The Speakers 2024 ~ Session One

CEO of the Regional Chambers of 

Commerce & Industry of WA.       

Positions previously held:  President of both the RCCIWA (2005 – 2010) and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder CCI (2003-2005) 

Owner of 2 small businesses in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the first one at the age of 21. 

 Paul was appointed CBH Group’s Chief Marketing and Trading Officer in October 2023, and has since been responsible for the co-operative’s Marketing, Trading and Fertiliser divisions. He has more than 20 years’ experience in various trading roles, both with CBH and in the banking sector. Prior to taking on this role, he was CBH’s Head of Structured Products for 10 years, managing pool, commodity swap and grower finance products. 

Aaron Morey is the Chief Economist and Executive Director of Marketing, Campaigns and Strategy at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA. Prior to joining CCIWA Aaron was the political, economics and commercial adviser to the WA Treasurer Ben Wyatt, managing significant projects including the historic 2018 GST reforms, the $1.4b Landgate asset sale, WA’s trade relationship with China, and the successful Bell Group negotiations. In his final year in the office Aaron assumed the role of Deputy Chief of Staff.

 Michael Heydon is the Telstra Regional Australia’s Regional Engagement Manager for the Wheatbelt, Great Southern and South West Regions.

 Naomi has over 20 years’ experience working in regional

communities across the resource and telecommunications

industry. Through working with corporate organisations

such as Woodside Energy, Shell Australia, Telstra and nbn,

Naomi understands the importance of engagement and

building strong relationships to deliver mutually beneficial

outcomes. In her current role with nbn as Head of nbn

Local, Naomi works with regional communities across WA

to lift digital skills and ensure communities and businesses

understand how connectivity can be an enabler to

increasing social and economic well-being.

  Shane Duryea is Western Power's Head of Network Operations. He is responsible for keeping the transmission and distribution network running smoothly 24/7 and operating the electricity network in today's rapidly changing energy landscape. Shane leads the team that monitors and controls the network in real-time, manages incidents and emergencies, prioritises restoration efforts, and liaises with emergency services. Shane has extensive experience in the energy sector, particularly power system operations, and has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Curtin University. He is married, a father of four, and an avid runner and cyclist in his free time.

Warren is an experienced leader with a proven record of achievement working in both the public and private sectors.

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC), Warren is working to increase mineral exploration and mining activity in Australia, and to ensure Australia remains a highly attractive place for resource investment. Before joining AMEC, he has worked for well-known advocacy and membership organisations,

including the Chamber of Minerals of Energy of WA (CME), the WA Local Government Association (WALGA), and Local Government Professionals WA.

 Linda Vernon has served as the Tourism Officer for the North Eastern Wheatbelt Travel Association (NEWTRAVEL) since 2012, passionately promoting the Wheatbelt Way self-drive route and fostering tourism development in the area. A proud Wheatbelt local, she envisions vibrant Wheatbelt communities that include an emerging and thriving tourism industry. Linda's twelve-year tenure has witnessed a remarkable 1000% increase in visitor numbers to the North Eastern Wheatbelt, showcasing the trail's unexpected success in opening tourism doors. Collaboration among eight local governments and communities has been pivotal, driving continuous growth and enhancing the region's appeal for visitors and residents alike. 

 Katherine is a senior property and economics advisor at Urbis. She works across Western Australia advising on housing and accommodation solutions for government and the private sector. She has a strong understanding of the role of housing and accommodation to unlock economic growth and support sustainable community development in regional WA.  

 Kathy Hoare is the Director State Workforce Planning at the Department of Training and Workforce Development. Kathy leads five teams: Economic and Labour Market Analysis; Industry and Regional Workforce Planning; Industry Development and State Workforce Projects; WA Defence Industry Workforce Office; and the Office of the State Training Board. Kathy and her teams work closely with industry, the community and across Government to gather workforce data and industry intelligence to identify and plan for the current and future development of the State’s workforce through vocational training, workforce development and migration strategies. 

