Growing the Practitioner Network

The Inaugural National Workshop for Local Economic Development Practitioners

Convened by the Australian and New Zealand Section of the Regional Science Association International

(ANZRSAI)

NSW Country Embassy

Grosvenor Place

Level 44, 225 George Street Sydney

Friday

29 June 2001

The Australia and New Zealand Section of the Regional Science Association International Inc. (ANZRSAI) is convening a national One Day Workshop for Local Economic Development Practitioners in Sydney on Friday 29 June 2001.

The Workshop will be of interest to all those involved in local economic development, whether in a metropolitan or non-metropolitan location, including:

  • Those working in local government, including local economic development officers
  • Members and Executive Officers of regional development boards and other similar organisations
  • Members and Executive Officers of town development corporations
  • Main Street Program coordinators
  • Members of Main Street committees
  • Business Enterprise Centres
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Academics with an interest in local economic development
  • Policy makers

Principal Workshop Themes will be:

  • Collaborative networks in local economic development;
  • The challenge of regional coordination;
  • Different experiences of local economic development practitioners;
  • Urban versus rural local economic development – what can practitioners learn from one another?
  • Professional development for practitioners;
  • The establishment of a practitioners’ network.

The Association, which includes many practitioners as well as academics and others interested in regional development, is dedicated to the analysis and practice of regional development. It has around 200 members across Australia and New Zealand, and is affiliated with the Regional Science Association International (http://www.rsai.org).

The Association has recently been awarded the contract by the Commonwealth Government to produce a regular regional development journal as part of the Understanding Rural Australia Program.

The Association has a strong and growing interest in furthering good practice among local economic developers, and in their professional development. The Association’s Education Taskforce is currently preparing an action plan for training and professional development as part of its business planning process, and the Workshop will be an important barometer of the issues of concern to the Taskforce.

Membership information will be available at the workshop, along with information on the Association’s national conference to be held in Bendigo from 30 September to 3 October 2001.

Program

9.30 am Registration And Coffee

10.00 am Welcome: Paul Collits, Vice President (Australia) ANZRSAI

10.10 am Keynote Address: What is Local Economic Development?

  • Loftus Harris, Director General, Department of State and Regional Development

10.30 am: Plenary Session – Collaboration And Coordination

Chair: Professor Peter Murphy, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of New South Wales

  • Ifor Ffowcs-Williams, CEO, Cluster Navigators Limited, New Zealand
    Collaborative Networks in Local Economic Development
  • Ross O’Shea, Regional Coordinator, Southern Region, NSW Premier’s Department
    The Challenge of Coordination for Local Economic Development Practitioners

Discussion

11.30 am: Panel Session One – What Have I Learned as a Economic Development Practitioner?

Chair: Suzette Gaff, Acting Regional Manager, Hunter and Central Coast Regions, NSW Department of State and Regional Development

  • Craig Mathisen, Rural Development Team, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland
  • Ursula Stephens, Senior Project Manager, Sustainable Communities Project, NSW Premier’s Department
  • James Rowe, Economic Development Officer, The Council of Sutherland Shire
  • Peter Dale, Executive Officer, Riverina Regional Development Board, Former Mayor of Wagga Wagga
  • Peter Pulley, Development Coordinator, Tamworth Development Corporation
  • Helen Monks, Highlight Consulting

Discussion

1.00 pm to 2.00 pm LUNCH

2.00 pm Panel Session Two – Doing Local Economic Development in Metropolitan and Rural Locations: What Can We Learn from One Another?

Chair: Professor Peter Murphy, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of New South Wales

  • Peter Coyte, Economic Development Officer, Penrith City Council
  • Representative of the Town Centre Development Association (TBC)
  • Libby Ozinga, Coordinator, Urban Improvement Program, NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning,
  • Former Principal of Mainstreet Partnership
  • Wayne Lowe, Economic Development Officer, Nambucca Shire Council
  • Bronwyn Clarke, Place Manager, Centres Travelling Together Urban Improvement Project, Former Coordinator, Main Street Program, Milton-Ulladulla
  • John Allen, Fairfield City Council

3.00 pm Panel Session Three – Professional Development for Practitioners

Chair: Rod Burgess, Councillor for ANZRSAI, Executive Officer, Australian Capital Regional Development Corporation

  • Paul Collits, Manager Regional Policy, NSW Department of State and Regional Development
    Overview of the Professional Development Scene for Local Economic Development Practitioners and Key Challenges
  • Craig Mathisen, Rural Development Team, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland
    The CARED Experience
  • Ken Croskell, Executive Director, Local Government Managers Australia, NSW Division
    LGMA Initiatives in Local Economic Development Practice
  • Dr Jim Cavaye, Centre for Rural and Regional Innovation and Qld DPI

Discussion

4.00 pm AFTERNOON TEA

4.20 pm Summing Up – A Local and Regional Development Development Practitioners Network?

Chair- Helen Monks, Councillor of ANZRSAI,

  • James Rowe, The Council of Sutherland Shire
  • Peter Coyte, Penrith City Council

Discussion

5.00 pm Close and Refreshments

6.30 pm Informal Networking Dinner