John Randall

Experience

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  BURDEKIN SHIRE COUNCIL

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2002

  Tourism and Economic Development Coordinator

  My role was to primarily act as a "change agent" for local business and to identify sustainable industry diversification away from the region's historic reliance on the sugar industry. This diversification include tourism product development.My role also included extensive stakeholder engagement to encourage participation, as well as grant funding identification to undertake a range of diversification projects. Funding successes included funds to investigate an aquaculture industry, a vegetable cannery feasibility study, a Tourism Action Plan and an upgrade of an industrial estate. I also designed and conducted famils for volunteers at the local VICs. Show less

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  Moorabool Shire Council

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2006

  Economic and Tourism Development Coordinator

  My role was to both faciliate business development in the region, as well as to promote the Moorabool brand and image as a "place to live, work and invest." . I was responsible for building key relationships with local stakeholders to encourage their participation and support for Council development initiatives. My responsibilities also included the research and analysis of local economic performance and trends, as well as producing regional marketing and promotional material. A key part of my role was to identify grant/funding opportunities and prepare the necessary submissions to gain the grants. Project funding successes included Federal funding for a Visitor Information Centre and State funding for a CBD retail marketing initiative. Show less

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  Southern Downs Regional Council

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2011

  A/Manager Economic Development

  My role was to both faciliate business development in the region, as well as to promote the Southern Downs brand and image from both a tourism product development perspective as well as an overall an investment attraction perspective. I was responsible for engaging with key regional stakeholders to encourage their "buy in". I also was responsible for the research and analysis of economic performance and trends, as well as the production of a range of business and investment marketing material. I also liased with all VICs in the Shire regarding joint attendance at tourism trade shows. A key part of my role was to provide advice and mentoring to the region's small business sector including tourism operators, and liaise across all levels of government with regards to appropriate small business assistance and grants. Show less

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  Vanuatu Regional Development Association

  Mar 2012 - Oct 2014

  Manager - Community Tourism Business Microfinance Scheme

  My primary role was to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to develop and implement policies and procedures for a national microfinance scheme for tourism graduates of rural training centres across Vanuatu. The microfinance scheme was funded through the Australian and NZ Governments, and also the World Bank. The role involved managing/advising a team of 6 NGO Head Office staff in Port Vila, as well as managing/advising up to 20 training centre managers throughout the islands. An essential part of the role was mentoring and advising tourism small business operators who had applied for financial assistance.The outcome after two years was that I had established a Pilot Scheme with some 20 micro-businesses financed, which then led to the roll-out of the Scheme proper. Show less

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  Balonne Shire Council

  Dec 2014 - Feb 2017

  Manager - Regional Investment Attraction Project

  I managed the Investment Attraction Project for the Balonne and Goondiwindi regions. The project was funded by the Murray Darling Basin Authority. The aim was to encourage and facilitate investment into the region. There was also the need to facilitate and encourage resilience amongst the small business sector and general community to encourage them to take advantage of business opportunities in the resources sector. The region has been adversely affected economically by water buy-backs , and there is a strong need to diversify the regional economy.My role here was to firstly engage with all relevant stakeholders to identify new proposals and proponents, identify and alleviate any barriers to individual investment proposals, then facilitate transforming the proposals into a investor-ready package, and finally then help take the proposal to market to secure the investment. The proposals include mega-feedlots, export beef and lamb abattoirs, grain containerisation plants, commodity warehousing hubs and new horticultural ventures. Capex ranged from A$5M to A$40M.There was also a focus on community engagement to identify and progress opportunities to re-invigorate smaller drought affected towns.Underlying the case management role, I also ran a number of logistics and infrastructure consultancy projects to streamline the transport of grain and cotton from the region to the Port of Brisbane.I also commissioned a marketing consultancy project to develop an investor-specific marketing strategy for the region. I liaised with a range of stakeholders within the investment field. The aim was to develop an awareness of the region as a place for agibusiness investment, leading to presenting investment proposals, resulting in business and employment creation in the region. Show less

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  Carrathool Shire Council

  Feb 2017 - May 2022

  Manager Community and Economic Development

  My responsibility was to lead and facilitate economic and community development throughout the Shire. Another key focus was preparing marketing collateral for the Shire which was be used at caravanning and camping trade shows in NSW, VIC and SA when COVID permits. My other roles include stakeholder engagement, grant applications, project management and grant acquittals. (I had at times over 20 concurrent grant-funded projects ). Carrathool is a large highly-productive LGA in the Western Riverina with a primary focus on grain and sheep. Emerging industries included chicken farms, walnut and pecan plantations and olive farms. Most horticulture in the region is becoming mega-scale, and reflects the changing face of Australian agribusiness from smaller family holdings to corporately owned large enterprises. As a result of Federal and State Funding, there were increasing opportunities for community and tourism infrastructure funding for projects such as skate parks, bump tracks and more specialised parks and gardens. This involved multi-levels of stakeholder engagement to ensure the final acceptance and usage of the finished productsImproved telecommunications in the Shire is another key focus, with over 95% of our region being in mobile "black spots". With the increasing use of digitally dependent technology amongst the grey nomad sector, enhanced internet connectivity is essential for visitor attraction as well as overall productivity and profitability going forward. Show less