Media Releases

Chairman Keith Ellis and Deputy Chairman Travis Burrows would like to announce that RDA Perth has completed its selection process for their Committee for 2021-25.

“Capital City RDA’s have a new mandate to work with all of the RDA’s state wide to promote economic development in all regions and the Committee is well placed to deliver on that,” Keith said.

He continued “We have a number of representations from the regions that applied to RDA Perth that will give us some fantastic insight. We are planning to work with the state wide RDA’s to develop a competitive analysis and investment prospectus that will help drive investment into the regions.”

Travis stated “This Committee has the right skills set and knowledge base across government and the private sector and I look forward to the projects that will be developed into the future. RDA Perth has an amazing track record and this will assist in working right across the state.”

The following members have been appointed or reappointed:

Ross Elliott is a self-employed management consultant with over 20 years of experience in the minerals, energy, agribusiness and manufacturing sectors.  He has managed major capital projects up to $3bn in value both in Australia and overseas and has extensive commercial experience in achieving monetary objectives and identifying business opportunities.  Currently a director of two start-up companies, he is also a representative of a Canadian-based nuclear energy company in Australia. 

Rhonda Hardy is the CEO for the City of Kalamunda and has extensive experience in developing good governance frameworks, policies, risk frameworks and strategic plans. She places a strong focus on economic development and has led the development of Kalamunda’s Economic Development Strategy – focusing on rural diversification of the Perth Hills rural land.

Elizabeth Taylor has had 21 years as a statutory planner and has been a local government councillor for 28 years of which she was the Shire President for 7 of those. She is currently a Director of her local Bendigo Bank and is a member of the Swan Valley Planning Committee under the Department of Planning.

Mark Brown is a HSE Advisor for the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group working on large infrastructure projects leading the environmental approvals and safe delivery of those projects such as the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline. He has previously worked for Boeing Defence Australia and Monadelphous. He has a membership with the Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand and believes that strong community engagement is key to any project’s success.

Fiona White-Hartig has 16 years’ experience based in the Pilbara working with Local, State and Federal Governments and engaging local community in various capacities. She has a strong background working in the political environment, building and maintaining vital relationships with Members of Parliament (both State and Federal) and key government personnel and over 10 years’ experience as a local government Councillor with strong relationships in the sector both at elected member and management level.

Catherine Bowen is an experienced management and communications professional and lecturer with a PhD from Curtin University.  She is regionally based and commutes to the city for professional commitments. She has an extensive background in education and a lifetime of experience in agriculture, agribusiness, natural resources management and regional development (at a local level).

Tzu-Chao Pan (Charles Pan) is an engineer and the Founder and Director of CPAN Enterprises, a company utilising physics to develop high performance in sports. He works with athletes to help them to achieve outstanding performances across a number of domestic and international tournament sectors. He has interests in property development, aquaculture and drones, and carries both a private pilot license and remote pilot license from CASA.