Speakers
John Bowler MLA, Independent for Kalgoorlie
Born and educated in Kalgoorlie, John Bowler MLA is proud to be representing his home town in the West Australian parliament.
Mr Bowler worked as a journalist for 30 years, including 17 with the ABC before four years as founding editor of The Golden Mail newspaper.
Married with five sons, Mr Bowler entered parliament for the Labor Party in 2001 and after being re-elected in 2005 served as a minister for two years.
At the 2008 election he won the seat of Kalgoorlie and although an independent Mr Bowler linked his vote with the Royalties for Regions program established by the National Party.
Three of Mr Bowler’s sons are involved in the local real estate market, one as a real estate representative and two as mortgage brokers.
John Hackett , Business Manager Industrial, LandCorp
With a strong background in the planning, implementation and marketing of industrial estates, John has a great practical understanding of all sectors across Perth and throughout Western Australia. As LandCorp’s Business Manager, his work covers both the general, heavy and special industry areas, which are the backbone of the State’s economic and employment development.
High profile examples of John’s general industrial projects include Enterprise Park, Wangara; Meridian Park, Neerabup and Rockingham Industry Zone and Latitude 32. In heavy and special industry he leads the team to develop the Kemerton Industrial Estate near Bunbury, Oakajee Industrial Estate Geraldton, Down Road Timber Processing Precinct Albany and the Burrup Peninsula near Karratha.
John holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Curtin University, an Associate Diploma in Valuations and a Diploma in Real Estate Management.
His areas of expertise include:
- Employment and economic development through industry
- New manufacturing
- Developing communities that live, work and play closer to home
- Tailoring individually designed business land
Babs McHugh ,
National Resources Reporter for ABC Rural Radio and Online
Babs McHugh is the National Resources Reporter for ABC Rural Radio and Online, a position she has held, this time round, for the last 4 years.
A graduate of the WA Academy of Performing Arts, Babs first joined the ABC as a Resources Reporter in the early 1990's when she was sent to the Pilbara for two years and immersed herself in the LNG and iron ore business.
During that time Babs did many secondments to the WA Goldfields ABC and was instrumental in creating a permanent resources position there as well as moving the national position to Perth where many mining decision miners are based.
It's no coincidence that Babs McHugh is a Resources Reporter. Mining is in her blood. Her father was a pioneering underground air-leg miner at the Kambalda nickel operations.
One of the sons worked in the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter for almost 20 years and the other has spent much the same time drilling both on and offshore. She has a sister who, as a registered nurse, worked as a mine-site medic and is now in charge of safety systems analysis at major gold mines in WA.
Her other sister is involved in mine worker recruitment and Babs herself was one of the first female shotfirers in Australia, getting her certificate from the WA school of mines in 1987.
Her on the-ground experience coupled with a direct and penetrative style has made Babs a respected Resources Reporter by her peers and the mining industry.
She has won an award for excellence in Regional reporting and the AMEC Electronic Media Award. Her work is broadcast widely across every network on the ABC, including Local Radio, Radio National, News Radio, Radio Australia, The Country Hour and Online.
Matthew Payne , CME Executive Officer Eastern Region , Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA
Matthew Payne is the Goldfields Regional Liaison Officer at CME. The position, based in Kalgoorlie, is an integral part of CME’s external affairs team and plays a key role in promoting the resources sector in the Goldfields.
Matthew is responsible for coordinating CME’s activities in the Goldfields including support of CME’s Goldfields Regional Councils, Local Government liaison and assisting in implementing CME’s industry development programs in the region. Matthew also administers CME’s Kalgoorlie Office.
Previously, Matthew was the Project Officer for the Kalgoorlie-based Goldfields Esperance Area Consultative Committee.
Matthew has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Industrial Relations and a Diploma of Management.
Tony Chisholm, Director Community & Development Services
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Tony was born and educated in Kalgoorlie before attending the University of WA to gain a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree. His parents were both born in the Northern Goldfields. Since returning to Kalgoorlie in 1988 he has been extensively involved in many capital and development projects throughout the City. From a road and traffic engineering background at Main Roads department he took up the role of Manager Engineering Services at the City in 1992 before taking on his current position as the City’s Director Community & Development Services in 2003. Areas of responsibility include Town Planning and Building (including development applications and land development) , Environmental Health, Arts, Culture and Events, Seniors, Disability and Library Services, History, Heritage, Town Halls and Goldfields War Museum, Youth Services, Recreation and Leisure including the Oasis Recreation Centre.
