City of Melbourne Council has announced its inaugural Invest Melbourne board, which will work to attract new investment, create jobs and boost local businesses in the city.
Ms Coombs is the CEO of boutique asset management firm, River Capital, and brings 20 years’ experience in banking, financial markets and early stage investing to Council’s investment promotion agency.
She’ll be joined on the board by industry leaders from several priority growth sectors:
- Andrew Carter – Commercial Eyes founder and managing director, with more than 30 years’ experience in the medical technology and pharmaceutical industries.
- David Chen – JPC International CEO and specialist in logistics, supply chain and strategic procurement, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.
- Amy Foo – Culture Amp Senior Vice President, and expert in technology and digital innovation.
- Ian McCall – Former Deloitte and SPP Management Consultants partner, with more than 35 years’ experience in ICT and digital innovation.
- Scott Tanner – Executive Chairman of Kay & Burton and Chairman of the Committee for Melbourne, with a strong background in banking, wealth management, insurance, retail and professional services.
- Rachel Watson – Former Pacific Hydro Australia CEO, with an extensive knowledge of the energy industry.
- Dr Julie Wells – Vice President Strategy and Culture at the University of Melbourne, with a strong history of leadership in higher education.
The board will provide targeted strategic advice to the City of Melbourne on the delivery of business development initiatives to secure more investment from all over the globe.
Lord Mayor, Sally Capp said it will champion Invest Melbourne to local and international business communities, bolster relationships with government departments, industry associations and other prominent stakeholders, and propose new ways to streamline business processes.
“We’re doing everything we can to ensure Melbourne is the best place to start and grow a business – and that means more jobs and a stronger economy,” she said.
“The Invest Melbourne board will further boost our capabilities, providing independent expertise on business initiatives and promotion opportunities ranging from life sciences and technology to finance and clean energy.”
The board has been appointed for an initial 18-month term and will hold its inaugural meeting in the coming months.
“As our borders continue to open to the world, we want Melbourne to be the destination of choice for global headquarters, research and development centres and the biggest projects – and our expert board will help us do just that,” the Lord Mayor said.
“More than 60 businesses looking to establish in Australia have already been identified, and Invest Melbourne is actively targeting these organisations to choose Melbourne over any other capital city.”
Invest Melbourne was set up last year to respond to the economic impacts of COVID-19 and cement the city’s position as a key player on the world stage. Already it has created a strategic plan to attract investment of more than 40 projects across multiple sectors, which could create more than 6,000 jobs and generate $1 billion in capital expenditure.
“Attracting investment and creating jobs in our city is one of the most important things we can do to ensure Melbourne bounces back post-COVID. The appointment of this board will bring key industry experience to Invest Melbourne,” said City Activation portfolio lead Councillor, Roshena Campbell.
For more information on Invest Melbourne and the board, visit the City of Melbourne website.
