Regional Development Australia Central West (RDA Central West) is pleased to announce the reappointment of Ruth Fagan as Chair, extending her leadership of the organisation for another two-year term. Mrs. Fagan has called the Central West home all her life and has served as a Cowra Shire Councillor since 2004. Her extensive experience spans journalism, tourism, agriculture, small business and cultural planning. She has held a number of regional and state government board positions in these fields.
Federal Minister for Regional Development, Kristy McBain MP, expressed her congratulations to Mrs. Fagan and other RDA chairs, emphasising their crucial role in regional growth:
“I congratulate new and returning RDA chairs, who will work closely with their community, local businesses, and all levels of government to drive growth and development in their regions.
“With more than $117 million from the Australian Government set to flow across all of the RDA committees over the next five years, it is an exciting time for the new and returning chairs, as they’ll have the opportunity to work with their members to set the future agendas for their RDAs.
“We recognise the importance of local leaders supporting our work to Build Australia’s Future, which is why I look forward to working with RDAs into the future.”
Under Mrs. Fagan’s leadership, RDA Central West has undertaken initiatives such as the TEN4TEN Leadership Dialogue, STEM Industry School Partnership (SISP), Backing Business Forum, Agribusiness Today Forum, the Business Masterclass series, the upcoming Circular Futures Forum and various capacity-building events and workshops. These programs have demonstrated RDA’s commitment to delivering positive outcomes for the Central West region.
RDA Central West encompasses 11 local government areas: Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, and Weddin, representing over 180,000 residents. The organisation’s mission is to harness competitive advantages, seize economic opportunities, and attract investment to foster strong and confident regional economies and communities.
For more information on RDA Central West’s projects and priorities, please visit their website at www.rdacentralwest.org.au.