Apart from the wide range of experiences gained from this diversified executive role Tony also has extensive knowledge of government funding and project and contract management experience. Past and present involvement with sporting activities, facilities and organisations on the Goldfields has also provided Tony with valuable hands on experience in the field of recreation.
Tony married a Kalgoorlie girl, built a Goldfields home and they raised a son and daughter in Kalgoorlie-Boulder both of whom are currently attending University in Perth
Hans Bokelund, CEO, Golfields Land and Sea Council
Mr Bokelund is a Barrister with over 15 years experience in private sector management, including five years in law, and has been with the Victorian Bar in Melbourne for the last three years.
Born in Queensland, he has a Swedish father and is descended from the Darumbal and Wiri people on his mother’s side, who was raised at Cherbourg Mission in Queensland. His grandfather was Bowman Johnson (dec’d), a well known boxer and Indigenous rights supporter involved in the establishment of the “Born Free Club” in Brisbane, a hostel that provides shelter and care for homeless youth and adults.
Mr Bokelund is a former President of Tawirri, the Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria, and a former Chair of the Aboriginal Reconciliation Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria. In his younger years he worked at the Sons of Gwalia mine in Leonora.
Mr Bokelund moves to Kalgoorlie with his wife Tirzah, son Micah, two daughters Kyla and Tayah and the family dog Twister.
Peter Price , Corporate Relations Manager, Great Western Woodlands Collaboration
Peter joined the collaboration of conservation interests in the Great Western Woodlands Project in February 2010.
The Collaboration represents the interests of PEW Environmental Group, The Wilderness Society, Gondwana Link and The Nature Conservancy. These groups are working towards the GWW region being recognised and managed as a total landscape. They are striving to achieve this in cooperation with all regional stakeholders, including traditional owners, pastoral and mining industries, and all levels of government and community.
Peter has an extensive background in ‘Outback Western Australia’ through his family’s former ownership of Coodardy Station at Cue and many years operating a pastoral consulting practice. He specialised in restructuring and management of pastoral enterprises, acquisition of traditional land and negotiating exploration access and mining impact agreements between pastoral and mining interests.
Other business interests and work experiences nationally and internationally included sales and marketing in agricultural products and services, and development and marketing technologies.
Robert Hicks, Chief Executive Officer/Director of the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission
Robert Hicks is the Chief Executive Officer/Director of the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission (GEDC), one of the nine Regional Development Commissions in Western Australia that advocate for regional development. He reports to a Board of Management and to the Minister for Regional Development.
Born, raised and educated in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Robert is married with four children and has a background in the Travel, Cash logistics and Finance industries before entering the Western Australian senior public service.
Robert spent a number of years living in Perth before making the decision to return to his place of birth to raise his family. Robert has traveled extensively throughout the world.
His understanding of regional issues, the resources industry and network of contacts have been important in achieving outcomes for the Goldfields-Esperance region.
As the CEO of the GEDC, established to coordinate and promote economic and social outcomes for a population of just over 55,000 spread over 771,000 km2 (largest in the State of WA), the job presents many challenges. The major issues confronting the Goldfields-Esperance region are labour shortages, infrastructure delivery and population attraction and retention.
Robert is also the Deputy Chairman of Regional Development Australia Goldfields Esperance, board member of the Goldfields Business Enterprise Centre Inc and has significant involvement in other community organisations.
Hugh Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer, Kalgoorlie Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Hugh owned his own business in the Perth metropolitan area in the construction sector prior to moving to Kalgoorlie-Boulder to take up an appointment in local Government as a Building Surveyor.
He spent five years in local government before commencing with the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce as its Chief Executive Officer ,a position he has held for 20 years.
He was inducted into the WA Small Business Development Corporation’s Regional Small Business Hall of Fame in 2008, is current Chairman of the Goldfields Football League, held the same position in Goldfields cricket, is current Chamber of Commerce Goldfields Citizen of the Year for his contribution to business and community. And loves his golf so the City’s new $20,000,000.00 golf course excites him.
Doug Shave , Owner of the Star and Garter Hotel and the Hannans Hotel
Doug has held a variety of positions in the Hotel and Hospitality Industry throughout his 40 year career.
He is a former President of the Hotels Association WA and former President of the Australian Hotels Association.
Doug has been involved with the Kalgoorlie Hotel business for 25 years, which includes owning the Star and Garter Hotel and the Hannans Hotel.
Doug has previously held the position of Minister for Tourism; Housing; and Sport and Recreation.