A new chair has been appointed to head Victoria’s Regional Development Advisory Committee.
Margaret O’Rourke will lead the RDAC – established to provide independent advice to the state government on cross-regional matters.
Currently head of La Trobe University’s Bendigo Campus, O’Rourke also sits on the V/Line advisory board – the statutory authority that operates regional passenger rail and coach services in Victoria.
With previous roles as mayor and councillor at the City of Greater Bendigo, chair of Regional Cities Victoria and former senior positions with Telstra and Bendigo Telco, O’Rourke brings strong leadership and business experience to the role.
The RDAC committee consists of an independent chair and the chairs of the nine Regional Partnerships as committee members. The Regional Partnerships are made up of community and business leaders and are a recognition that local communities are in the best position to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by their region. Together, they provide a coordinated, state-wide voice to government on the issues and opportunities impacting regional Victoria.
“RDAC brings together deep local insights and a statewide perspective to help shape policies that genuinely work and gives regional communities a stronger voice in the decisions that impact their future,” Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes said.
In response to her new appointment, O’Rourke said: “It’s an honour to chair RDAC and to continue to lead the committee’s work in connecting local priorities across the regions – ensuring the voice of regional and rural communities are heard directly at the heart of government.”
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