Council welcomes new Economic Development Manager
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Deputy General Manager, Corporate and Strategy, Ann Prendergast today announced that Bill Birch will take up the vacant position of Manager Economic Development within the Corporate and Strategy Division.
“We look forward to working with Bill, who brings a wealth of experience to the role,” Ms Prendergast said.
Mr Birch is the Economic Development Manager from Narrabri Shire Council and has been in that role for eight years. Responsibilities of his current position have included management of a theatre and conference centre, libraries, caravan parks and tourism, as well as continuous section responsibilities of economic and community development.
Within economic development, Mr Birch has been successful in promoting the Narrabri Shire to a wide commercial audience, attracting of a broad range of businesses to the region and creating a strong and diversified industry base.
Mr Birch has previously worked within the same industry as a Business Development Officer at Gold Coast City Council and within the treasury departments of financial institutions where he dealt with Queensland’s largest corporate organisations and government agencies.
“From a local government perspective, this has given Bill exposure to both metro and regional business and industry,” Ms Prendergast said. “I believe this experience will be of great benefit to the Southern Highlands, its economy and residents.”
“Key responsibilities of his new role will be to facilitate and establish economic development opportunities, provide high level advice to business, and liaise with industry and government departments in an effort to attract businesses to Wingecarribee Shire and to expand its economic base,” Ms Prendergast said.
Mr Birch holds a Bachelor of Business with a Major in Accounting and a Master of Technology Management. In 2011 Mr Birch was awarded Economic Development Officer of the year by the New South Wales Department of Trade and Investment.
Mr Birch will take up his position on 8 July 2013.