Economic Development Australia (EDA) is excited to announce the first Breakout Session for the 2024 National Economic Development Conference (NEDC)!
Discover the Power of Place and experience the energy of collaboration at NEDC, as thought leaders and industry experts come together to dive into the heart of economic development and explore how our unique places can shape a prosperous future.
FULL PROGRAM TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!
Facilitated by EDA Director, Greg Bowden, this Breakout Session will explore presentations and case studies on workforce development with a regional focus. The session will be highly engaging, featuring a range of short presentations and rapid fires, followed by group based discussions, which will provide the opportunity to share knowledge and interact with presenters and delegates in an intimate group setting.
Speakers
GIOVANNA LEVER GAICD ACEcD
Founder & Managing Director
Sparrowly Group
Giovanna is the Founder and Managing Director of Sparrowly Group leading work for clients across economic and community development, agriculture, education, workforce development and the visitor economy. She is a certified Economic Developer as well as an educator with Economic Development Australia and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
DAVID PARSELL
Co-Founder
Localintel
David is Co-Founder of Localintel, an award-winning government technology company helping hundreds of economic developers across the US and Canada showcase their location’s strengths more effectively. Dave’s professional background includes senior roles in consulting and local government where he specialised in economic development and strategic planning. Dave’s career also includes roles with Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of Scotland and the Australian Army. He holds a Master of Public Administration, Master of Environmental Planning and Bachelor of Commerce and has guest lectured at Macquarie University and the University of NSW.
LINDA DOOLAN
Community Partnerships Manager
Mable
Linda is from the Community Partnerships team at Mable. She grew up in country regions and has a passion for supporting communities to develop place-based solutions. Their model of community-led aged care not only solves the challenge of accessing home care services in rural areas but has proven to have a broader impact on social and health outcomes as well as generating significant economic benefits that support the sustainability of rural and regional communities. Prior to joining Mable, Linda held roles in community engagement and management consulting with a particular focus on evaluating federal government programs including those focused on regional development such as the Stronger Communities Program and the National Stronger Regions Program.
BRADLEY GRIEVE
Community Engagement Manager
Mable
Bradley was raised in Griffith, NSW, and has family in small farming communities in regional NSW and SA. Alongside Linda Doolan, Brad manages the community program at Mable, which empowers rural and remote communities to develop and operate their own aged care coordination services, and supports local individuals to become service providers. Prior to his role at Mable, Brad led the Wagga Wagga Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as the CEO of the Altitude Scholarship, a charity dedicated to supporting young people through education.
PETER FORBES
Economic Development Coordinator
Brimbank City Council
Peter’s been building business relationships and turning them into productive partnerships across Victoria’s regional centres, Peri urban growth zones and metropolitan destinations for over two decades. Peter uses his innate understanding of local strengths to passionately pursue ways to maximise local economic outcomes through a variety of initiatives in the development of policy, strategy, business, investment, workforce and marketing.
Currently Coordinator of the Economic Development team at Brimbank City Council and a recent Committee Member and Chair of EDA’s Victorian SPN, Peter often discusses issues and opportunities with other economic development practitioners and is always looking for new insights into political, social and economic processes that can elevate communities to greater prosperity and sustainability. Outside of work, Peter has traded in his running shoes and football coaching clipboard to master golf clubs and is resisting the urge to don Lycra and a push bike as cafés have suffered enough recently!