INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO CONNECT BARKER TO THE WORLD

Member for Barker Tony Pasin has congratulated Ella Winnall from the Riverland on winning a national competition that recognised her innovative ideas to boost international trade and investment.

Ms Winnall who is employed by the District Council of Loxton Waikerie, is the inaugural winner of the Horizons Leadership Program, a program designed for people working in regional councils to develop strategies to boost the benefits from international trade, investment and tourism.

“We want to attract more international trade, investment and tourism into Barker to create jobs and greater opportunities for businesses,” Mr Pasin said.

“Governments at every level are working hard to take advantage of Australia’s strong international relationships and our economic recovery. Ms Winnall was recognised for the high quality of her work connecting local communities with the rest of the world.”

Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan said Australia’s economic success had been built on international trade.

“Trade creates jobs, it enhances international relationships and it’s mutually beneficial to countries,” Mr Tehan said. “It is of particular importance to Australia’s regions, with eight of our top 10 exports regionally sourced, and one in four jobs in regional Australia created by trade.

“We need to encourage and celebrate the Australians like Ella Winnall who are working to enhance and strengthen regional Australia’s engagement with international trade”

Ella Winnall said the program has been a great experience, and to win was an added bonus to the learnings throughout the program.

“I recommend anyone working in a regional council to apply to participate in the program.” said Ms Winnall. “The Riverland has so much going for it, and it’s really important that we think about our region in a global context. I’m excited about the opportunity to now head to Canberra to meet with key decision makers about my proposal for international tourism on the Murray River.”

Applications for the second series of the Horizons Leadership Program are currently open, for more information go to: Horizons – Leadership Program International Engagement | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

ENDS