Board
Setting the strategic direction.
The South West Development Commission Board is the governing body responsible to the Regional Development Minister for setting the direction and priorities of the Commission. It has six members selected from community and local government nominations, and Ministerial appointments. The Commission’s director is an ex-officio member of the Board (no voting rights).
Primary activities
- 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
- Facilitating cooperation between organisations in the region
- Advocate for the South West region
Chairman Danny Griffin
Our board members
Danny Griffin, Chairman
Danny is an experienced General Manager with a demonstrated history of leadership in a variety of industrial segments. He has held senior positions in multinationals as well as privately owned innovative organisations. He is passionate about connecting with the community at all levels. Danny is the Plant Manager of the large Laminex wood products plant in the South West. He is also Chair of the South West Development Commission, President of the Bunbury and Geographe Chamber of Commerce, Chair of The Engineering Industry Advisory Group at UWA and a Board Member of the Forestry Industries Federation WA. In 2017 he was awarded a ‘Fellowship’ of Engineers Australia in recognition of services to the profession.
Pat Scallan, OAM, Deputy Chairman
Pat was the General Manager Operations and General Manager Projects – Talison Lithium Pty Ltd Greenbushes Operations for over 20 years. He has held a number of senior operational positions in the mineral sands industry at both Eneabba and Capel prior and has worked at gold mining operations at Western Deep Levels in South Africa. Mr Scallan was the chairman and deputy chairman of the South West Regional Council of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy for more than 15 years. He is very involved in the local community and amongst other interests was a councillor on the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire for over 18 years.
Tony Dean, Board Member
Tony brings a wealth of experience in community leadership and a whole of South West perspective to the board. He is currently the president of the Shire of Nannup, was previously the Member for Bunbury, and spent seven years a Bunbury City councillor. He is president of the South West Local Government Association, former president of the Warren Blackwood Alliance of Councils, and a state councillor for the Western Australian Local Government Association.
Tresslyn Smith, Board Member
Tresslyn Smith is a Councillor at the City of Bunbury. Raised on a farm in Benger, Tresslyn has a background in consumer affairs including as an industrial relations and consumer affairs investigator. She plays an active role in the community, including as the director at Aqwest, chairperson of the Bunbury/Harvey Regional Council Waste Management Facility, member of the Bunbury Port Community liaison Committee, and member of the West Australian Country Health Service Ethics Committee. Tresslyn was educated at the Benger State School, St Anne’s in Harvey and is a graduate of Murdoch University.
Catrin Allsop, Board Member
Catrin Allsop is chief executive officer at Australia’s South West, the peak regional tourism organisation for the South West of Western Australia. Catrin steers the organisation’s direction, develops strategies and represents the region at trade and industry events. Catrin has significant involvement in key industry project areas such as product development, aviation and wine tourism as well as various collaborations with industry stakeholders. Catrin holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in International Management and Business Administration and is currently undertaking a MBA.
Stan Liaros, Board Member
Stan is the CEO of the Apprentice and Traineeship Company, Chair of Aqwest (Bunbury Water Corporation) and Board Member of the WA Construction Training Fund.
He is a former Chair of the Apprentice Employment Network WA, the South West Academy of Sport and was Senior Vice-President of the South West Football League for five years.
Stan is actively involved in business and community activities in the South West of WA where he strongly advocates for employment and training in the region.
