As part of the Albanese and Allan Governments’ commitment to elevating local expertise to activate regional communities, Kellie O’Callaghan has been appointed as the new chair of Regional Development Australia (RDA) Gippsland.
An experienced community leader in the Gippsland region, Ms O’Callaghan is an experienced health service Board Chair and has been a Latrobe City Councillor since 2008, serving as Mayor for four terms.
She is currently Chair of the Mental Health & Wellbeing Interim Body Gippsland – providing ground-up advice to assist the Victorian Government improve local mental health and wellbeing services.
In addition to this, Ms O’Callaghan served as the Chair of One Gippsland – a peak regional advocacy body representing the Gippsland region, and she previously served as the Victorian Representative for Regional Capitals Australia and Deputy Chair of Regional Cities Victoria.
RDAs are an Australian Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to support the development of infrastructure and industry and regional economic growth.
RDA Gippsland’s key strategic priorities include collaboration with key regional development bodies in the region, moving to clean energy and the closure of native timber harvesting, and growing key industries across food and fibre, advanced manufacturing, defence, the circular economy, and health and knowledge services.
In Victoria, the RDA program is funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments.
