At the commencement of each project, we select a team of professional consultants whose skills are best matched with the task at hand. This project team is also supported by experienced administration personnel.

As a friendly, smaller organisation we enjoy getting to know our clients personally, and each client receives regular contact with the same qualified and experienced personnel. We are in constant contact with our clients and readily available to discuss any points of the project as it progresses.

Below is a profile of The Regional Development Company's core team:

SUSAN BENEDYKA - MANAGING DIRECTOR As the founding director of RDC, Susan is passionate about creating successful and sustainable communities and has extensive public and private sector experience in rural and regional development including; Strategic planning Facilitation Regional community leadership development Community consultations and engagement programs Corporate governance training Reviews and strategies Program management and evaluation

Susan’s great strength is the way in which she uses her highly developed communication and facilitation skills to enable other people's vision to become reality. She is also adept at sourcing relevant funding for specific projects and is a dynamic and engaging public speaker.

Susan holds a Graduate Diploma in Business, Training and Development, a Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training, and is a Certified Professional Facilitator. Susan has also completed the Company Director’s Course, Practitioner’s Certificate in Mediation and Conciliation, Australian Rural Leadership Program, and Financial Management Certificate.

Download Susan's biography here

ANITA SMITH – SENIOR CONSULTANT

Anita Smith (B Bus (Acc), Grad Dip Bus (Administration)) Specialises in strategic and business planning in the health and welfare sector through an action learning approach which enables organisations to identify their vision and strive for a preferred future based on sustainability and growth.

She is also an experienced change agent who has led change management programs both as an external facilitator and as an employed internal change agent. Her dedicated involvement and experience working with whole organisations and individual work units in their restructuring and change management has lead to sustainable service delivery models achieved through streamlining of systems and efficient resource usage.

Anita’s personal approach and unique ability to pin-point and extract successful outcomes for her clients is demonstrated in the success and growth of the organisations she has been involved with.

Prior to her employment with The Regional Development Company in 2006, Anita was employed in the Victorian Health Sector in a variety of corporate and financial roles.

ROB CAROLANE – CONSULTANT - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND FACILITATION

Rob is holds a Bachelor of Science (Microbiology), is a qualified facilitator having completed an Advanced Diploma of Group Facilitation, and is a graduate of the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program.

Rob has designed and delivered extensive community engagement processes and during his time with the EPA delivered training on the DSE Engaging Communities modules. For this project, Rob will support Susan in her work with the CRG and be heavily involved in the community engagement processes.

Rob brings skills in group facilitation, collaborative decision making, community engagement, and outrage management. Rob’s qualifications support his extensive professional and volunteer experience working with community, government and industry on environmental impact, sustainability and strategic community change issues.

Before joining the RDC team, Rob worked for five years on regional and statewide issues as a Community Engagement Facilitator with EPA Victoria. While working with EPA Victoria Rob engaged with stakeholders on a wide range of sometimes contentious issues concerning the interaction of industry and community.

Prior to that Rob worked with The Centre (Wangaratta Adult Education Provider) in the Community Development Department on Learning Towns and the promotion of physical activity in the community. Rob has also worked as a Vineyard Manager and Scientific Officer.

TANYA CAMPLIN – CONSULTANT/PROJECT MANAGER

Tanya holds a Bachelor of Business and Tourism (Honours) from Southern Cross University and is a graduate of the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program. Tanya has recently joined the RDC team after seven years as the Community Relations Manager for a large regional health service. Her main roles included establishing and coordinating viable promotional and marketing strategies including media liaison, internal and external publications and communication, internet and intranet sites, signage, corporate image, product branding, health awareness programs and community engagement, as well as managing the fundraising activities and volunteer program.

Tanya has been a Councillor with the Rural City of Wangaratta from 2003 to 2008 and held the Community Services, Education and Youth portfolios. As a dedicated member of the community Tanya has been actively involved in a wide range of boards, committees and working groups. Tanya brings a personal, passionate and committed approach to everything she undertakes.

Equipped with a unique skill set, Tanya has developed communication and marketing plans, managed and implemented small and large scale events as well as undertaken sensitive public relations campaigns.

Tanya brings the ability to engage with people at all levels and an ability to understand and articulate issues in a clear and considered manner. Committed to assisting organisations to reach their potential by undertaking detailed research and developing practicable and achievable strategies, Tanya will deliver thoughtful advice, a positive attitude and objective-focused solutions.

CATHY BOTTA – ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Cath has extensive experience in facilitating groups, developing strategic plans, managing and evaluating projects and community consultation and engagement. Cath holds post graduate qualifications in Agriculture, and Natural resource management and is currently completing a graduate certificate in mediation and conflict resolution.

Cath is a soil scientist, educator and facilitator who works extensively with rural and regional communities. She worked for almost ten years as a lecturer in agriculture and natural resource management for Melbourne University, and also has considerable experience working in the public service sector including extension program design and delivery, training design and delivery, and project management.

