The Kimberley Development Commission Board is established under the Regional Development Commissions Act 1993 and comprises the following membership:
- 3 members representing the regional community;
- 3 members representing Local Government;
- 3 members appointed at the Minister's discretion;
- Chief Executive.
The Board is appointed by and responsible to the Minister for Regional Development; Lands; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development; Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, the Hon. Brendon Grylls MLA.
The Board is an accountable authority and advises the Minister on matters affecting the development of the region and sets the primary directions for the Commission.
Appointments to the Board are made for terms of up to three years following an advertising process conducted each year.
The Members of the Board at April 2012 were:
KIMBERLEY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BOARD
Cr Ralph Addis, Chairperson
Local Government representative – appointed 2009 - term expires 2012
Profile
Cr Addis is Deputy President of the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley and a member of the Ord/East Kimberley Expansion Project Community Reference Group. He has lived with his family in the East Kimberley since 1996, and has been involved in Aboriginal economic development strategies and commercial projects in tourism, agriculture, and construction across the Kimberley, working in both the government and non-government sectors. Cr Addis is a Chartered Accountant, holds a Masters of Economic Studies, and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is currently Chief Executive, Warmun Aboriginal Community during re-establishment of the Community post March 2011 flood event and a member of the Warmun Aboriginal Community Re-establishment Taskforce.
Cr Sciona Browne, Deputy Chairperson
Local Government representative – appointed 2012 - term expires 2015
Profile
Cr Browne has been resident in Halls Creek since March 2008 and has a background in business at executive level, aviation and more recently community development. She has worked in community development programs as Manager, Better Life Project, Halls Creek, and subsequently Executive Director, Housing Outreach Program, Halls Creek, employing skills in negotiating, business and community development, project management and business strategy. In 2009 Sciona was elected to the Shire of Halls Creek Council and became President in 2011.
Current voluntary positions held include: Member, Halls Creek Voluntary Emergency Service and Member, Halls Creek Rodeo and Member, Zonta International. Past positions: Board Member, Aquaculture Development Council, WA and Member, Venture Capital Panel, Entrepreneurial Management and Innovation Advisory Committee, The Graduate School of Management, University of WA.
Mr Kevin McLeish, Member
Ministerial representative – appointed 2009 - term expires 2012
Profile
Kevin is currently the Global Practice Leader at Rio Tinto for Health, Safety, Environment and Communities
Kevin commenced his career with BHP in the steel industry. He joined Rio Tinto in 1989 and has held operational management roles in Aluminium, Iron Ore, Copper and Diamonds businesses in both Australia and internationally and most recently the Managing Director of Argyle Diamonds in Perth.
He is currently a board member of the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund, Kimberley Development Commission and Leadership Western Australia.
He holds both a Degree in Metallurgy and a MBA from the University of Wollongong.
He is married with two teenage boys, and lives in Perth.
Mr Rob Watson, Member
Community representative – appointed 2006 - term expires 2012
Profile
Mr Watson is the Vice Chairperson of Balginjirr Community, Vice Chairman of the Kimberley Aboriginal Pastoralist Association and a Committee Member on the west Kimberley Juvenile Justice Committee. He is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and holds a TAFE Certificate 4 in workplace assessment and training and TAFE Certificates 1, 2 and 3 in beef cattle production.
Robert is actively involved in hosting and facilitating mens programs at Balginjirr Community with a strong emphasis on mental health and suicide prevention through individual pathway planning that encourages young men to identify and embrace Kimberley career opportunities.
Mr Watson would like to see the Kimberley develop with a more productive pastoral industry especially on Indigenous properties. He considers a key issue impacting on economic development in the Kimberley for Indigenous people is the need for research and development in agriculture to identify alternative land use opportunities to underpin business diversification and Indigenous micro businesses that compliment cattle stations and support communities.
Cr Elsia Archer , Member
Local Government representative – appointed 2008 - term expires 2012
Profile
Cr Archer has lived and worked in Derby since 1957 and managed a Derby based store for twenty four years prior to her recent retirement from business.
Cr Archer is a Justice of the Peace and has served on the Shire of Derby West Kimberley Council for twenty years, including two years as Deputy President and in her eleventh year in her current office as President. Cr Archer has been a local government representative on the Regional Development Council of WA and has previously served three years as President of the WA Local Government Association’s Kimberley Zone and is a current member. Cr Archer is a member of other regional groups including Home and Community Care, Health Consumers, Roadwise (formerly Safer WA) and the Small Business Centre Derby. She is also Council’s representative on the Native Title Working Group and a Board Member, Regional Development Australia (Kimberley).
Cr Archer is tireless in her pursuit of improvement within the community and particularly all aspects of the health service. She also champions the promotion of cultural events in this remote area.
