Willmott for CHOGM role
FORMER chief of staff and cabinet secretary, Deidre Willmott, will take on the new role of state director of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Perth in 2011. Premier Colin Barnet said: “Ms Willmott is well placed to take on this important role for the CHOGM having been the general manager, executive services for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games”.
Ms Willmott will continue to work with the premier on the Oakajee project, which Mr Barnett has highlighted as priority for the Liberal-National government.
In addition to the changes to staff roles, following the abolition of the Government Media Office, Paul Plowman will head government communications. Under the new model media advisers will work for individual ministers with the premier’s office coordinating media strategy and managing communication of major government initiatives.
Health chief Flett resigns
Director General of Health Peter Flett’s resignation from his $540,000-a-year job has come little more than one year into a five-year contract.
Dr Flett, a recognised pathology expert with more than 30 years’ experience in the Australian health service, was appointed to the job in October 2008. He replaced Neale Fong, at that stage Australia-s highest-paid public servant.
Dr Flett said while he believed he could have made a difference to the health system, he would not be there to “see it through”.
The resignation comes against a background of cost blowouts to the health sector. As a result, Kim Snowball will take on the position of Department of Health acting director general for six months.
Mr Snowball has been chief executive of the WA Country Health Service and has developed a National Rural Health Framework for the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.
Muirhead moves on
CHIEF executive of Tourism WA, Richard Muirhead, resigned following a recent review of the agency’s role. As a result of the review, significant changes will be made to refocus the agency’s activities. Mr Muirhead will formally vacate the position on January 19. In lieu of Mr Muirhead’s absence, marketing executive director Stephanie Buckland has been appointed acting CEO.
There has been no decision about the timeframe for the position to be advertised, however the processes for appointing chief executive officers under section 45 of the public sector management act 1994 will be applied.
No more Moir
STEPHEN Moir will step down as managing director of the Small Business Development Corporation on January 22, ending a 10-year tenure with the state government agency.
Mr Moir has been appointed head of the Motor Trade Association of WA and will take over from veteran chief executive Peter Fitzpatrick on February 1.
Speaking to WA Business News, Mr Moir said the challenges with the automotive industry in WA attracted him to the position, although he conceded he did leave some unfinished business at SBDC.
“Whenever you make a move, especially when you have worked 10 years in a corporation to which you were very committed, you want to make sure that you’re going to be a good fit for the new organisation and that organisation is also going to provide you with the opportunity you’ve been looking for,” he said.
“In this instance I think it’s a very, very good fit.
“I bring with me a skill set I believe complements what’s been done at the MTA and the MTA can provide me with a very challenging area of work which is what I look for.”
At SBDC, Mr Moir is credited with introducing the business assistance program BIZfit, as well as overseeing an indigenous business unit.
“I’m very confident I’ve left the SBDC in a strong position,” he said.
Finlease, AFG find synergies
SYDNEY-BASED finance broker, Finlease, has established an office in Western Australia by forming a strategic alliance with fellow finance broker, AGF Charter Group.
AGF partner Richard Harper said there were several similarities between the two companies, including common goals and objectives, with both companies celebrating their 20th anniversaries this year.
“There are distinct advantages to clients which operate across different states, as now we have representation nationwide,” he said.
Finlease principal Mark O’Donoghue said the alliance would focus on a market the major banks are neglecting – small business.
“This offers great benefits to all of our clients. The combined buying power of a broader client base gives us greater clout to secure finance at better rates and terms,” he said.
Across Australia, Finlease provides finance for industries including manufacturing, construction and woodworking, motor vehicles and property.
AGF was known as hire purchase specialists, Automotive and General Finance until 2003, when it merged with Charter Finance.
Community makes partnership push
NATIONAL affordable housing provider Community Housing is seeking to develop subcontracting partnerships in Western Australia as part of its continued expansion into the state.
Community Housing announced in September last year it was planning to enter the WA affordable housing market as the state’s fifth registered growth provider.
The search for WA-based subcontractor partnerships is part of the company’s community engagement business model of developing projects only once working relationships are established with locally based affordable housing interest groups, service organisations and social service agencies.
Community Housing managing director Steve Bevington said the strategy of sourcing funding, locating land, developing projects, designing and constructing housing and then managing the housing and its tenants for the long-term required partnerships to deliver affordable and sustainable housing outcomes.
“Community Housing depends on a range of service providers to assist in anything from construction and landscaping, to social support agencies and interest groups for tenants,” he said.
“As our reach into new states and territories continues, and our capacity to build new housing increases, we need to continue to build relationships with professionally run businesses that understand how to work in the community housing sector.”