- Robyn Sermon appointed as Chair of the Regional Development Council
Regional Development Minister Don Punch has today announced the appointment of Robyn Sermon as Chair of the Regional Development Council.
Ms Sermon has served as the Chair of the Wheatbelt Development Commission since November 2023 and brings with her many years of senior leadership experience from the State Government, private and non-for-profit sectors in Western Australia.
She has been the chief executive officer of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA since early 2022 and has served long periods on boards including the Curtin WA Country Health Service Regional Health Alliance and the Royal Flying Doctor Service – as well as owning a farming enterprise in the Wheatbelt.
Ms Sermon’s appointment follows Tom Stephen’s 15-month tenure as acting Chair of the Regional Development Council, an independent statutory advisory body providing advice to the Minister for Regional Development on all regional development issues.
The Council consists of the Director General of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and chairpersons from each of the State’s nine Regional Development Commissions, which are key to implementing the Cook Government’s job creating agenda in regional Western Australia and diversifying the State’s regional economies.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“Congratulations to Robyn Sermon for her appointment as Chair of the Regional Development Council.
“She has executive leadership and board experience across a range of industries and strong connections with the primary production community, which will put her in good stead for this new position.
“I thank Tom Stephens for his leadership as acting Chair. He is a passionate advocate of regional Western Australia and long-term champion of Aboriginal economic empowerment. I look forward to continuing to work with him in his various roles within the Regional Development portfolio.”
