The TEDC Board
Chairman - Ken Lee
After the successful completion of his law degree he was admitted as a partner to a large local firm. He sold his share in the partnership after 5 years and then moved to Kingscliff to open up his own Practice and has been practicing there very successfully for the last 7½ years. Ken has been heavily involved in community activities in the local area. He was President of the Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce for 7 years and headed the team that saw the rejuvenation of Coolangatta through its Main Street project.
On moving to Kingscliff, Ken was elected as President of the Kingscliff Business Corporation which has been spearheading the rejuvenation of Kingscliff, again under the Main Street project. Ken’s commitment at the TEDC is to introduce a sustainable economic base in the Tweed Shire rather than it simply being a dormitory suburb for industry on the Gold Coast.
Deputy Chairman - Robert Wesener
Robert Wesener has been a Director of Fulton Trotter Architects
since 1995. With over 35 years experience in Architecture, Robert has a
wide and varied skill base. Robert is currently involved with a variety
of education, health, aged care, commercial, community and
multi-residential projects and is responsible for master planning,
design and project management.
Robert was also a Director of
South Tweed Sports for 4 years and Director and President of the
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School Foundation for 2 years. He is a
past President of the Rotary Club of Tweed Heads South and is involved
in a variety of business, community and sporting organisations.
Robert is a member of the Australian Institute of Architects, Urban Design Institute of Australia and an Accredited Green Star Professional recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia.
Fulton Trotter Architects originally started in Brisbane in 1946 and has had a permanent office in the Tweed since 1982.
Treasurer - Ron Ford
Ron Ford is company director of Madura Tea and comes from a strong accounting, tax and business management background. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant whilst working for Coopers & Lybrand in Sydney and has worked for a US multinational throughout Australia and Asia, with specialist assignments in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
When the Sydney traffic became too much, the Ford family moved to the Tweed Valley for a fresh look at life. Ron and friend Stephen Bright were partners in a Public Accounting practice until they decided to form a partnership of local families to acquire the business of Madura Tea Estates. Ron and Stephen continue to run and build the Estate.
Director - Harry Williams
Harry Williams
has been involved with TEDC since its inception with extensive
experience business through his role as Chairman and Director of
Growforce Australia as well as Chairman and Director of Williams Group,
a company that employees 300 people in northern NSW and Qld. Harry has
been prominent in the agriculture industry representing Australia at
international trade shows as well as being nominated as an icon for the
work and effort in developing the agricultural industries at home and
abroad.
Director - Warren Polglase
Warren Polglase is Chairman of the Polglase Group of Companies, Project Officer for the Dairy Regional Assistant Program, and was previously on the Boards of the Tweed Valley Area Health Service and Deniliquin Hospital.
With interests in agriculture and farming, Warren has been Agriculture Advisor to the Libyan Government and South Australian Department of Agriculture facilitating major seed projects in Libya.
Director- Robert Pollack
Robert has over 35 years experience working in public education. His career commenced with the Department of Education and has occupied various management positions in areas such as personnel, property and finance. In 1996, Robert was appointed as Cluster Operations Manager for the North Coast Institute of TAFE and subsequently has been appointed as area manager.
The North Coast Institute of TAFE is a leading education and training institution and in both 2004 and 2005 they were judged the best large training provider in the state of New South Wales. Further in 2004 they received the award of Australian Large Training Provider of the year and were short listed in the top three in Australia for this award again in 2005.
Being a long term resident of the North Coast, Robert is committed to regional development, growing local industries and supporting local employment for the benefit of the youth in our region.
Director- Paul Donovan
With more than 30 years experience in aviation and tourism, Paul has held several executive appointments with airlines in Australia and New Zealand. These roles included the NSW Regional Director for Ansett encompassing the total Revenue and Airport Operations in New South Wales; and Ansett Global Director of Sales including Hayman Island and international operations. During this time, Paul also chaired most of Ansett Airlines revenue related businesses which included Traveland and Show Travel. Paul was also General Manager of New Zealand and Pacific Island for Qantas before joining Air New Zealand in 2001 as General Manager Australia.
