Who we are
Established in 2010, RDA Hume plays a key role in advocating for investment into the region, as well as developing a single, unified voice and actively working to align government funding with regional priorities.
As an integrated body, RDA Hume plays a key role in directing State and Federal investment to the right infrastructure and community projects, ensuring there are strong sources of investment into the region.
Backed by both the State and Australian Governments, RDA Hume is supported by Regional Development Victoria, the Victorian Government’s lead agency responsible for rural and regional economic development.
Taking a whole-of-region approach, RDA Hume has a bird’s eye view of the challenges and opportunities that exist within the Hume region and is uniquely placed to leverage and coordinate regional effort and influence policy decisions from within state and Australian Government.
Our Committee members
Chair – Eliza Brown
Eliza is from a prominent fourth-generation wine family in North East Victoria and has 20 years of experience in the wine, tourism, and accommodation industries.
Currently, she is the Director of All Saints Estate and Brown Family Wine Group, one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine companies, established throughout Victoria and Tasmania.
Eliza is a former Board Member of Wine Victoria, Wine Australia, and a former member of the Agricultural Industry Advisory Council for the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Eliza continues to enjoy the entrepreneurial spirit of building regional businesses with her family. Her passion is to contribute to the agriculture industry and regional issues, aligning closely with GOTAFE’s mission to support regional communities to prosper and adapt as economies change and affect local industries.
Geraldine Christou
Geraldine is the Sustainable Development Director of Greater Shepparton City Council and responsible for economic development, tourism, events, strategic and statutory planning and environment and sustainability.
She is passionate about bringing people and ideas together to identify opportunities and consolidate strengths.
Grant Jones
Grant is the Executive Advisor and Technical Director with GHD Pty Ltd specialising in infrastructure planning, options assessments, business case development and technical investigations.
He co-founded Malt Shed Brewery in Wangaratta and is the Managing Director and head brewer.
He is committed to building a vibrant and sustainable region by undertaking leadership roles with an approachable, balanced, strategic and motivated work ethic.
Robert Tanti
Robert is Chief People Officer of Opal ANZ, a national and global leader in paper and packaging manufacturing and distribution with a strong presence in the Region. He was the Chief People Officer SPC Global, representing SPC in local community interests. Prior to that he was Chief People and Corporate Services Officer at Hydro Tasmania, Executive General Manager of People at United Group Services, and General Manager of Human Resources at Australia Post.
Robert has experience working in Government Business Enterprises (GBE), private and publicly listed businesses and has also worked with some of Australia’s best-known FMCG brands.
Robert wants to help people improve their welfare and wellbeing, and for organisations to contribute to their communities.
Claire Ewart-Kennedy
Claire is a passionate and energetic representative of her community. She currently manages two cropping and livestock farms on the outskirts of Nagambie and a family business in central Melbourne.
Claire has enjoyed stints with major media companies such as News LTD, Time Magazine, BRW, South Down Press and The Age. She has a Bachelor in Communications and Politics and a Master's in Social Investment and Philanthropy.
She has a 13-year career in politics, being COS and Media Advisor for Josh Frydenberg, Ted Baillieu, John Pesutto, Tim Wilson, and Damian Drum. Her most recent project was the revival of the GV Health Foundation as Director of the GV Health Foundation and Engagement at GV Health. She is the founder of the Foundation and believes that for change to occur you must not be afraid to be a change-maker and take your community on the journey.
Mike Dalmau
Mike has contributed to the Eildon local community over the past 50 years, operating many small businesses and serving as a Murrindindi Shire Councillor for 9 years including a term as Mayor.
His past experience also includes representing the area on many Business, Tourism and Community committees, assisting small businesses recover in the Marysville area as a Bushfire Case Manager after Black Saturday and President of the Lake Eildon Houseboat Industry Association.
Mike hopes to use his knowledge of business and community to encourage positive initiatives that will make a difference to the communities in the Hume Region.
Katie Bowker
Katie Bowker has lived and worked in northeast Victoria for over 25 years and is a passionate alpine adventurist in all seasons.
She is currently employed as Economic Development Manager for Alpine Resorts Victoria, continuing a long career in strategic development, tourism and marketing roles with the alpine resorts and regional tourism boards. She is a former Board Member of Business Events Victoria.
Katie is committed to balancing economic development objectives with social, environmental, and cultural priorities for the region.
What we do
The role of RDA Hume is predominately facilitation, engagement and communication - getting key people and organisations around the table to ensure the region capitalises on opportunities.
RDA Hume collaborates with businesses, not-for-profits, and industry bodies to coordinate regional priorities and foster comparative advantages, while directing public and private sector investment into impactful infrastructure projects.
Who we work with
Bringing people and ideas together, RDA Hume fosters comparative advantages in agriculture, food processing and other regionally significant industries.
One of six committees that operate within Victoria, RDA Hume borders RDA Gippsland and RDA Loddon Mallee in Victoria and RDA Far South Coast, RDA Murray and RDA Southern Inland in NSW.
RDA Hume works across these neighbouring borders and throughout Victoria’s RDA regions, as well as the Goulburn and Ovens Murray Regional Partnerships to identify opportunities to leverage regional effort and boost economic activity.
Hear from the people that live and work in the region in the videos below.
Video: Tourism in north-east Victoria
Explore north-east Victoria through the eyes of locals that know the region best. Interviews with Dal Zotto Wine (King Valley), Harvest Moon (Nagambie) and Flavorite (Tatura).
Download Transcript - Hume region tourism (DOCX 23.95 KB) 
Video: Flavorite expands in Hume region
The Hume region welcomes a new multi-million dollar glasshouse for tomato grower, Flavorite.
Download Transcript - Hume region featuring Flavorite (DOCX 32.71 KB)
Our region
Fast facts
- 114,710 jobs in the Hume region.
- 19.8 per cent of regional Victoria’s jobs represented in the Hume region.
- 301,818 people live within the Hume region
- Hume produces $14.523 billion gross regional product
- Two national transport corridors and direct access to four capital cities within 24 hours by road or rail.
- Agriculture and forestry, manufacturing, and health care and social assistance are Hume’s top three industries.
RDA Hume covers the Goulburn and Ovens Murray regions in Victoria, which includes the local government areas of Alpine, Benalla, Greater Shepparton, Indigo, Mansfield, Mitchell, Moira, Murrindindi, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta and Wodonga.
Hume is a fast-growing region of Victoria with a social and cultural fabric and heritage to match its natural beauty. The region is renowned for world-class wines, gourmet food, and is part of the food bowl of Australia. The Murray, Goulburn, Broken, Ovens, King and Kiewa rivers are important to the region for environmental, lifestyle and business. The Strathbogie Ranges are a gateway for the famous High Country and the region is renowned for nature-based and cycle tourism.
The region’s diversity and new opportunities in key industries will continue to ensure steady economic development and jobs growth. This is reflected by Hume’s growing population, which is projected to increase by more than 38 per cent by 2031.
Connect with us
Follow us on LinkedIn.