PDC staff members attending a team culture day on country April 2025

Our Staff

The Commission’s staff facilitate economic and community development in the Region.

The Commission’s function is to take necessary steps to promote, facilitate and monitor development in the region. This includes our Strategic Objectives:

Improve existing, and develop new resource and related industries
Seek, promote, and develop new sustainable industries
Prioritise ongoing improvement to regional living standards
Generate and promote pathways to increase economic participation of Aboriginal people
Organisational excellence

We have offices based in Karratha and Port Hedland, and our staff travel regularly throughout the region to advance our Objectives.

Office of the CEO

Simon Taylor - Chief Executive Officer

Bryanna Stretton - Executive Officer

Kate Burton- A/Senior Communications Advisor

People, Place and Community

Trish Barron - Director, People Place and Community

Hayley Birchley - Principal Regional Development Officer

Tessa Hughes - Senior Regional Development Officer

Karen Huang - Regional Development Officer (Grants)

Rhiannon Llewellyn - Regional Development Officer

Stef Andre- Senior Administration Officer (Finance)

Economic Development, Land and Infrastructure

Michael Heap - Director Economic Development, Land & Infrastructure

Richard Hancock - Principal Regional Development Office

Darren Leitch - Senior Regional Development Officer

Jacoba Seccull - Senior Regional Development Officer

Nigel Bird - Regional Development Officer (Northern Native Seed Industry Development)

Johnnie McCarthy - Regional Development Officer (Northern Native Seed Industry Development)

Tessa Hughes - Local Content Advisor