There are nine Regional Development Commissions across Western Australia. 
Our Board
The Board is the Commission's governing body. It makes decisions on the strategic direction and priorities of the Commission.
The Board consists of 10 members selected from community and local government nominations, ministerial appointments and the Commission's CEO. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman are appointed by the Minister for Regional Development and Lands.
2010-11 Board
Back L-R: Cr Brad Day, Mr Stan Liaros, Mr Brian
Piesse, Mr Stephen Harrison (Chairman), Cr Ian Stubbs, Cr Wade De
Campo
Front L-R: Ms Posy Barnes, Mrs Patricia
Hughes, Mrs Suzanne Daubney, Mr Don Punch (CEO)
Board responsibilities:
- Setting the overall strategic direction and goals of the Commission;
- Providing guidance on specific projects and initiatives;
- Formulating Commission policy;
- Reviewing progress at regular intervals to ensure established goals are being achieved;
- Monitoring Commission expenditure;
- Promoting economic development;
- Representing the Commission at relevant meetings and functions;
- Providing a conduit between the Commission and the community; and
- Facilitating cooperation between organisations in the region.
About our Board members
Mr Stephen Harrison
Chairman
Stephen Harrison currently works as a cave guide, having
previously been a part-time lecturer with Curtin University, worked
in a Margaret River vineyard, and operated a retail and wholesale
clothing business. He has also worked as a consultant in the public
and private sectors, specialising in education, IT and multimedia
resources. Mr Harrison currently lives in Witchcliffe and is a
former president of the Augusta-Margaret River Shire and Margaret
River Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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Mr Don Punch
Chief Executive Officer
Don is the chief executive of the South West Development
Commission and is responsible for the coordinated economic and
social development of the South West region. He has worked
throughout regional Western Australia on many infrastructure
projects and has special expertise in community and economic
planning, trade facilitation, internet marketing and online
education, and community relations. He holds a Masters of Business
Administration and primary qualifications in psychology and
community planning and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of
Company Directors. Don was recently awarded honorary citizenship of
the City of Jiaxing in Southern China for services to trade and
economic development.
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Mr Stan Liaros
Stan Liaros is Chief Executive Officer of Group Training
South West Inc, Chairman of Group Training Australia WA, National
Board Member - Group Training Australia and the Chairman of the
Aqwest Board (the Bunbury Water Board). Mr Liaros is involved
in several regional chambers of commerce. His company supports and
sponsors local football, hockey, cricket and surf lifesaving
organisations.
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Cr Brad Day
Brad Day is the director of a real estate agency based in
Eaton and president of the Shire of Dardanup. A member of the
Dardanup Council since 1995, he has been involved with the
development of Eaton's commercial, residential and recreational
areas.
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Cr Wade De Campo
Wade De Campo is the president of the Shire of Manjimup.
He has held numerous positions over the years, including with the
Warren-Blackwood Economic Alliance, Pemberton Chamber of Commerce,
Rotary Club of Manjimup and Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival.
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Cr Ian Stubbs
Ian Stubbs has more than four decades of experience in
local government. He has been the Chief Executive Officer of the
Shires of Dandaragan, Wyndham-East Kimberley, Busselton and Toodyay
and has worked as a consultant to local government. Mr Stubbs is
currently the president of the Shire of Busselton.
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Sue Daubney
Sue Daubney is the managing director of Bannister Downs
Dairy Company. In 2006 Mrs Daubney was awarded the Telstra Business
Women's Innovation Award for WA. She was further honoured to be
announced the First Amongst Equals at the WA Business News 40 under
40 for 2010. She was recently appointed director of the Food
Industry Association Board (WA), and is a member of the Small
Business Finance Panel (Reserve Bank of Australia). She lives in
Northcliffe.
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Brian Piesse
Brian Piesse lives in Argyle and operates businesses in
Busselton and Margaret River. A former Shire of Capel councillor,
Mr Piesse is a member of the Rotary Club of Bunbury, the Bunbury
Wellington Economic Alliance, a fellow of the Australian Institute
of Management and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company
Directors. He has backgrounds in strategic planning, executive
management, business and market development, and education
governance and held senior executive roles in several major
international chemical and fertiliser companies before returning to
Western Australia in 1997. He is a former board member of the CRC
for Soil and Land Management.
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Stuart Hicks AO
Stuart Hicks is a business policy and planning advisor,
chairman of the East Perth Redevelopment Authority, and an adjunct
professor at a number of Western Australian universities. He
has previously been head of a range of Western Australian
government agencies, including the Department of Transport, and
Department of Marine and Harbours. Mr Hicks was formerly a
commissioner of the WA Planning Commission and chairman of the
National Transport Commission. In 2006 he was made an Officer of
the Order of Australia for services to the road transport industry,
the public sector, and the community.
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Louis Evans
Louis Evans is the chief executive officer of the Ngalang
Boodja Council Aboriginal Corporation in Collie and public officer
for Ngalang Boodja Enterprises. Her previous roles have seen her
take on the position of executive director of the Centre of
Excellence for Sustainable Mine Lakes at Curtin University,
director of the Centre for Natural Resource Enterprise and
professor of Aquatic Science at Curtin University.
