December 17, 2021
Former South Burnett Regional Council economic development officer Kristy Board has been appointed general manager of the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO).
She will officially start in the role on January 17.
BIEDO Chair John Zahl made the announcement on Friday.
Ms Board will fill the gap left when CEO Kristy Frahm resigned in April to take up a position with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.
“I left a multinational company in Brisbane eight years ago to move to the Burnett Inland. I just love it out here,” Ms Board said.
She said she had worked in several important projects since then, linked to progressing the region’s economic future.
“The community might know me from my previous roles in economic development or the Kingaroy Transformation Project for the South Burnett Regional Council,” she said.
“Or perhaps in my dedication to Kingaroy BaconFest, the Kingaroy Big Peanut, Red Earth Community Leadership Program or the Farm 2 Fork Collective.
“I intend to lead the growth and progression of BIEDO for the sake of our rural communities.
“The issues I’ll be immediately working on include better value-adding for local produce, raising small businesses to their success and activating sustainable, home-grown leadership.
“I listen as much as I advocate, so I’ll be working forward on the priorities of BIEDO, and the priorities of economic development for our region.
“The history, stories and experiences of regional and rural Burnett has always informed and inspired my work out here.
“I’m really looking forward to further progressing and supporting the North and South Burnett regions with new capability.”
Mr Zahl said it was great to start 2022 with the appointment of a new General Manager and the return of local rural producer Claire Kapernick to the BIEDO Board.
“With Kristy’s economic and community work across the Burnett, many of our stakeholders will have already worked with our new general manager,” he said.
“We are looking forward to 2022. BIEDO is in good hands.”
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South Burnett Regional Council appointed a new representative to the BIEDO Board at its general meeting in Kingaroy on Wednesday.
Cr Kathy Duff will replace Cr Kirstie Schumacher as the Council representative.
Kristy Board is the right choice and a good fit for BIEDO. She has strong credentials in Economic Development and a passion for progress. She has motivation and capacity to lead BIEDO to deliver economic benefits for the North and South Burnett Region. Congratulations Kristy. I look forward to following the progress you will bring to the Board table of BIEDO.