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Felicity to help give our communities a voice

THE Centre's chief executive officer, Felicity Williams, will join five other local leaders to serve the Ovens Murray Regional Partnership for the next four years.

Ms Williams said she feels "very privileged" to have been chosen to become a member of the partnership, which helps identify and convey community priorities to the State Government.

"I was motivated to join this group to be a part of the regional voice communicated to the Victorian Government," she said.

"The Regional Partnerships are a wonderful initiative that ensures we identify regional issues associated with our local communities, we listen to the voices in our communities, and we seek solutions that are holistic and multi-dimensional.

"The Minister for Regional Development confirmed her commitment to seeking whole of government solutions.

"I firmly believe that we need that approach in order to resolve some of the wicked problems and regional disadvantages we face, while at the same time celebrating and leveraging off the wonderful attributes and assets within the Ovens Murray region."

The State Government established the nine Regional Partnerships in 2016 in recognition that local communities are best placed to understand their region’s challenges and opportunities.

Committees are appointed to serve four-year terms, meaning the inaugural Ovens Murray Regional Partnership committee’s tenure - including chair and former rural city mayor Irene Grant - has come to an end.

Among the achievements of the former committee were attracting $12 million to help grow cycle tourism visitation and $6.5 million in private sector investment, which has generated 65 jobs for the region.

Mount Hotham Alpine Resort chief executive officer and former Ovens Murray Regional Partnership deputy chair Amber Gardner, has been appointed the new chair.

Ms Gardner will be joined by Ms Williams, Jon Hutchins, Rosie Koop, Sally Gamble, Bess Nolan-Cook and Amanda Kelly.

The term of appointment for new members will run until December 31, 2024.

For more information about the Ovens Murray Regional Partnership’s priorities, visit www.rdv.vic.gov.au/regional-partnerships/ovens-murray/priorities.