralisation.
Assist
Assist in the delivery of Australian Government programs, where relevant and where requested by the Minister.
Engage
Engage with regional entrepreneurs and emerging business leaders to explore new opportunities to grow local jobs.
Inform
Provide information on the Kimberley regions activities and competitive advantages to all levels of government, industry, business and community sectors.
Advise
Our Committee
RDA Kimberley is guided by nine committee members representative of the community, local and state government, appointed by the Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure.
The Committee has an active and facilitative role in our community and a clear focus on growing a strong and confident Kimberley regional economy that harnesses our competitive advantages, seizes on economic opportunity and attracts investment.
Elsia Archer OAM
Chair
Well known Derby resident Elsia Archer OAM is a Justice of the Peace and served on the Shire of Derby West Kimberley Council for 28 years – 18 as Shire President. Elsia has served on many Kimberley, state and national committees and boards across a wide range of industries as well as being RDAK Deputy Chair prior to her appointment as Chair.
Peter Stubbs
Deputy Chair
Peter lives and works in Kununurra and is the Area Manager for Project Sea Dragon. Peter previously worked as Director for Major Projects, Department of Regional Development and Primary Industry and as CEO for the Shires of Wyndham East Kimberley and Moora.
Garry Waldron
Committee
Living and raising his children in the Kimberley since 1986 Garry has a strong background in Indigenous Education, working in Looma, Derby and Broome schools and across the Kimberley for the Education Department. Additionally, as Course Coordinator for Notre Dame University and in Community affairs for Panoramic Resources in the East Kimberley. Garry is very experienced in Local, State and Federal Election management and was the Kimberley Returning Officer for the last two State elections.
Susan Bradley
OAM JP
Committee
A Kimberley resident for over 50 years Susan previously owned and managed cattle stations in the East and North Kimberley and farms on the Ord Irrigation Area. She has served on many public and private boards and organisations, including as Councillor and Shire President of the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley; Chair of the Ord Development Council; Board member of the National Council of the Royal Flying Doctor Service; Councillor on the Australian Maritime Safety Authority; Chair of the Kimberley Water Development Strategy and Founding Director of the Kimberley Foundation (now Rock Art Australia). She is passionate about scientific/cultural research into Australia’s early and pre-history of the ancient rock art galleries of the far north Kimberley. She is Patron of the North Kimberley Land Care District. Susan has recently retired to live in Broome where she is still active in the community.
Susan Murphy
Committee
Susan has an extensive background in housing, youth, land and welfare and has long been an advocate for Aboriginal people across the state, holding a series of advisory positions at local and state levels. Susan is the CEO of Winun Ngari Aboriginal Corporation providing services to communities across the West Kimberley.
Lynette Craig
Committee
Lynette arrived in Halls Creek as an Australian Inland Mission nurse around 30 years ago and has since worked as a nurse, hospital administrator and pastoralist. Lynette has been an active member of various projects and community associations including the Isolated Children’s Parents Association and has served as the Shire of Halls Creek President.
Jodie Lynch
Committee
Jodie is Broome based and has lived and worked in Kununurra and Geraldton throughout her teaching career. Jodie has been employed for the past thirteen years in the energy sector with Regional Power Corporation, Horizon Power. Jodie’s current role is developing the workforce of the future as Project Coordinator, Apprentices, Graduates and Trainees. Her achievements recently include tranformational projects such as the Esperance Gas Transition, Regional Call Centre at Nila Janyba Broome, Advanced Metering and Smart Sun. Jodie is a Life Member of the Broome Surf Life Saving Club and passionate about connecting purpose with action in regional WA.
Michele Pucci
Committee
Michele is a long-term resident of the Kimberley and was involved in Local Government as a Shire Councillor for seven and a half years, during three of which she held the position of Shire President of the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley. She has extensive experience in strategic and regional planning and has held several regional positions including chair of the RDA Kimberley, board member of Kimberley Development Commission, Vice chair of the East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and board member of Kimberley TAFE.
Natasha Aristei
Committee
Natasha is a Broome business woman with significant enterprise organisational skills. Her strong commitment to giving back to her community motivated her to join the RDA Kimberley as a voluntary board member. Currently, Natasha is a Life Member of the Broome Chamber of Commerce, Committee Member of the Water Corporation’s Kimberley Community Grants Scheme, Board Member of Netball WA, and Director of Finance for the Broome Surf Life Saving Club. She also volunteers as a local netball coach from grass roots programs through to club and regional representative teams. Through her business and leadership roles, she is involved in various industry sectors including building and service, retail, domestic and industrial gas, and community not-for-profits.
Our Staff
Janine Hatch
Director
Janine has 15 years of experience delivering regional projects and industry development for local and state government, academic and private organisations across regional Western Australia.
Janine’s broad and high-level regional development expertise has been crafted through previous roles with the Department of Regional Development, the Wheatbelt and Peel Development Commissions, and most recently with the Shire of Broome. These roles have focused on facilitating private sector investment, grants management, business case development, and strategic planning.
Through the RDA Kimberley role, Janine is passionate about working with businesses, communities and across all levels of Government to shape projects for collective and direct local impact.
Kim Brown
BROOME EMPLOYMENT FACILITATOR
Kim moved to the Kimberley in 2016 and has over ten years’ experience working in the tourism sector practicing across a variety of settings.
Passionate about what the Kimberley has to offer, she holds a Bachelors Degree in Business and brings highly developed business skills including developing new business, creating and driving business and marketing plans, writing award submissions and revenue analysis.
Kara Byrnes
PROJECT MANAGER
Kara moved to Broome in 2017 with her family to their forever home after living in the Pilbara for 15 years. Enjoying the Kimberley lifestyle, tourism and exploring for the past 20 years has given Kara a passion for the region’s development.
Kara brings experience working in finance, insurance, administration and project officer roles and volunteers in several community organisations.
Amy Risinger
BROOME EMPLOYMENT FACILITATOR
Amy has lived in Broome for over 20-years and worked across a diverse range of industries in the Kimberley and Pilbara.
Amy has broad working knowledge of business development and management having owned and operated successful businesses in Broome and beyond. She is a connected community member who loves living in the Kimberley.
Government Grants
RDA Kimberley plays an active role in supporting our regional community and businesses to apply for State and Federal funding and accessing information on local government funding opportunities.
Find a Grant
At RDA Kimberley, we provide advice and assistance on grants and funding opportunities that your organisation or business located in the Kimberley region may be eligible for.
Application Tips
We have developed several resources to help you understand how to best prepare a successful grant application for your organisation or project.