Ms Doreen Green, Member
Community representative - appointed 2012 - term expires 2015
Profile
Ms Green is a member of the Jaru language group and people of the East Kimberley region. She is a long term resident of Halls Creek and is a local school teacher who has a personal commitment to building and restoring the capacity of Kimberley people through education, training and employment. She has held a range of voluntary appointments including: Member of the Halls Creek Music Festival Committee 2010-2012, Member, Advisory Committee COAG, 2008-2011, Chairperson, Halls Creek Community Reference group, Department of Housing lead Halls Creek Project Management 2006-2007, Member of the Elders Reference Group 2004-2006, and Member, National Education Advisory (NT) 1995-1998. In 2007-2008 Doreen successfully campaigned for the introduction of alcohol restrictions in Halls Creek.
Ms Green is a strong advocate for ensuring young people have the best education and training in our region that will lead to full time employment and reduce reliance on welfare payments. She considers the need to work more closely with Traditional Owners on land management and land use, improve employment, housing, education, childcare and other socio-economic outcomes through quality leadership, as key issues.
Ms Eunice Yu
Community representative – appointed 2012 - term expires 2015
Profile
Ms Yu is a Yawuru person currently employed by the Kimberley Institute, in Broome.
Ms Yu’s preferences for development in the Kimberley are for all residents to benefit economically, socially and culturally with development decisions being made at a local / regional level and based on inclusive engagement of relevant stakeholders and at a cross-sectoral level. Places that are valued by the Community should be protected and the region promoted and celebrated.
She considers her potential Contribution to the Board includes personal attributes of level headedness, integrity, loyalty, honesty and accountability, an Indigenous woman’s perspective and views, networks and linkages with engagement opportunities and stakeholders. Ms Yu’s community profile is gained through employment, volunteering and representation.
Ms Yu sees the State’s changing demography, Native Title determinations, displacement of community members and associated impact on communities, subsequent service delivery pressures and the need for balanced economic social and cultural imperatives with appropriate access to resources, as key issues.
Mr Robert Banfield, Member
Ministerial representative – appointed 2012 - term expires 2015
Profile
Robert Banfield is Managing Director of Willie Creek Pearls and has owned the business with his family since 1989. He has lived in Broome for over 20 years, and been a significant part of the business community.
Robert’s focus is on providing strategic leadership and vision for the diverse portfolio that has expanded to include six Willie Creek Pearls showrooms in Broome and Perth, the multi award winning Willie Creek Pearl Farm, Broome Sightseeing Tour, Pearl Luggers Tour and Banfield Property Developments.
During his career, he has led the organizational growth of the company in the Tourism, Retail and Property Industries, including overseeing the company’s national and international presence.
Robert has been an active participant on committees in Broome industry and is currently sits a Board Member, Australia’s North West Tourism.
Considering diversification and strategic investment as essential elements to successful business outcomes, Robert’s vision is for a strong economic base across all industries in the Kimberley that provides the essential support and social services required to maintain a regional balance.
Mr Robert Boshammer, Member
Ministerial representative - appointed 2012 - term expires 2015
Profile
Mr Boshammer is a graduate of Queensland Agricultural College and has been a prominent and leading Ord River Irrigation Area grower for over 20 years. He has a development and equity position in a number of associated businesses including nurseries, forestry management services, tourism, produce marketing and irrigation and pastoral business development and describes his passion as the empowerment of people in regional areas to facilitate world-class business development.
Mr Boshammer’s preferences for development in the Kimberley focus on increasing local decision making and decision making by Indigenous people with ‘less control and rubber stamping’ from above and streamlined bureaucratic processes that allow small business and communities to develop and ‘have a go’. He would also like to see increased availability of affordable living blocks in support of people that wish to move ahead.
He considers his potential contribution to the Board includes expertise in small business, management and development and an ability to identify and articulate major hurdles holding back business development. Rob believes that small business is most attuned to people and worker’s needs, in particular Indigenous people.
Mr Jeff Gooding – Member, Ex Officio
Chief Executive
Profile
Mr Gooding has held the position of Chief Executive of the Kimberley Development Commission since the Commission’s establishment and is a Member of the Board of the Commission. He is a long term resident of Kununurra and the Kimberley, has qualifications in town and regional planning, is a graduate and fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is Justice of the Peace, and former Shire Councillor.
Having participated in the negotiation process which culminated in the Ord Final Native Title Agreement, Mr Gooding continues to be substantially involved in its implementation as a Member of the Ord Enhancement Scheme Management Committee and a Director of the Miriuwung Gajerrong Community Foundation. He has been closely involved in the development, and initial implementation, of the Ord/East Kimberley Expansion Project, most recently as a Member of the Ord Land Release Panel and the Community Reference Group.
Other regional roles include membership of the Kimberley Regional Planning Committee and the WA Coastal Shipping Monitoring group. In March 2011 Mr Gooding was appointed as the Chairman of the Warmun Community Re-establishment Taskforce established by Cabinet to coordinate the response to destructive flooding of that Community.
