The Committee for Perth has moved to fill the impending leadership vacancy created by Paula Rogers’ departure in two weeks.
Tania Hudson was announced today as the interim chief executive for the Perth-focused policy and research body, having most recently headed the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA.
The interim position was announced by Committee for Perth vice chair Paul Graham at a luncheon held today.
Mr Graham told Business News that the position was for six months for the start of 2026, with the expectation that Ms Hudson would take the role on a permanent basis after that.
“That will give her and us a chance to see if it works,” he said.
Ms Rogers’ departure, announced last month, had not been expected and the organisation had just commenced the first steps a process to find a new chief executive when Ms Hudson became an option.
“Tania became available to us almost the same week as Paula decided to resign,” Mr Graham said.
“She is well known to many of the board members, and they are very comfortable with working with her.
“Timing in life is everything.
“We were going through a process, she was consulting and had board roles and was looking for the next step.
“It was fortuitous.”
A former journalist, Ms Hudson has worked in the corporate sector for about 30 years, mostly in communications, stakeholder management and governance in banking, resources and charitable organisations.
She joined the Chamber of Arts and Culture as chief executive in late 2023 but stepped away in June this year as the organisation evaluated its future due to an uncertain funding environment.
Prior to the chamber Ms Hudson was The Lions Eye Institute chief of staff, company secretary and director communications and philanthropy having had previous roles at Hamersley Iron and Rio Tinto and Minderoo.
Ms Hudson also founded her own communications consultancy and co-founded Collective Impact WA.
She told Business News that she would aim to keep the momentum of the organisation going.
"The 2050 Summit had huge energy around it," Ms Hudson said.
"It [the role] will be taking that forward and capitalising on that."