 Shaun is a WA Business, Industry and Regional Outreach Officer (BIRO) with the Dept. of Home Affairs who is based in the Perth office. Shaun works closely with WA regional stakeholders as well as business and industry to provide information on a range of Skilled and Regional Migration programs to address workforce and labour shortages impacting Western Australia. Shaun joined the Department of Home Affairs in 2002 and has over 20 years’ experience working across different areas of the Department’s Immigration portfolio including in the areas of identity determination and as a sworn officer in the Australian Border Force (ABF). Shaun joined the WA Business and Industry Outreach team in May 2022, has travelled extensively throughout regional WA to identify workforce issues and promote skilled and employer sponsored visa programs within the Home Affairs portfolio, including attending major regional events such as SEGRA, Kimberley Economic Forum (KEF) and the Mid-West Economic Summit.  

 Ross is a WA Business, Industry and Regional Outreach Officer (BIRO) with the Dept. of Home Affairs who is based in the Perth office. Ross works closely with business, industry and key regional and Government stakeholders to provide information on the range of Skilled and Regional Migration programs to address skills and workforce shortages. Ross joined the Department of Home Affairs in 2008 and has over 20 years’ experience working within Home Affairs and across different Commonwealth Government agencies. Ross has extensive experience and knowledge of both temporary and permanent employer sponsored visa programs in the Immigration Operations portfolio and also managed the Border Exemptions processing team in WA during COVID-19 international border closures in 2020-21. Ross joined the WA Business and Industry Outreach team in May 2022 has travelled extensively through regional WA to present and promote skilled and employer sponsored visa programs at major events such as the Kimberley Economic Forum (KEF), Pilbara Summit and other regional workshops and employer seminars in his current BIRO role.  

 Daniel (Dan) is a Defence Industry Adviser with the WA Industry Engagement Team of the Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS). Dan and the team at ODIS are the trusted link between industry and Defence and provide support to relevant businesses to enter (or expand their footprint within) the Defence supply chain. Prior to joining ODIS, Dan worked in the WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation’s Office of Defence West after practising as a commercial lawyer for a number of years. In 1999, Dan was appointed as an Officer in the Australian Army and graduated from the Royal Military College in 2001 and served as a Reserve Infantry Officer for 5 years. Dan’s short time in uniform fuelled his passion for Defence and Defence Industry which has led him to his current role at ODIS which he loves. When he isn’t working or spending time with his wife Theresa, Dan loves going to the gym or having long walks (and chats) with his beloved rescue dog, Clover. 

Rob Cossart has been CEO of the Wheatbelt Development Commission since March 2020. As CEO, Rob is committed to establishing industry and government partnerships and ensuring the WDC is a respected partner in guiding policy and investment decisions for the region. His advocacy for the

Wheatbelt promotes the region as a place to live, work, visit and invest. In January 2023, Rob was appointed as the State Recovery Coordinator to lead the State Government’s recovery and reconstruction taskforce in response to widespread destruction caused by flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie in the Kimberley region. A key achievement in this time was working with the Fitzroy Valley community, Native Title groups and State, Commonwealth, and

local governments to deliver an ambitious infrastructure and community rebuild agenda.

As Executive Director Strategy, Corporate and State-wide services, Jeff Healy is a key member of an executive team leading the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) to support small business owners throughout Western Australia. In this role, Jeff oversees strategy, marketing and

communications, business advisory services, business skills development and corporate services of the SBDC.

Executive Director Strategic Policy, Investigations and Dispute Services, Karine Broux, joined the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) in late 2023 to lead the agency’s Policy and Advocacy, Business Investigations and Dispute Services, and Commissioner’s Office Functions.

Karine commenced her career working as a commercial lawyer in the private sector, honing her legal expertise while working in Sydney and Perth, representing commercial clients at both the District and Supreme Courts.