Paul, in his current role at Gold Coast Airport Pty. Ltd is responsible for the general management of the airport, and has overseen numerous projects since joining the team including the airport master plan, runway extension, design and planning for a $100 million terminal redevelopment, the long term car park extension and the development of Terminal 3 for Tiger Airways. He is also chairman of the Gold Coast Tourism Board and on the Griffith University Business School Strategic Advisory Board.
Director - Margot Sweeny
Margot Sweeny holds a Bachelor of Business Degree (Accounting/IT) with a Master in Economics as well as being a Certified Practicing Accountant and is currently CEO of Summerland Credit Union. Margo has held positions in the financial sector of national and multi-national organizations and has extensive teaching, lecturing and training experience.
Margot is an active member in the far north coast region holding key board and consultative positions such as the Chair of the Northern Rivers Regional Development Board, Member of Southern Cross University Council, Chair of the Southern Cross University Audit committee, and Director of the Regional Development Advisory Council (NR) which is the peak advisory body that makes recommendations to the NSW Minister for Regional Development on all regional development issues, amongst others.
Director- Vince Connell
Vince Connell has 21 years of experience working as a town planner in local and state town planning particularly in Marrickville Council, South Sydney Council, Randwick City Council, and with the NSW Department of Planning. Vince has a Bachelor in Town Planning and been awarded numerous times for his achievements in planning and development, most recently including Marrickville Urban Strategy; Urban Planning Achievement category PIA (NSW) Awards 2007. He has also authored and co-authored many development control documents, as well as led and coordinated local government major civic and infrastructure projects.
His experience also includes management of multi-disciplinary projects and planning teams, as well as sustainable strategic planning roles, specialized in innovative inner city policy achievements relating to ecologically sustainable development, heritage and conservation planning, urban design and economic and social impact issues. Vince has displayed distinguished performance and outcomes in development control and planning.
Director- Joan van Lieshout
Currently I live in the beautiful caldera area under Mt Warning as well as at Banora Point overlooking the North NSW coastline.
My skills are mainly in administration and business management where I have worked with various Private Enterprise organisations, and in recent years with a number of Not - for - profit organisations. These include Lifeline, World Vision, Churches of Christ Aged Care and Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick where I was responsible for the promotion and funding of various community projects. My experience in administration also included my position in Brisbane City Council Town Planning & Development Assessment Division where I gained wide exposure to the every-day running and culture of Council through various major inner city development projects
In 2004 I launched “Eve International” as a personal business conducting workshops and seminars for the development of self-worth for women who have been in abuse.
Director - Kevin Skinner
Councillor Kevin Skinner is a newly appointed Director on behalf of the Tweed Shire Council. Kevin’s business background on the Tweed began with the family business at the Chinderah Motel in 1989. Due to Kevin's background in the tourism and hospitality sector over the past 35 years he recognises their importance to the local economy.
Kevin would like to see the promotion of council caravan parks at the forefront of a possible economic driver for the entire shire and is looking forward to seeing these all realise their full potential.
Director - Tony Mitchell
Tony is an all-round commercial lawyer. He has almost 30 years commercial legal experience. Since he was admitted as a solicitor in 1981, Tony’s practice has centred on protecting his clients’ commercial interests.
Tony’s legal skills and track-record enable him to advise his clients on the spectrum of commercial life, from how to structure a business, contracts and major transactions, through to the purchase, sale or leasing of property, and all the potential issues and legal requirements that can arise between.
Tony’s ability to identify his clients’ key issues and risks quickly, and to break these down into single components, greatly helps his clients to understand their legal dilemmas and choices for action.
When his clients need guidance on their commercial activities, Tony provides thorough advice on contracts, agreements, including leases, conveyancing and tendering.
He also drafts and provides practical advice on other important aspects of commercial ventures, such as employment contracts and AWAs, and occupational health and safety.