As a consultant Cath has designed and delivered stakeholder consultation and engagement processes, facilitated workshops and delivered training programs. Clients have included local and state government agencies, not for profit and community groups, national associations, and industry groups across Australia. Clients value her flexible and collaborative approach and her engaging style that generates forward thinking and planning.

SUE GOLD – ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Sue commenced her career in the early 1980’s. A diverse professional life evolved, with Sue having held senior management, staff development, senior lecturer, research and organisation learning and change facilitation roles. She has worked in public, private and not for profit organizations and the tertiary education sector. She is experienced in public speaking and an invited speaker at national conferences.

Sue has developed specific knowledge and capabilities in the area of facilitation, coaching and mentoring; facilitation of action learning sets; the development, delivery and evaluation of experiential learning programs; engagement in collaborative partnerships; education and staff development; strategic planning; governance; leadership and management of change.

Sue holds postgraduate qualifications in adult education, research methodologies, community consultation, innovation, leadership and management of change.

DR KRISTY HOWARD - ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Dr Kristy Howard has been designing, running and evaluating industry development and training programs for farmers in the Meat and Wool industries since 1995. In 2008 she started her own consulting business, Inspiring Excellence, focusing on business coaching and mentoring, project management and facilitation and project research, analysis and evaluation.

Kristy is passionate about inspiring and enabling people, businesses and communities to achieve their potential through professional and personal growth. She has recently commenced work as a subcontractor for The Regional Development Company.

Originally trained as a Research Scientist in Agricultural Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kristy has made the successful transition from research to extension to consulting, achieving change in a variety of industries and community organisations through application of her unique blend of leadership, engagement, management, facilitation, mentoring and coaching skills.

KAREN HARMON AM – ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Karen Harmon (RN, RM, B Admin, Dip Nsg Studies, Dip N Admin, Grad Cert Mgt, Grad Cert Int Dev, FCNA) has worked extensively in both resource rich and resource poor environments facilitating and leading change. She is an experienced development practitioner with more than 30 years experience in community engagement and international development.

Karen has worked within a range of organisations large and small, non-government, government and private sector organisations, both in Australia and in developing countries in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Her extensive experience includes;

• Strategic, business and operational planning
• Program design, implementation and evaluation
• Change management

As an internal change agent she has led large and complex health services and private companies through change, as well as smaller non government organisations and community groups. As an external change agent she has facilitated developing country government departments and ministries through reform and structural adjustment activities.

Her interpersonal style is inclusive and participatory, generating vision and ownership. She has highly developed conflict resolution and problem solving ability supported by excellent communication skills. As a result, Karen consistently demonstrates successful capacity building, mentoring and coaching outcomes.

TATIANA UTKIN – ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Tatiana is a former senior executive in the Australian Public Service involved in corporate, professional, academic, consumer and other jurisdictions. She has led corporate change programs aimed at introducing new work practices and technology, and managed corporate business planning exercises. Her skills and experience in these areas include;

• Policy development
• Program design
• Implementation and evaluation
• Negotiation
• Stakeholder engagement

Tatiana was a senior executive in the Department of Health and Ageing (1994-2008); Assistant Secretary, Strategic Management Branch (2004-2007), Assistant Secretary, Health Information Policy Branch (2002-2004), Assistant Secretary, Private Health Industry Branch (2002). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health.

KAREN JONES – ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Karen is a consultant for The Regional Development Company in a sub contracting arrangement. Karen is a specialist consultant in natural resource management, environmental sustainability and community engagement and facilitation. She has extensive experience in working with local governments on NRM and sustainability programs. Karen holds Bachelor of Applied Science (Parks, Recreation and Heritage); she is also a graduate of the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program.

Karen spent eight years working within Victorian local government (Indigo Shire Council and the Rural City if Wangaratta) on natural resource management, sustainability, planning and community processes. She has worked closely with the North East Victorian Sustainable Schools Project and North East Firewood Strategy facilitating a wide range of consultation activities. Recently Karen developed and project managed the School Environment Education Directory (SEED) for NevRwaste, supporting and mentoring teachers from 145 schools in North East Victoria to incorporate sustainability into their classroom and curriculum. SEED is a regional based model that is currently being considered for role out through Victoria and possibly Australia.

Karen has facilitated and mentored individuals, local government and organisations to incorporate environmental sustainability into their daily practices and developed and delivered mentoring programs for natural resource management staff throughout Australia and New Zealand.

GORDON SHAW – ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Gordon brings extensive experience in economic development, marketing and strategic planning from across a number of regions in Victoria and NSW. He has a wealth of practical knowledge and expertise in business and marketing with individual food and wine businesses and groups.

Gordon specialises in generating and developing innovative and practical outcomes in economic development. He operates Fantastic Fare Marketing, a consultancy based in NSW, which focuses on providing business, marketing and economic development advice and services to the regional food and beverage sector.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

The Consultancy team is supported by our full-time Administrative Assistant providing essential centralised administration and effective support services for all of our projects with professionalism, friendliness and expertise.

Our part-time Project Officer Trecia Donald provides assistance behind the scenes in client management, research, systems implementation, policies, procedures and accounts to ensure we are providing the best possible service to our clients.

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