Kwinana as a catalyst for economic development
The Kwinana Industrial Area has grown to become one of the most important economic assets in Western Australia, contributing $15.77 billion per annum and created new industries, new jobs and new capabilities.
With the McGowan Government pledging $6 million to plan for an outer harbour, our latest FACTBase Special Report documents the development of the Kwinana Industrial Area as a catalyst for economic development.
After the keynote address, there will be a Q&A panel session with business leaders who will reflect on the research and discuss how industry and government can work together for the future prosperity of the State.
A copy of the report will be made available to all attendees at the conclusion of the breakfast
Meet our speakers and panellists
Joanne Abbiss
Chief Executive Officer, City of Kwinana
For the past decade Joanne has been CEO of some of the fastest growing local governments in Australia, planning and building entire new cities and leading hundreds of staff through complex organisational change.
As CEO of the City of Kwinana, Joanne is currently responsible for a $90 million budget, a workforce of over 400 staff and assets valued at $450 million. Her role includes leading the economic development of the State’s premier industrial area that generates a combined annual output of over $15 billion per annum to Australia’s economy, providing over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Joanne recently won the 2015 Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award for Government and Academia in WA and received international recognition at the United Nations backed Liveable Communities Awards in 2011 for excellence in integrated strategic planning.
Joanne has held Ministerial appointments on both the Board of the Peel Development Commission, as well as the Women in Local Government Advisory Committee, and was a long serving member of the Western Australian Local Government Association’s Finance and Services Committee.
Joanne graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Distinction) and is currently completing her Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and is a registered practitioner in program management.
Chris Oughton
Director, Kwinana Industries Council
With a background in local government and private sector senior management roles, Chris took up the role of Director (CEO) of the Kwinana Industries Council (KIC) in early 2007.
KIC is an industry association, incorporated over 20 years ago. It serves its member industries by taking up issues that are of collegiate interest, such as maintaining relationships with community groups, local, state and federal governments; writing submissions as required, developing responses to regulatory reform proposals, managing projects etc. KIC supports a formal Board and specialist committee structure.
The KIC members in the Kwinana Industrial Area (KIA) are responsible for the direct and indirect employment of about 30,000 workers and they contribute around $16Bn into the Western Australian economy annually. The KIA is regarded as world’s best practice in the area of industrial ecology with well over a hundred documented inter-company synergy relationships.
In Western Australia KIC is a respected voice and is viewed by many as a ‘go to’ organisation for informed comment.
Over recent years KIC has expanded its core business into the area of education development. It runs several school-based traineeships and work placement programs in association with the 19 high schools in the region via the ‘Principals Group’ that the KIC coordinates.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Curtin) and an Executive Masters in Business (UWA), and has completed the AICD Company Directors Diploma.
He is a Past President member of the Rotary Club of Kwinana, joining that Club in 2004.
Nicole Lockwood
Chair, Westport Taskforce
Nicole is the Chair of the Westport Taskforce and has been the Chair of the Freight and Logistics Council since July 2016. She is a member of the Expert Panel leading Inquiry into National Freight and Supply Chain Priorities and has been on the Board of Infrastructure Australia since 2010.
Nicole holds a number of other board roles focused on infrastructure, urban development and digital transformation.
Previously she was a Director at KPMG leading the government team in Management Consulting. She resided in the Pilbara for seven years until 2012 holding numerous governance roles including Shire President at the Shire of Roebourne. Nicole is a lawyer having worked in private and public practice.
Georgia Harford-Mills
Research Officer, Committee for Perth
Georgia is a Research Officer with the Committee for Perth, joining the organisation in 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Geography and received First Class Honours in Urban and Regional Planning from The University of Western Australia. In addition, Georgia received the 2015 Patrick Armstrong Prize in Geography for her research thesis. To date, she has been involved in researching and coordinating a number of Committee for Perth projects including the landmark Get a Move On! report and the What We Thought Would Kill Us series. She is also responsible for coordinating the annual FACTBase Research program and the Committee’s Working Groups and Project Steering Committees. Georgia is an Adjunct Research Fellow with The University of Western Australia.