Bendigo Heritage Attractions chief executive officer Ian Hart is departing the heritage management organisation to take up a role with Regional Development Victoria.
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Mr Hart will take over as RDV’s investment and trade manager for the Loddon-Mallee region, under former City of Greater Bendigo city futures director Stan Liacos, now the agency’s regional director for Loddon-Mallee.
Mr Liacos said Mr Hart would bring great communication skills, deep networks of contacts and astute business acumen to the new role, which will focus on the food and fibre, manufacturing, tourism and professional services industries.
“The primary focus of the role will be to work largely with the private sector to try to help the private sector to grow and expand jobs and exports,” he said.
“I'm very excited to have recruited a man of Ian’s talent, passion and drive.”
Mr Hart said he was looking forward to the new opportunity, but leaving BHA was bittersweet.
“I'm saddened in one way to be leaving a great group of people and I think what they manage here is truly unique for Bendigo, but the opportunity to be involved across things at a much broader level to help the region, that’s pretty satisfying as well,” he said.
“The opportunity to go and work in this role at Regional Development Victoria was just too good an opportunity to pass up.”
Mr Hart said the new role would be a challenge, but one he was ready for.
“I think it’s going to be a unique challenge but an exciting one and it’ll be very stimulating,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity to hopefully make a real difference in the region, looking at opportunities for businesses to grow and also export across a diverse range of industries and I’m excited by having the opportunity to be part of those things through RDV and working with Stan and his team.”
Bendigo Heritage Attractions changed its name from the Bendigo Trust in November last year, after managing the Central Deborah Gold Mine and other tourist destinations for more than four decades.